Drugs ingestion and breastmilk
When a breastfeeding mother takes medicine, the medicine passes into her breast milk, but for most medicines, the amount of medicine contained in breast milk is said to be extremely small.
In addition, even if a baby drinks breast milk containing drugs, the amount of drugs reaches the baby’s bloodstream in an even smaller amount, so there is a very low possibility that the drug will affect the baby. It is said that there is no problem. However, some drugs can have a negative effect on your baby, so you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before making any decisions.
While there are some medications that should not be used by breastfeeding mothers, there are many that can be taken safely. To be safe, check with your doctor before taking any kind of medication including over-the-counter drugs and herbal medications. Also, if you decide to take medicine, do not simply stop breastfeeding, but consult with your doctor to see if you can continue breastfeeding. Most medicines should allow you to continue breastfeeding if you take the usual amount for a short period of time for something like a cold.
How to continue breastfeeding?
If due to the mother’s physical condition, you need to stop breastfeeding for a period, but if possible, pumping milk during the interruption will prevent the amount of breast milk from decreasing and it will be easier to resume breastfeeding when the mother feels better. Also, if you pump and freeze breast milk on a regular basis, you can feed your baby breast milk during the period when breast feeding is interrupted.
In summary, you may be reluctant to take medicine while breastfeeding, but depending on the symptoms, such as a cold that doesn’t go away, it may be better to take medicine as soon as possible. Most medicines are safe to continue breastfeeding, but some medicines should be avoided during breastfeeding.
If you are having a hard time, please visit a hospital and consult a doctor. Let’s take care of mom’s health for the sake of the baby.
The doctor can evaluate appropriately the detriments and danger of stopping breastfeeding with the amount of drugs that are transferred to the breast milk, as the risks depend on the kind and amount of the drug.
