Postpartum
Breastfeeding
Having MS does not affect your choices in how you feed your baby. Exclusive breastfeeding for a period of two months may reduce your risk of having a relapse during this time, but not reliably in all cases.
If you are breastfeeding and have a relapse, you can take steroids if you are advised to:
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01
Methylprednisolone
A recent study showed that methylprednisolone does cross into breast milk but at very low levels. The amount of steroid peaks after 1 hour after infusion and quickly reduces.
You can further reduce this exposure by pumping and disposing of the first batch of milk or by delaying breastfeeding for 2-4 hours after each steroid treatment.
You may wish to consider storing breast milk in the freezer if necessary; however, MS teams should advise first in case of fatigue or relapse.
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02
Disease modifying therapies (DMTs)
Disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) vary in how likely they are to be present in breast milk or harmful to your baby. The decision of whether to resume DMTs immediately after birth needs to be considered against the potential advantages of breastfeeding. Consult with your doctor to decide what is right for you.
If your MS is very active and you are at significant risk of relapse, you may choose to stop breastfeeding to begin some DMTs again. The other DMTs should not usually be resumed during breastfeeding, and you should discuss how and when they can be resumed with your doctor.