Are you breastfeeding

[tina]

Dont flame me - but breastfeeding may be the culprit. Breatfeeding releases hormones that increase inflammation. I am not suggesting thta you not brestfeed yoyur baby - that is your personal choice. Breastfeeding is good for the baby - everyone knows it. My raheumy told me about her opinion that breastfeeding increases flares - but I chose to breastfeed in spite of the information. However I did not that I recovered markedly at 6 months postpartum which is when my baby went off breast milk. If I another baby - will I breastfeed him/her? i really do not know. Depends on the circumstances then

[cavansmom]

Hi Tina!

You know, I should have replied to this a long time ago.  I stopped breastfeeding my little guy at 4 1/2 months, and I got much much better.   BUT (and you knew there had to be a but) I'm still not back anywhere close to how good I used to be.  Cavan is 10 1/2 months now.  I still have milk (not leaking like I was for a while), but it's definitely still there.  How long until you were back to normal?  Did you need to change meds?

Lori

[night-owl]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to add my story. I started back on Enbrel today after breastfeeding my daughter for 5 months. I never really experienced a post-partum flare, just a constant state of pain and fatigue. Being on 8 mg of prednisone helped, but with my daughter starting to weigh more, things just became much harder.

I'm glad that I made the decision to breastfeed for as long as I did, but my RA experience may not be very typical. I never went into remission during pregnancy, nor did I experience a big post-partum flare.

Cindy

[cavansmom]

Hi Cindy!

Please keep me posted on how you do going back on the Enbrel.  I never went off of it, and I breastfed for 4 1/2 months.  When I stopped breastfeeding, I got markedly better, but I'm still not back to normal.  I'm very curious as to how you'll do, especially if you didn't get that bad (I didn't go into remission during pregnancy, but my flare afterwards was pretty bad).

Thanks so much for the post!

Lori

[ctardik]

My son was born just 4 weeks ago and I have really being struggling with breastfeeding, in fact my ra seems has become active in my left hand and wrist; and I have had RA since childhood and never had a flare in my left hand before?
Does anyone know of any assistive devices to help you with breastfeeding, as I find it difficult to hold my breast in the suggested "C" shape while ensuing that my little one latches on properly.

Thanks!

[cavansmom]

Hi Ctardik!

Wow, that's a great question, but unfortunately, I don't know.  Do you have access to a lactation consultant?  I imagine they might have some good resources, as  they can help solve many feeding issues. 

Lori
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