Breastfeeding

[Babytwinkle]

Hi I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant through IVF. Due to the nature of conception and personal reasons I would really like to breastfeed. I currently take 250mg/100mg lamotrigine daily. I’ve tried to find information on BF and lamotrigine and there’s nothing concrete that I can find. .Has anyone BF while on this medication? If so , have youany tips? TIA

[Cheekymonkey85]

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk...

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk...

Wendy jones is your best bet to find out the most up to date information on what you can and cannot take when breastfeeding. Even gp’s don’t have the knowledge she seems to have.

If you can’t find anything linked to your medication on the above links then you can actually email her

[e-mail]

Good luck with your pregnancy and breastfeeding journey xx

[Babytwinkle in reply to Cheekymonkey85]

Thank you so much. I’ve sent off email to Wendy.

[Pnw2020]

Hi

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

See link for medication: medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...

Breast-feeding

Lamotrigine has been reported to pass into breast milk in highly variable concentrations, resulting in total lamotrigine levels in infants of up to approximately 50% of the mother's. Therefore, in some breast-fed infants, serum concentrations of lamotrigine may reach levels at which pharmacological effects occur.

The potential benefits of breast-feeding should be weighed against the potential risk of adverse effects occurring in the infant. Should a woman decide to breast-feed while on therapy with lamotrigine, the infant should be monitored for adverse effects ,such as sedation, rash and poor weight gain.

From patient information leaflet:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be

pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or

pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine

• You should not stop treatment without discussing this with

your doctor. This is particularly important if you have epilepsy.

• Pregnancy may alter the effectiveness of Lamotrigine, so you

may need blood tests and your dose of Lamotrigine may be

adjusted.

• There may be a small increased risk of birth defects, including a

cleft lip or cleft palate, if Lamotrigine is taken during the first

3 months of pregnancy.

• Your doctor may advise you to take extra folic acid if you’re

planning to become pregnant and while you’re pregnant.

→ If you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed ask

your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this

medicine. The active ingredient of Lamotrigine Milpharm

passes into breast milk and may affect your baby. Your doctor

will discuss the risks and benefits of breast-feeding while you’re

taking Lamotrigine Milpharm, and will check your baby from

time to time, whether drowsiness, rash or poor weight gain

occurs if you decide to breast-feed. Inform your doctor if you

observe any of these symptoms in your baby.

[Babytwinkle in reply to Pnw2020]

Thanks