Vertigo - Stemetil while Breastfeeding? Other options to ease this horrible feeling?

Mods I hope this is in the right section, if not please feel free to move for me..

I got a severe case of Vertigo last night and ended up having to get the Home Dr to come out around 4am as I couldn't even sit up to feed DD without everything spinning and extreme nausea.. He said it's labyrinthitis and gave me a few tablets of Stemetil to take to ease the symptoms however I have read this is not safe during breastfeeding so I have not taken them. The vertigo is not easing :(

My DD is only almost 6 weeks old and such a petite little thing, not even 4kgs yet so I most definitely do not want wean, nor mess with the medication but I don't have a pump yet, haven't got a supply of EBM stocked up and feeding is quite difficult being that these symptoms are only bearable when I'm laying flat on my back :(

Please tell me there's something else that can help us? I also have a 2 year old DS to look after. DH has taken the day off work today to help but can't really take any more days being that he just went back to work after having holidays when DD was born.

Feeling utterly terrible and now so stressed, please help!

Anyone have any experience with vertigo or treatment while breastfeeding at all?? Any info at all would be greatly appreciated.. Getting pretty worried now :(

I think you should ask about maxalon. It is another anti-nausea drug that can also be prescribed to increase milk production - and is therefore reasonably breastfeeding-friendly.

There are a number of drug information phonelines - but they usually only operate 9-5 weekdays.The melbourne one has an answering machine, so they may return your call sooner: (03) 8345 3190

all the best.

there is a chance it can impact on milk production (i just checked my LactMed app on iphone). i have been taking it the last month for severe nausea and vertigo - the relief was incredible. i'm at a very different stage in my BF journey though so i don't know how it would impact you with a six week old. Maxalon does't seem to help the vertigo side of things at all (and is a very weak anti-nausea medication - my gp said i may as well be taking tic tacs!).

anyway - i think you possibly need to call something like nurse on call or, better still, the ABA (1800 mum2mum) and get advise on taking the meds. it's pointless not taking them "just in case" if they will help you - because you can't really sit up to feed your baby which is going to impact your BF relationship just as much.

i did find feeding DD in bed to be a godsend. even when she was tiny we'd just lay in bed and feed...

Thanks so much ladies! I am able to feed DD by making a bit of a pillow mountain, sitting up but keeping my head right back and it's bearable so she's ok. Think I might just have to keep on like this until it passes as I just don't want to risk anything with bf'ing, I'm absolutely loving it this time around and we're doing so well! Don't want to jeopardise that at all unless it's really serious!

Was really hoping someone had some other ideas on how to help it but it seems it's one of those things you have to wait to pass on its own even with medication..

Such a horrible feeling, I really feel for you BG, I'm so glad the stemitil is helping you! Couldn't imagine having to feel like this every day!

The doc did leave me some maxolon as well but the dizziness is my main problem and it won't help that so I haven't bothered..

I'm alot less stressed now I know I can still feed DD, as long as my babies are fed and we're all safe, everything else can wait until this passes, hopefully sooner rather than later!

Thanks so much again!