Breastfeeding and Lamotragine

[MotherOfBears]

I’m still breastfeeding as my baby is refusing to take milk any other way. Does anyone have experience of taking Lamotragine whilst breastfeeding? I keep getting scared that it will have an impact on my baby long term. But am scared of stopping it and my mood not improving as have been having an awful time.

Obviously I am discussing with my doctor and nurses, but wanted to hear from people with lived experience good or bad

[Ramlah_at_APP Volunteer]

Hello MotherOfBears,

Sorry to hear you’ve been having an awful time .

Unfortunately I don’t have experience of lamotrogine & breastfeeding. However you can check medicinesinpregnancy.org/ to see if it’s safe

Take care

[Maria_at_APP Moderator]

Hi MotherOfBears,

I have no personal experience of taking this drug while breastfeeding, I took olanzapine instead. But I know other mums in the forum have and recently Butterfly93 asked about it related to pregnancy. If you search for Lamotrogine (sic) - I don't know the correct spelling, I am sorry - in healthunlocked you'll be able to find it.

My experience has been that the medical staff at the MBU are very careful and work on the best advice to date. Still, I really see your point that it is reassuring to hear from lived experience.

The BUMPS website has also very good information about drugs and pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Take good care, sending you all my best wishes

[Seasky18 Volunteer]

Hi MotherOfBears... like others I wasn't on Lamotragine but Olanzapine when breastfeeding, but I totally remember feeling the same as you.

All I can say is a few things that helped me were thinking that the medical professionals don't like taking ANY risks with babies, to the extent that some drugs that are only 'probably ok' won't be given to a breastfeeding mum. Mainly for me it was the huge list of benefits - massive benefits of breastfeeding him on so many fronts. The more you learn about those - how it helps build a baby's gut and digestive system, setting them up for life where they can better digest their food, as well as helping boost their immune system when they're exposed to illness, not to mention the strong bond and emotional foundation you are giving them... for me that helped to feel the benefits far outweighed any negatives that I worried about. I's tailor made for their optimal development...

I'd also say that for me the need to feed him helped give a shape to my day and helped me feel a sense of achievement. At the time I felt very negative about myself, especially as a mum, and very low, but I remember thinking 'at least I'm feeding him' (we did use some formula and donor milk to get through the early days). It also made me cuddle him and hold him at a time when I didn't feel any love for him, and for me it was during some of the night feeds when I looked into his eyes and started to feel that love flicker back into life again. I totally believe my PP recovery would have been much slower if I hadn't been able to breastfeed.

He's now a very happy and healthy 4.5yo, a really smily boy with a lovely laid back personality. I feel so lucky that I was able to feed him.

Big, big hugs to you amazing mama.