There are very few drugs that are incompatible with breastfeeding and in many cases a safer alternative can be suggested.
Sadly, because trials are rarely approved for testing drugs on infants the research is scarce and a lot of conclusions are drawn from single case studies where a Mum has accidentally taken a drug while breastfeeding.
There are some really great resources out there, people who are trained Pharmacologists that can give great thought to your specific situation and know what the drug is and what it could do and determine if the benefits outweigh the risks. In some cases, even though a drug may be harmful if ingested by an infant a pharmacologist may easily know that the drug molecule is too big to pass through to the milk and thus would pose little risk in usual circumstances.
Because few tests have been carried out the majority of drugs usually tell you not to use them while breastfeeding. Many Doctors don't know the best places to look for answers and may err on the side of caution when prescribing drugs. If you want to continue to breastfeed and your health professional is telling you to stop so that you can take a drug, here are a few resources for you to use to make sure you are getting the right information.
Infant Risk Center - 001 806 352 2519 (This helpline is based in Texas, 6 hours behind the UK)
"The InfantRisk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a call center based solely on evidence-based medicine and research. We are dedicated to providing current and accurate information to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals. We are a training center for medical and pharmacy students and medical residents in the use of drugs in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers"
"The InfantRisk Helpline provides answers to questions about the use of drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Please call us for information about the safety of using drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, chemicals, vaccines, and other substances"
Medications and Mothers Milk - Thomas W. Hale Ph.D (Clinical Pharmacologist)
This book is in it's 15th Edition and is published every other year (even). This book is a great resource to have in Doctors Offices, Maternity Wards, Midwife offices and at Support Groups. The link on the title will lead you to an accompanting website which can help you read the book to determine what medications might be better for you as a breastfeeding Mother. This is a reference book and should only be used to guide you towards taking the right drugs for your situation only with consultation with your Doctor.
Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline (UK) - 0844 412 4665
This helpline is run by a Pharmacist on a voluntary basis so calls are not always answered, but calls are returned. The website also has some great information sheets for commonly asked questions for you to print and take to your Doctor.
LACTMED - "A peer-reviewed and fully referenced database of drugs to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed. Among the data included are maternal and infant levels of drugs, possible effects on breastfed infants and on lactation, and alternate drugs to consider"
As I have stated above, you should always consider medications in partnership with your Health Care Professional. Howvere, don't expect them to have all the answers and while you are waiting for your appointment have a little read. Why not suggest that your local Doctors office purchase a copy of Medications and Mothers Milk. I know my Doctors office could really use one.
The last time I asked for a prescription for my psoriasis I was prescribde a steroid that I was concerned about because I have psoriasis on my breasts. When I told my Doctor I was breastfeeding, her first reaction was to tell me that most people stop breastfeeding before their child is 2. The second comment she made was that I could look it up for myself to see if it was safe. Luckily, I have a Hale on hand to refer to, but many don't and this was a completely inappropriate expectation from my Doctor.
This post is part of the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt which is running from June 23-29, 2013 during National Breastfeeding Awareness Week. Over 40 bloggers and 25 companies are taking part. Bloggers will be writing about their breastfeeding experiences all week and there will be lots and lots of prizes up for grabs. Each time you read a post you will have the chance to earn points by entering the rafflecopter attached to the post. The more posts you read, the more points you gain. At 50 points you become eligible to be entered for the chance to win the main prize with over £1000 worth of breastfeeding goodies. Please enter using the rafflecopter below, and check out these other fabulous bloggers to read more about breastfeeding and to find more rafflecopters to enter.
While writing this post and getting ready for the Hunt I have been chomping on some amazing home made fudge. Because I love this fudge so much I asked Chrissy to promise something for the Scavenger Hunt. She responded by offering £8 to spend on her home made fudge and chocolate (loved the Easter mini egg chocolate!). It may not be breastfeeding related as such, but I'm betting that 99% of the entrants in the Hunt will love fudge and you now know where to get some amazing fudge that I would call the best I've ever had. So, if you love fudge do go on over and like her facebook page so that you can see all the amazing pictures of goodies and hear about all the latest deals. You could even get favours for a wedding or kids birthday party (maybe it's too good for the kids, I know I don't share mine, it;s hidden in the wardrobe).
Here is your rafflecopter
The
InfantRisk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a
call center based solely on evidence-based medicine and research. We are
dedicated to providing current and accurate information to pregnant and
breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals. We are a training
center for medical and pharmacy students and medical residents in the
use of drugs in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. - See more at:
http://www.infantrisk.com/content/about-us#sthash.JW3RXVPL.dpuf
The
InfantRisk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a
call center based solely on evidence-based medicine and research. We are
dedicated to providing current and accurate information to pregnant and
breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals. We are a training
center for medical and pharmacy students and medical residents in the
use of drugs in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. - See more at:
http://www.infantrisk.com/content/about-us#sthash.JW3RXVPL.dpuf
The
InfantRisk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a
call center based solely on evidence-based medicine and research. We are
dedicated to providing current and accurate information to pregnant and
breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals. We are a training
center for medical and pharmacy students and medical residents in the
use of drugs in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. - See more at:
http://www.infantrisk.com/content/about-us#sthash.JW3RXVPL.dpuf
The
InfantRisk Center at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a
call center based solely on evidence-based medicine and research. We are
dedicated to providing current and accurate information to pregnant and
breastfeeding mothers and healthcare professionals. We are a training
center for medical and pharmacy students and medical residents in the
use of drugs in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. - See more at:
http://www.infantrisk.com/content/about-us#sthash.JW3RXVPL.dpuf
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was told by a not so helpful friend that it constantly hurts to breastfeed and I could never manage. 4 months in and I am still going strong and been very lucky wasn't painful at all
ReplyDeleteI was told breastfeeding was only beneficial for 6 months! Luckily I did my own research and both my babies benefited from breastmilk for as long as they liked :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this info. Breastfeeding and medication also have a Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/pages/Breastfeeding-and-Medication/326510154041002?id=326510154041002&_rdr
ReplyDeleteAnd Wendy Jones also has a new book out called "breastfeeding and medication"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breastfeeding-Medication-Wendy-Jones/dp/0415641063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372498060&sr=8-1&keywords=breastfeeding+and+medication
I'm not on commission but I am a fan and a volunteer at the Breastfeeding Network.
I was told by dentist to give up breastfeeding as my son was over 6 months and it would cause cavities! I'm so glad I had the knowledge to ignore him. I just hope he doesn't tell too many other Mums. I am in the process of putting together a presentation to take to him to show he is wrong!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this! I need to take medication for an ongoing infection after i give birth, it would be a relief to find out i don't have to worry about taking a 8 hour breastfeeding break, especially in the 4-6 weeks in the beginning!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a useful post as the advice can be very confusing.
ReplyDeleteThat baby has to feed on both sides per feed, my lo only feeds on one side per feed
ReplyDeleteI was told(by the inlaws) that breastfeeding is "hogging the baby"! Wish I'd realised sooner that he was my baby to hog and not their new toy!
ReplyDeleteI was told by my mum and sister that my milk would dry up after 3 months. Definitely not true fed my fortst for 15 monthas and my 2nd is 9 months and still feeding!
ReplyDeleteI have been told by a couple of people that my son was 'using me as a dummy', because, obviously, a baby would substitute his mother for a plastic soother!
ReplyDeleteI've been told that mothers feeding after a year aren't benefitting their babies, just doing it for themselves. I'm glad I've seen the posts this week with research about the continued benefits!
ReplyDeleteI have heard many older generation mums say that they could only feed till 3 or 4 months as they ran out of milk. I now know that these mums were told to feed on a schedule of every 4 hours, as soon as their babies got into a growth spurt or were just more hungry and cried before the 4 hour mark, they were told that didn't didn't have enough milk and to top up with formula. (my mum was one of them!)
ReplyDeleteIm still not convinced whether it is a myth or not but my health visitor is obsessed with getting me to try cabbage leaves. I bought some cooling packs thinking that it was just the cooling sensation she meant however no its something to do with the green in cabbage leaves!!! I still refuse to try it. Hehe
ReplyDeleteAs a peer supporter so many mums come to us saying they have had mastitis/thrush/blockages and their DR has advised them not to feed from the affected breast.....argh! this can cause such a disruption to the breastfeeding relationship and stress both mum and baby out so much.
ReplyDeleteThat it didn't matter if I was in pain so long as my daughter was getting enough milk.
ReplyDeleteThat I would have to choose between breastfeeding my daughter and being prescribed antidepressants for my post-natal depression, and that 8 months was quite long enough to breastfeed anyway.
Thanks Karen, this is really informative. I was recently tweeting with someone who had to stop bfing due to medication, but I didn't have enough knowledge to be able to say if it really was a problem or just what she'd been told by dr.
ReplyDeleteWhat I was told that was false.... my postnatal community mw told me to feed him for 20 mins each side every 3 hrs, then top hi up with bottle. Those were her words, I have them ingrained on my mind!!
ReplyDeleteGOod resources. I suffer from hayfever and never take anything for fear it would hurt my baby. On another note, my kids don't have dummies and I read somewhere is bad to let your child fall asleep while feeding because they will not know how to put themselves to sleep. What do you do wake the said child up and put them to bed crying... breastfeeding my baby will calm her and send her to sleep then so be it I think.
ReplyDeleteMy father in law tried to tell me that if I was ill I would pass it through my milk to the baby. I soon put him right!
ReplyDelete