Breastfeeding And Medication Use – Get Rid Of Myths

Many mothers think that breastfeeding and the use of medications are things that cannot even be talked about in the same sentence. In a perfect world, the mother stays completely healthy throughout breastfeeding and does not have to use any medication at all. Unfortunately, things are rarely perfect.

There are many myths and beliefs associated with the use of drugs during breastfeeding, and the purpose of our article today is to demystify mothers ’general thoughts and fantasies about the subject.

We also want to sharpen the fact that a medical professional should be consulted on all issues related to medicines, and the information found on the Internet, for example, should not be considered automatically true.

Breastfeeding and medication use

Studies show that about one in eight breastfeeding mothers should use a medicine. Many mothers stop using either the drug or breastfeeding for fear of side effects. All of this is due to misinformation and misconceptions about the subject.

Many mothers do not know that most of the drugs prescribed by doctors do not pass into the breast milk a child drinks, or the amount of the drug in the milk is so small that it does not pose a risk to the baby.

In almost all cases, residues of the drug taken orally by the mother in breast milk are so small that they are difficult to detect by experiments. The same is true for topical medications such as corticosteroids and eye drops.

However, when using topical medicines, care must be taken to ensure that the child does not come into contact with a medicine, such as an ointment.

Where do myths about the use of drugs during breastfeeding have their roots?

Almost all medicine packs advise pregnant and breast-feeding patients to talk to their doctor before taking the medicine. This warning is very pertinent, as the doctor is the only person who can tell if it is worthwhile for the expectant mother to use the medicine, and if so, in what high doses and for how long. However, the warning asks you to consult a doctor and not to avoid using the medicine altogether, as many interpret the text.

The pharmaceutical company has an obligation to report if breastfeeding prevents the use of a particular medicine. In this case, the medicine packaging must clearly state that pregnant or breastfeeding women should not use the medicine. There may be a statement in the instructions that if the use of the medicine is mandatory due to the health of the mother, breast-feeding must be stopped during treatment.

Reading the instructions on the medicine packs carefully should not make us anxious or automatically assume that taking the medicine means stopping breastfeeding temporarily or permanently.

Medicines suitable for breastfeeding mothers

Many commonly used drugs are also suitable for breastfeeding mothers, as studies show that using them as recommended does not cause problems for the baby or affect milk production.

Such drugs include:

• Ibuprofen
• Paracetamol
• Amoxicillin
• Penicillin
• Omeprazole

Prohibited drugs during breastfeeding

Drugs that are strictly prohibited for breastfeeding mothers include drugs used to treat AIDS and destroy cancer.

Certain medications are in principle safe for a breastfed baby, but special instructions must be followed to avoid potential problems. For example, paracetamol is a safe drug, but it should be used by the mother either after breastfeeding or at least two hours before breastfeeding, as it is believed to cause drowsiness in children.

Certain antihypertensive drugs reduce milk production but do not harm the baby. Birth control pills have a similar effect.

Understanding that the problem is often due to a misinterpretation of the instructions for use of the medication, mothers may be concerned about medications prescribed or recommended by a physician. We would also like to remind you that a breastfeeding mother should always talk to her doctor before taking any medicine.