Breast feeding whilst taking medication for blood pressure?

[Clure]

I took medication before pregnancy for high blood pressure. Throughtout pregnancy and up till a couple of months ago blood pressure ok. Now it is up significantly. Still breast feeding. GP wants to monitor it. Said there was one brand of medication could possibly take as only doing 2 breast feeds a day - still a small chance of toxicity to baby. DD is 13 months - don't want to be forced to give up bf. Anyone have a similar problem or offer advice?

[RosiePosie]

This link might help ( sorry, you'll have to copy and paste )

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org/supporterline/drugline.php

You can phone or email someone who can offer you advice. Hope that helps!

[winnie]

my son gave up breastfeeding himself at one and frankly it saved me having to make the difficult decision that you are having to make. I had high bp and felt bullied by my dr and hv as they insisted I should give up breast feeding and just take the medication.

Don't have an answer but know that reflexology helped reduce my bp when I was pregnant.

[NotQuiteCockney]

From what I know, most meds, except for some chemo meds, are fine while breastfeeding. The BFN drugline folks will know. Or if you can share the drug information, we can look online?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmm, this page lists drugs that are recommended as safe while bf, including some for "cardiovascular" problems. Some of them certainly look like anti-hypertensive drugs, for example Hydrochlorothiazide, Metoprolol tartrate, Propranolol, Labetalol. Actually, all the "cardiovascular" drugs are for hypertension, and are fine while bf. Your GP is probably being overly twitchy - the benefits of extended bf for your DD are greater than the potential harm from these drugs, in my opinion.

[mummytosteven]

my mother was told that there was bp medication that she could take during PG, so I imagine there would be some you could take whilst bfing.

[Laura032004]

I took labetalol throughout pg and whilst bf. No ill-effects to ds, but had to wean off gradually.

[Clure]

Thanks to all for advice. Have emailed drugs advice at Breast Feeding Network. (Thanks Rosieposie) was interested to see Laura032004 comment about being on Labetalol - this drug name keeps popping up. Before pregnancy was on meds for bp but preganancy really sorted it out and was fine throughout except in last couple of weeks when I was 12 days overdue! Am new to mumsnet, its brill.

[dandycandyjellybean]

I'm taking 800mg of labetalol and still b/f although only once a day - but everything seems fine

[Clure]

Cubby - is that a low dosage of lobetalol? And would your GP monitor you and baby? Went for a recheck today and practise nurse took it. It was very high and she's sending me for blood tests then have to go back to GP. Looking likely may have to go on meds

[hoxtonchick]

i am bf & take labetalol, 200mg twice a day. i took methyldopa when pg, & will go onto an ace-inhibitor when i finish bf (dd is 8 months).

[Hazellnut]

I was on labetalol in late stages of pregnancy and for a couple of weeks after I had dd so presumably fine for breastfeeding....

[popsycalindisguise]

I took medication from birth for about 3 months and was fully breatfeeding
trying for the life of me to remember which one....
ds2 fed every 2 hours days and night for months
prescribed to me on maternity ward

also took it with ds1 after birth but nto for as long

labetalol - that is it
then a different one....by my gp

[Clure]

Thanks everyone for your comments - really helpful.

Thanks Tippex - you're right in that taking meds is a last resort. Am fit (go running regularly) and take no extra salt in diet, don't do convenience foods and am vegan. GP very supportive with the bf and am not going to be forced into giving up. Will bring up lobetalol with her if she suggests meds.

[Clure]

Am cross and depressed about the current situation re medication for high blood pressure whilst bf. My Gp had sent me for blood and cholestorol tests. Went back yesterday but a locum (male dr) was there. Said my tests weren't on the computer (should take 7-10 days and this was 14 days after) he didn't make an effort to chase them. Then he took my bp and said it was high - avoided telling me what it was. He wants me to go for another set of blood tests for liver and kidney function (another hour wait at the local hospital!) He basically told me that I should give up bf now as DD is 14 months when I mentioned that I was still bf and that there would be implications for medication. I told him about lobetalol and he said that a beta blocker such as this was not recommended as a first choice medication by (he mentioned some medical body but mind wasn't really listening carefully) I shall obviously discuss this when my GP is back - hoping she is coming back as she herself has been a long term locum at our surgery! Has anyone else encountered this kind of thing?

[zebrabra]

There is something safe to take, Clure, the only difficulty is getitng your doctors to look up the safety properly & not keep trying to put you off. GPs/other doctors are clueless about the actual research done on safety in meds when breastfeeding.

What else have you been recommended to take?

[Clure]

Zebrabra - haven't been recommended anything by my GP yet. I only know about a few meds which are considered safe to take whilst bf from my own research. Mumsnetters have been very helpful in offering their own experiences and suggested websites. Have had replied from emails sent to BfNetwork drugsline, who were very helpful

[throckenholt]

I took adalat all the time I was breastfeeding my ds1.

And had labetol while I wsa pregnant (second pregnancy - high blood pressure was a result of first pregnancy).

[Clure]

I tried adalat some years ago and had unpleasant side effects. Interesting to hear that though - are they a beta blocker?

[popsycalindisguise]

took labetalol whilr BF both of mine - for about 4 months with ds2

[Clure]

Anyone who has taken lobetalol - was it successful in lowering blood pressure? GP said it wasn't as successful in treating bp as other types of drugs (ACE inhibitor and Calcium blocker drugs) I'd be very interested to know as it would be useful to present some positive facts to GP on next visit

[hoxtonchick]

i am taking labetalol & bf. i had the dose reduced as it was too effective! and am now (i think, will check when i get home), on 200mg twice a day. bp pretty much normal. hth.

[Clure]

Thanks hoxtonchick - thats reassuring.

[Clure]

Id posted on another thread about how shocked I was this week that a locum at my surgery wouldn't prescribe labetalol because in his medical guide it said it was unsuitable for bf. He prescribed me a diuretic which having done research isnt suitable at all during bf and one of the things its actually prescribed for is to suppress breast milk!!! (I haven't taken it yet and glad I held off)I must say that I had loads of fab advice from BFN drugsline and am now going back with a printout of all this info. So just to say "stick to your guns - Gp's don't know it all"

[NotAnOtter]

i have taken propanalol for headaches ( also used for high bp) whilst bf-ing