DEFINITION

Breastfeeding is the natural way of feeding a baby, using the mother's milk. If the mother takes a drug for some reason or another the drug might become concentrated in the breast milk, leading to problems in the infant. The concentration of drug in milk is usually related to that in the mother's blood.

DESCRIPTION

The effect of a drug taken by a breastfeeding mother, on her breastfed infant, depends on drug transfer into milk, daily milk intake and the bioavailability of the drug in the infant.

A number of drugs are contraindicated (should not be used) or should be used with caution in breastfeeding women. These drugs may be either harmful to the infant or they may decrease milk supply.

Always tell your Doctor, Pharmacist or Health practitioner that you are breastfeeding when medications are being discussed. Check the drug label on all prescription and non-prescription drugs and products for warnings against use of the drug by breastfeeding women and/or for special guidelines for women who are breastfeeding.

PHARMACIST'S ADVICE

Ask your Pharmacist for advice
1) Inform your Pharmacist about any medication that you may be taking. Your Pharmacist can answer any queries you may have regarding your medication and its safety during Breastfeeding.
2) In some cases there may be a more suitable medicine which is safer to use while breastfeeding (e.g. nasal drops instead of an oral decongestant; an inhaled rather than an oral bronchodilator).
3) It is advisable to take any prescribed medicine immediately after breastfeeding as this allows time for the drug to be digested, used and eliminated from the body.
4) If it is absolutely necessary for a woman to take a medicine that may affect her baby, then breastfeeding should be discontinued, temporarily if possible.
5) If your infant displays a reaction to a drug you have been prescribed, see your Doctor or Pharmacist immediately.
6) Alcohol, nicotine and street drugs also pass into the mother's breast milk and it is advisable to avoid these while you are breastfeeding. Coffee intake should be low, as caffeine has been shown to cause restlessness and irritability in infants.

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