Liver detox/cleanse while BF

StacieH · 12-10-2007, 07:48 PM

Hello! Just wondering if any of you have info on doing a liver detox/cleanse while BF.

Some info I've found says it's ok, some says it's not. I'm guessing it depends on which detox/cleanse you do?

Money is tight right now, so I'm trying to find something I can do that is inexpensive and doesn't necessarily need to be done under the supervision of a doctor. I do have a naturopath that I see, but since health insurance doesn't cover my visits, it can get very expensive very quickly!

Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated!

Ajani · 12-11-2007, 12:11 PM

I wouldn't reccomend it, simply because the toxins can enter the breasmilk, which is not good for your baby.

Instead of a detox, try eating healthier. Lots of veg and fruits and whole grains. Cut out the refined carbs and processed foods. Do that and you may find that you won't need a detox at all.

Congrats on breastfeeding past a year, btw. Way to go!

lachicarubia · 12-11-2007, 12:31 PM

I think it depends on what kind of cleanse you want to do, and what you want to use to do it, and why you want to do the cleanse.

For example, I, personally, would feel comfortable doing a liver cleanse to flush out gall stones if I was having gall bladder problems while BFing. Much better than having to have surgery to remove the gall bladder.

What kind of cleanse are you thinking of doing?

StacieH · 12-11-2007, 02:35 PM

I haven't really found one yet that is deemed totally safe while BF, so I don't know which I'd like to do.

The reason I would like to do it because my naturopath said that a lot of my PCOS problems are being caused by my liver, to put it simply. Basically, my liver is in need of a cleanse, and because of that, it is not breaking down excess estrogen like it should. So, the estrogen is being released into my body twice - once when it is originally released, and then it hits my body again when the liver can't break it down.

In addition, I have had to take some hormones and BCP (Rx'd by my OB/GYN's office) lately to help stop uterine hemorraging caused by a thickened endometrial lining. So, I think my liver could benefit from a good "cleaning", so to speak.

Get those extra, unecessary hormones out of my system and give my body a chance to balance itself. KWIM?

But, my first priority is my DD, and if it will harm her, then I will wait until she is weaned. I also worry about what all of the medications have done to her. I was taking high doses of estrogen last week (to rebuild my endometrial lining after it had been thinned too much), but only made it through 48 hrs of doses, instead of the 12 days that were Rx'd. It made me very ill, and I quit because I was worried about what it was doing to my DD.

DollFin511 · 12-11-2007, 07:37 PM

One thing you might think about doing is, instead of a full cleanse, just take something Magnesium to keep your bowels moving well, without actually pulling toxins. Keeping your colon moving well (2 or 3 times a day) is going to help keep your liver working properly.

Magnesium is VERY important for calcium absorption and building healthy teeth and bones (if you only take calcium without magnesium, you are setting yourself up for bone spurs and kidney stones).

The thing to watch for is your baby's bowels. You don't want them to be too loose (a little loose is ok for a baby, but obviously not watery diarrhea). If they get TOO loose, just take a little less magnesium. Magnesium is good for the baby anyway, and it is easy to know if there is too much, and it is safe enough that if the baby gets diarrhea from it, you can just back off and it will be fine.

Just an idea... very safe, healthy, and something you both need anyway.
Here's a really good one... it is a food source so your body will only use what it needs anyway: http://www.mynsp.com/naherbs/product...?stockNum=1859

StacieH · 12-11-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajani

Instead of a detox, try eating healthier. Lots of veg and fruits and whole grains. Cut out the refined carbs and processed foods. Do that and you may find that you won't need a detox at all.

Congrats on breastfeeding past a year, btw. Way to go!

Changed my diet a long time ago, and still having problems.

Among the many indications that my liver is involved is the fact that my digestion is very, very, very slow.

Thanks for the congrats on BF. I don't hear that very often (it's usually the opposite) and it's nice to get positive feedback.

Ajani · 12-12-2007, 12:33 PM

Detoxing the liver causes toxins to enter the body more than any other detox. That is why eating healthier was my first suggestion. I'd personally wait until your baby is weaned. That's what I decided to do. Mind you, I was pregnant when Owen weaned, so I haven't been able to do the liver cleanse yet. It's been nearly 4 years now since I decided to do it and then found that I was pregnant with Owen. LOL

StacieH · 12-12-2007, 03:46 PM

I think magnesium will be my choice for now. I'm going to do more reading on it, and check w/my naturopath, but it sounds like it would be good for me and help clear out some of the congestion in my GI tract. I like that it's ok while BF and is beneficial in other ways.

I think I'll wait to do the liver detox, since I want what's best for my DD, and it sounds like I might want to do it under doctor supervision anyways.

Thanks girls, for all of your feedback and suggestions! I can always rely on my cysters for help!

jeanjean · 01-10-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lachicarubia

I think it depends on what kind of cleanse you want to do, and what you want to use to do it, and why you want to do the cleanse.

For example, I, personally, would feel comfortable doing a liver cleanse to flush out gall stones if I was having gall bladder problems while BFing. Much better than having to have surgery to remove the gall bladder.

What kind of cleanse are you thinking of doing?

Just read your PCOS story....What symptoms were you having that made you think of a problem with yeast? I would like to speak to you via PM/IM if your up for it? Very intriquing story......

lachicarubia · 01-10-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanjean

Just read your PCOS story....What symptoms were you having that made you think of a problem with yeast? I would like to speak to you via PM/IM if your up for it? Very intriquing story......

Hi JeanJean,
to be totally honest with you, while I was having trouble TTC #2, I didn't think I had a problem with yeast. I didn't have any obvious symptoms. I was trying for 2 years without success. AF was coming every 40 days. My sister kept telling me that I had a yeast imbalance, and gave me a list of herbs to take, but I thought that she was nuts. Then, while on a course of anti-biotics, I got a yeast infection, and decided to ask my doc to call in an Rx for diflucan. Well, my next AF came on CD28. Had 3 28-day cycles and then got PG. Since I didn't get PG for 4 months after I had taken the diflucan, even after I got PG I still didn't put 2+2 together. It wasn't until I lost that PG, and was TTC again that I realized the connection. Then, when the yeast control supplements helped my AF change from 35 days to 28 days, and then I got PG with DS#2 exactly 4 months after starting them, that was the clincher that made me realize that I did have a yeast problem, and that killing the yeast helped me to get my BFP.
I explain a bit more on this thread: Alt. Remedies TTC Successes and Failures!

If you want to discuss more about this, or ask any questions, you can PM me, or send me a message from my website. We also discuss using yeast control for TTC on this thread: http://www.soulcysters.net/ttc-w-yeast-control-220529/

StacieH · 01-13-2008, 04:31 PM

I never thought of yeast being an issue either. That's really interesting. I might have missed it, but are there symptoms associated with a yeast issue (other than the obvious yeast infections, etc)?