Breastfeeding with MS

I was recently sent a link to a new blog by an Australian women with MS who is an MS peer support volunteer, as well as being a breastfeeding counsellor, and she is planning on writing a book for women with MS who are breastfeeding, that delves into the issues faced with medicating, fatigue, support etc.

She says:

"At this stage, I am focusing on getting the word out there that I want to speak to anyone has experience, thoughts, ideas or information about breastfeeding women who have multiple sclerosis - past, present and future."

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to her blog here, but if anyone wants to be involved or follow her progress please send me a message and I can send you the link to her blog.

Cheers!

Nonny

[Quixotic1]

I came across something ( a study??) that reported fewer relapses while breastffeeding and wondered about the possibility of prolonged BF.  I do think it might interfere with the socialization of one's teenagers, but maybe I can find that source again.

Quix

[Ojibajo]

LOL Quix. Breastfeeding teenagers! Crazy!

[ANonnyMouse]

Thanks Quix. I haven't really looked into it myself, other than of course being a breastfeeding mum myself. I did see something about breastmilk containing stemcells, but I suspect this is going to benefit the baby rather than the mum (unless of course she is willing to ingest her own milk).

[opie74]

I did some reading on this while prego....

I appears as though there is a slight decrease in relapse ocurance at the 3 month mark in breastfeeding women.  However, these women usually relapse directly after weening.

The thought is that the hormone prolactin might deliver the effect.  While these breastfeeding women show fewer symptoms, there is no evidence that the disease is not progressing during this time.  Actually there is some MRI evidence that the disease continues to progress while symptoms may be lessend.  My experience agrees with this.  While I have never breastfed, I have a prolactonoma.  I have had milk since Jan 1996.  I had MRI studies to see that the adnoma was not growing periodically over the years.  This is what made my MS Dx quicker.  There was a pattern of increasing lesion load over the entire 11years before Dx.  Now, the interristing thing is this.  I never had any SIGNIFICANT symptoms of MS until...my milk dried up after my second child (July 2007).  This was the first time that I had benn "dry" in all those years.

So, even if the prolactin discourages symptoms, it may not do anything to actually lessen the progress of the disease.  I think that it may also be linked to the fact that exclusively breastfeeding delays return of monthly cycle.  I am 9 weeks pstpartum and have not returned to the normal rhythm, and have only had mild symptoms so far.  

Once again, I am just saying that my personal experience tends to correlate to the research studies when considered TOGETHER.

If you find any more information, please share it with me.  I can pump for the rest of my life if I thought it would help :-)

[JemmAus]

I wonder if you expressed milk for years if it would have the same effect. I know when I had my twins, I was expressing milk in hospital, and the moment i heard ANYONE use the machine, my milk would let down. I felt like Bessie the Cow.

So supply equals demand, why not try expressing after bub is weaned to keep the supply going and the relapses at bay?



Although.....would it work at menopause??

[ANonnyMouse]

I'm pleased I have at least another two years before finding out the effects or otherwise of weaning. My 2yr old and baby are still both very happy to help. :)

JemmAus - I'm not sure expressed milk would have the same level or the hormones in it if the letdown was by mechanical means rather than as part of the "snuggle factor" of having a baby at your breast.

I know a lot of the birthing hormones are reduced in a medically managed birth when compared to a natural birth, so this might possibly be the same for breastfeeding as well.