Reply To Anonymous

Hi Dr
I'm breastfeeding my 3.5mo bb and just had a sebaceous cyst removed today. I was presribed Unasyn 375mg antibiotics and for painkiller Biogesic 500mg. I don't know what's the name of the anaesthetic and antibiotic that was administered on me for the surgery.
The surgeon sd the medicines are suitable for pregnant women. But I worry it may not be so for babies.
A wk b4 the surgery I was prescribed by a GP Klasid and Papase to treat the supposed infection of the cyst. I was assured this was safe for the bb. But my bb reacted badly to it. (this prompted me to seek specialist treatment instead)
I've been pumping and disposing of my milk for the whole of today & the next 3 days. I feel so sad doing that bec I'm not the type who have lots of milk.
I wish to get your opinion if the prescription is really ok for bb.

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Hi! Anonymous,

Welcome to this blog. Your questions will make this blog more interactive and informative.

Let me summarise your problems:
1) Infected Sebaceous cyst which was recently surgically removed.
2) Currently on antibiotic Unasyn and painkiller Biogesic.
3) Breastfeeding to your beloved newborn while on treatment of antibiotic.
4) Low breast milk production.

Generally, antibiotics are safe for the breastfeeding mothers as the concentration of antibiotic that present in the breast milk is very low.

Furthermore, the doctor only prescribed low dose of Unasyn 375mg. The usual dosage of Unasyn is 625mg. With this low dose of Unasyn, the amount of medicine to go to breast milk is extremely low.

Biogesic is a painkiller. As far as you are comfortable and pain free after the surgery, you can avoid from taking this medicine. My suggestion is you need to complete your antibiotic treatment and stop the painkiller as far as you are pain free.

Before taking the antibiotic, you should breastfeed your baby and fully extract the breast milk by using the breast pump. Once the antibiotic is taken, you should abstinent from breast feeding for 4 to 6 hours to avoid any side effect to your baby. After 4 to 6 hours, usually the effect of the antibiotic is over and you can safely breastfeed your baby again. This is the precaution step you can take to avoid the harmful side effect of antibiotic to your baby.

Regarding the low breast milk production problem, you should drink more water and consume more fish protein to stimulate the breastmilk production. You should breastfeed your baby every 3 to 4 hours to enhance the production, avoid from wearing tight bra which may reduce the production due to pressure effect. Hormone injection (Oxytocin injection) sometimes is helpful to increase the milk production.