Breastfeeding and MS

[skierklp]

Do you have any new information on the study? I am anxious to hear how the copaxone study is progressing. Thank you.

[cpride]

Dear skierkip,

Thank you for your interest in the copaxone study. We are still in the beginning stages getting funding, protocol information etc. We will keep you informed about data when it becomes available.

Sincerely,
Cindy Pride, MSN, CPNP
TTUHSC InfantRisk Center

[sgttswife]

Hello. I just had my daughter December 28, 2011, prior to getting pregnant I stopped using Copaxone. I was just diagnosed August 2010 and became pregnant May 2011, therefor I was not on the treatment very long. I am very new to MS and do not have too much experience with the disease. I am breastfeeding my daughter and plan to continue. My Nuero advised me to check with my Pediatrician to see if he felt it was safe to start back Copaxone, as I really needed to do so. My pediatrician felt that if it was safe for women to take during pregnancy that breastfeeding should be fine "in theory" and if any is discreeted into the breast milk it would be at such low amounts it would not cause harm to the child but overall there's not enough research blah blah, you all know how that story goes. It's my decision whether I wanna start up and continue to feed. My pediatrician is very against using formula so for him to encourage me to continue made me feel a lot better. My neurologist is convinced that things will get much much worse for me if I do not resume treatment... Therefor I decided that I would give it a chance and start my copaxone and breastfeed. I want to continue to breastfeed for at least 1 year. I really hope I can do so. I would love to hear more on the studies that have been done as well as help with any research.

[cpride]

Dear sgttswife,

Copaxone (glatiramer) is a synthetic polypeptide made up of four amino acids (building blocks of proteins). We do not have data on how much glatiramer enters breastmilk, but because of the large size of the molecule, it is unlikely to enter breastmilk in large amounts. There have been two case reports of breastfeeding infants who scratch their face shortly after their mothers take glatiramer; therefore, it is suggested for mothers to pump and discard their breastmilk after glatiramer administration and then wait two hours before restarting breastfeeding.

Sincerely,
Cindy Pride, MSN, CPNP
TTUHSC InfantRisk Center

[Mom2M]

@RosieBC

It's been a while since you asked this but in case you haven't resumed your copaxone...
I have been taking Copaxone and nursing for a few years. I do my shot in the afternoon to avoid her most popular times she wants to nurse and have been successful with that.

[Legna]

I was diagnosed with MS in 2006. Went on the CombiRx double blind trial (I was recieving Avonex and Placebo Copaxone). Had 7 relapses during this time. I got pregnant in 2008 while on drug, and have been fairly relapse free. Had a postpartum relapse a 6weeks PP with my daughter, pumped and dumped or 3 days for high dose steriods, and then didn't have another relapse for 3 years- when she night weaned in 2011. In 2009, after daughter was 1 year, I started copaxone however I did not tolerate it well, so I came off at 18 months. Have just had my second child (Son is 12 weeks old). Daughter is still nursing (almost 4) as well as my son. I'm drug free, although having a mini-argument with my neuro about DMD. I refuse to wean, he doesn't want to prescribe unless I do. I'm healthy so I'll just stay drug free for now.
I do however want to confirm Gadolinium as used for MRI is safe. I was JUST told by the Radiologist to pump and dump for 48 hours. By my own research, I don't plan on doing any such thing, but want to confirm that I don't need to pump and dump.

[cpride]

Dear Legna,

Minute amounts of Gadolinium enter breastmilk. Dr. Hale recommends to pump and discard at three hours after the dose then resume breastfeeding. This time frame allows 75 percent of the drug to be eliminated. Waiting 9 hours would allow all of the drug to be eliminated. Virtually none of the drug is absorbed orally by the breastfeeding infant.

Sincerely,
Cindy Pride, MSN, CPNP
TTUHSC InfantRisk Center