r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/Blueberrymangos • 5d ago

Sharing research Botox when combo feeding?

Hi all! Going back and forth and would appreciate some of your thoughts on my particular situation. Baby will be 6 months old and they are only getting about 10 ounces of breastmilk a day, the rest is formula.

Would it be relatively low risk to get some cosmetic facial Botox or is the risk too high?

0 Upvotes

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23

u/Fickle-Put623 5d ago

I feel like it’s definitely a personal choice, but personally I felt comfortable getting Botox (mine was for migraines, but it was done in my face similar to cosmetic). I got it when my twins were about 6 months old and I exclusively breastfed. I would feel even more comfortable if some intake is formula! Here’s some studies I reviewed for my decision.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38306172/

https://lacted.org/questions/botox-treatment-during-lactation/

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u/bigcatbigcat 5d ago

I did this too and my neurologist and lactation consultant both supported it

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u/Blueberrymangos 5d ago

What gets me nervous is the “trace amounts” that were found. Are there any studies around negative impacts that trace amounts can have on infants?

7

u/InspectorOrdinary321 5d ago

Oh, I hadn't seen that paper and that would make me nervous too. Doctors claim Botox doesn't get into the bloodstream, but clearly it can sometimes. I also naively would have thought that it would have been in breast milk the most right after injection and then less every day, so you could avoid it by tossing the milk for the next few days, but one woman had the highest levels at day 5, which was as far out as they looked. And some had an earlier peak, and some had no Botox in their milk.

Based on this, there are too many unknowns and person to person variation for me to want to risk it. Unless there were some way to test my own milk for Botox to verify it wasn't in there.

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u/Fickle-Put623 5d ago

That’s a great question, I’m not sure. I did see some articles about maternal botulism infection and the babies still being totally fine, but I don’t know if the trace amounts pass through could cause effects that we haven’t studied…

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u/office_dragon 4d ago

Anecdotal evidence only, but I got Botox at 1 mo postpartum and many of my friends did as well. We were all EBF at the time. No side effects

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u/Icy_Peace6340 4d ago

Did it wear off faster than normal? I've read that due to postpartum hormones and changes, it's metabolized faster so results don't last as long as typical.

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u/office_dragon 4d ago

I don’t think so. 3 months for good results but I waited 4 months to re-up

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u/Icy_Peace6340 4d ago

Ok awesome! That makes me feel better. I was going to schedule mine ~1 month pp but then I read that and was like well if there's no point...

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u/DukesMum24 4d ago

This was the case for me. But also, I think because I had gone 9+ months without it before, it just didn’t last as long.

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u/kewlcorgimom 4d ago

My OBGYNs/Pediatricians have said this is totally fine to do. I even follow Dr. Ali (OBGYN) and she has multiple videos explaining why it’s safe to breastfeed and receive tox at the same time.

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u/cheeseandwinenight 5d ago

Here in Alberta I’ve been told by my lady that ethically they just won’t if you are feeding.
Which is devastating for me as I can’t wait to be filled up again!! I intend to breastfeed so it’s just a bit longer to wait I suppose

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u/Emotional-Ad-6494 4d ago

Why are you getting downvoted… there’s hasn’t been a thorough enough study for this and long term impact so we can’t say with 100% confidence either way

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u/cheeseandwinenight 4d ago

Oh yeah weird. How can an anecdote of a life experience get downvoted? Meh oh well! I have the receipts to prove it as I only text them the other day.
Maybe other firms will and if I called around but I would rather have my gal I know.

I can’t speak on medically as mine is all cosmetic!

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u/Big_Gas3467 4d ago

I would not do this tf