Yes I am very stressed. I really need to find out why my thyroid has gone from mildly underactive before birth, to dramatically overactive after. My resting pulse when I am in bed at the moment is 96-112, so I understand that I have to find out what is wrong, and get myself well again, and this test will give me the answer.
I had a medela mini electric at home that I had just for the odd express. I have gone an hired a medela lactina from my chemist for the week for something a bit stronger. I managed to get 60mls from my left breast this morning, but not a drop from my right. My baby always feeds from both sides, but he does seem to prefer the left. How can I get more from my right? I still need to get about 700mls by tuesday morning.
Also I am going to have to express for the 24hours that I cant feed him until the nucler medicine leaves my body, and am wondering what I am going to do to get the milk from my right breast then. Any sugestions?
Thank you for Rodneys contact, I spoke to him, and he was extremely helpful. He explained that after 24 hours it would be safe to feed my baby as there would be only a minute trace of the nuclear medicine (techetium) left, and this would basically be the same amount that we would be exposed to if we went out in the sun on a hot day.
EJE, the Medela Lactina is pretty good I think, so that should be helpful.
Some things I find helpful when expressing.....
Having a nice warm shower or bath beforehand
Sitting with a wheat pack on my boobs before starting (I have a lavender one)
Either holding DS, looking at him, or at a photo of him
Gentle massage of the breast while the pump is going
Don't look at what's coming out! I know it's hard not to, but I find I get more if I'm not looking
If you're not looking at DS, watch the tv, or read a book/magazine to distract you
Ummmm, that's all I can think of ATM
I have heard that it's very helpful to have bub feed on one side while you express the other. Try Baeb's suggestion of giving one side, expressing the other, and letting DS finish off the expressed side.
I think the milk you express during the 24 hours will have to be discarded. I know that's heartbreaking! If you're not sure you could always check with Rodney again.
I'm sorry you're going through this stress ATM, but you obviously need to sort your health out. I hope the scan gives you the answer you're looking for.
I had to have a nuclear scan while I was breastfeeding. i was luckier in 2 ways I suppose,
Firstly DS was nearly 1, and I was only feeding a couple of times a day.
Secondly I always had bags of frozen EBM in the freezer.
I was advised not to feed for 24 hours, but was told that I should probably go 48 hours just to be certain.
I was also told not to let DS sleep in bed with me that night because of the nuclear isotopes. (He usually didn't sleep in with me anyway, so it was not an issue.)
I kept expressing during the 48 hours to keep my supply up, and just kept tipping it down the drain. (what a waste!!)
Is there any way you can delay the scan by a week or two so that you are ready with enough supply for the time required? That it what I would be inclined to do.
Just in regard to the scan itself, it is not too bad. A little injection in the arm, them you have to lie under a machine. It can get a little hot uder there though, as it is so close to your face. If you are inclined to be claustrophobic, it would not be that pleasant. Maybe bring a drink bottle of cool water to have after the test, as I ended up very flushed in the face.
If you have any other questions, feel free to either ask me on this forum, or PM me.
Good luck.
ETA - I too spoke to Rodney. He is great, isn't he!!
Last edited by lilima; February 22nd, 2008 at 09:10 AM.
: Rodney
Ok, i looked it up and the drug they wanted to use on me takes 8-106 days to leave the system, that was why they wanted me to stop BFing for so long. l 131 i think it was? I have NO idea why they wanted to use that on me when i was nursing...?
Just in case you didn't know, you don't have to dump your pumped milk. If you label it so you don't get it mixed up, and stick it in the freezer for 5+ half lives of your nuclear drug (you can ask what it is, for the one i mentioned above it was 8.1 days so i'd have had to wait 41+ days, the 24-48 hour no-nursing one i think the half life is about 6.5 hours or so - do ask) it will be safe for bubs to drink. The radioactivity continues to decline even once the milk is pumped and frozen. I daresay Rodney could advise...?
Big big hugs, you must be feeling quite anxious about all of this. The Medela Symphony seems to be the pick of breast pumps to gain maximum yield! Double pumping or pumping on one side whilst your baby feeds from the other also helps to yield maximum milk.
You should discard the milk you express for the 24 hours post the scan. The very reason that you can't feed your baby is that the milk will have traces of the medium in it. You could contact the nuclear medicine department and ask if there is another option or if you could delay the scan an extra couple of days so that you have enough milk...
Thinking of you - I too was faced with these decisiions and difficulties whilst pregnant and after Imogens birth. It is tough. Sending you big hugs...
The radioactive medicine they will use is called technetium. Its lifespan is about 12 hours, but they say that you can safely feed after 24, and that there will not be much left by then, and that is safe for baby. Rodney has been very helpful on this.
I am getting mixed advice from the scan people and Rodney re feeding him the milk that I pump after the nuclear scan, so am thinking just to be safe (even though it will be a waste) to discard what I pump for 24 hours.
I just really want to increase my supply ASAP, so I have enough by Tuesday. I am waiting until the next feed to try the feeding and pumping thing. I will try pumping the uncooperative left side and see how I go.
megiemoppit- I would love to delay the scan, but Tuesday was as long as I could delay it. My pulse rate is too high atm to let this go on any longer, and my blood tests were very very high, so endocronologist doesnt want to leave it any longer. How did you express for that 24 hours- how long did you express each feed- how much did you get each expressed feed? Thanks for the advice re what the scan actually involves. All come as a bit of a shock, and nice to feel a little prepared about some aspect of this.
Janie- Thanks for the tips, will be trying all of them too!
I am sure that when your baby is not feeding at the breast, you will be able to express fairly easily - but no matter. The milk doesn't need to be discarded, the radioactivity disapates from the milk, so even if you leave it on the bench or in the breast, it will be minimised after 24hrs
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