Medications & Breastfeeding

It is generally accepted that all medications transfer into human milk to some degree, although it is almost always quite low. Only rarely does the amount transferred into milk produce clinically relevant doses in the infant - Thomas Hale RPh PhD, Founder, Medications and Mothers’ Milk

Medications & Breastfeeding
Medications & Breastfeeding

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How do I determine if a medication is safe for a breastfeeding mother?

Have you ever been told you need to stop breastfeeding because you need medical testing or a medication? Or told that you cannot receive treatment until you are done breastfeeding?

The good news is that most medications are compatible with breastfeeding, and for those few medications that are a safety issue there are usually acceptable substitutions. Although mothers are frequently told they need to stop breastfeeding (temporarily or permanently) to take a medication, this is rarely necessary.

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Resources

 How do I determine if a medication is safe for a breastfeeding mother?

Have you ever been told you need to stop breastfeeding because you need medical testing or a medication? Or told that you cannot receive treatment until you are done breastfeeding? The good news is that most medications are compatible with breastfeeding, and for those few medications that are a safety issue there are usually acceptable substitutions. Although mothers are frequently told they need to stop breastfeeding (temporarily or permanently) to take a medication, this is rarely necessary.

Breastfeeding and Medication

This website is designed to provide information and support for mothers and healthcare professionals struggling to balance the benefits of breastfeeding with the perceived risk of exposing the baby to medication through his/her mother’s breastmilk. The information provided is based upon many years experience gained as a pharmacist and from running the BfN national Drugs in Breastmilk Help-line.

CDC

The US National Library of Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) maintains LactMed®external icon, a database containing information on drugs and other chemicals to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed.

HalesMeds.com

Search, print and share drug information with breastfeeding mothers, healthcare professionals and pharmacists. Give mothers peace of mind that the drugs they are taking are safe.

InfantRisk Center

The InfantRisk Center is used by physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, and mothers in every part of the world. Virtually all calls are about multiple drugs, averaging 3-4 individual drugs. We do our best to help moms, lactation consultants, and doctors evaluate the risk to the infant from exposure to multiple drugs, and keep the mom breastfeeding.

LactMed

The LactMed Database, a free online database maintained by the National Library of Medicine in the US, is a wonderful online resource for information on breastfeeding and medications. If your health care provider does not know about this resource, spread the word! They also have a free smartphone app that is very useful.

The Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk information service

If you have a specific question about the safety of medication or medical treatments while you are breastfeeding and you can't find the information you need on the factsheets you can ask in a private message to the page or by emailing [email protected].

HealthyChildren.org

Much is still unknown regarding long-term effects of various kinds of medications on your baby. For this reason, while you are breastfeeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends to take medication only when absolutely necessary, and to take the lowest dose for the shortest time possible.

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