Breastfeeding medications

When it comes to the use of prescription and non-prescription medications, you will find that there are not always clear answers on whether breastfeeding & medications are compatible.   You should always consult with your physician for advice on the medications or drugs that you are taking or may need to take.  However, please be aware that in a time where consumers have become sue-happy, if your physician is not well-versed in the area of breastfeeding medications, he/she may feel most comfortable telling you that the safest option is to wean your baby.  In most cases, this is not necessary, unless you are abusing recreational drugs on a daily basis or receiving radioactive compounds.  In these cases, then you really should not breastfeed your baby. With radioactive compounds, you may be able to pump and discard the milk in the meantime, and then resume nursing once your body is confirmed clear of the radioactive compounds.

The purpose of my post is not to tell you which specific medications are considered safe for you during breastfeeding, because the truth is that a lot of pharmaceutical companies that manufacture medications simply state that they should not be taken by nursing mothers.  This is because they have not taken the time or provided the  money to do the appropriate studies to determine whether they are safe for use during breastfeeding.  It all boils down to the manufacturers being fearful of litigation, so it is just easier to say that the medications should not be used by nursing mothers.

So if your physician does not feel comfortable with giving you the go-ahead for breastfeeding & medications, and the pharmaceutical companies are using a blanket statement that you should not nurse when using  medications, what is a mother to do?  My suggestion is that you purchase the following book: Medications and Mothers Milk: A Manual of Lactational Pharmacology (Medications and Mother’s Milk). This book has some technical jargon in it, but it receives high reviews from moms who have no medical background, as well as physicians who have used it. It is written by Dr. Thomas Hale, who has done thorough research into this topic. When you click on the link, you will be able to read the good reviews on this book that are written by both lay persons and physicians who have used this book. Then that way, if your own physician does not have information on  breastfeeding medications, you can bring this book along with you to your appointment and provide it to your physician. That way, you will not receive misinformation, and you can continue to breastfeed if the risks associated with the medication you are using present low risks.

I hope that this post has given you some helpful advice that will empower you to seek the information you need when it comes to breastfeeding medications.