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Breastfeeding & Entocort


Fri, April 03, 2009 11:33 AM

Hi.  I am wondering if anyone has breastfed (or chose not to) while taking Entocort.  I took Entocort (and also Cimzia) while pregnant and now have a healthy baby boy who is just 2 weeks old.  The medication states not to breastfeed because it passes through the milk, however, my doctor pointed out that only 10% of it gets absorbed into your blood.  So he stated that by the time baby gets anything that has been filtered through the breast milk, it would be very minimal exposure. 

I also looked up info about medications on the la leche league website, and they too seem to take a stance that breastmilk will filter out most medications and that the benefits usually outweigh the risks.

Any thoughts/stories to share?  I would appreciate very much!

Thanks in advance!

FPO brandie
Joined Jul 28, 2008

Fri, April 10, 2009 6:46 PM

 Reply posted for kareng.

Kareng,

Thanks so much, glad to hear from at least one person who has done this :-)  I'm really hoping the many benefits of breastfeeding outweigh this small risk of the meds.  So far everything seems to be fine... if only I can stop the crohns from flaring any worse and actually keep some weight on this time (last time I breastfed, I was down to 90 lbs after 9 weeks. My normal weight is 120 - Maybe that will be a new post idea:-)

-Brandy

FPO brandie
Joined Jul 28, 2008

Fri, April 03, 2009 9:35 PM

 Reply posted for Brandie.

I breastfed my 3rd baby while on Entocort with no problems. As my family doctor pointed out, I wouldn't stop breastfeeding if I were on prednisone (I nursed baby #2 while I was on pred for a flare), and entocort activates in the colon...it's not systemic like prednisone. Theoretically, there should be a smaller risk w/ entocort than w/ prednisone.

FPO kareng
Joined Jan 21, 2009

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