Breastfeeding and Medications
Each day breastfeeding mothers are misinformed about taking medications while breastfeeding, many moms are told they must stop breastfeeding or "pump and dump." In the majority of cases, this is bad advice on the part of the health care provider based on his or her limited education about breastfeeding and medications.
Frank Nice's - Non Prescription Drugs for Breastfeeding Mothers is a great book!
Medications and breastfeeding: current concepts
Dr. Tom Hale, PhD, has performed extensive research on the effects of medication in mothers' milk. His site features a professional and mother's forum for looking up and asking information about medications and mothers milk.
Help Lines
The Infant Risk Center will be dedicated to providing up-to-date evidence-based information on the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Our goal is to provide accurate information regarding the risks of exposure to mothers and their babies. By educating healthcare professionals and the general public alike, we aim to reduce the number of birth defects as well as create healthy breastfeeding relationships.
We are now open to answer calls Monday-Friday 8am-5pm central time. Please contact us at (806)-352-2519.
Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center at The University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, USA. This center maintains a database of drugs and medications and provides free information to physicians and lactation consultants on their use and effects during breastfeeding. Ruth A. Lawrence, MD is the Director of the center.
Motherisk (phone 416-813-6780) at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Call or visit their website for evidence-based information about the safety or risk of drugs, chemicals and disease during pregnancy and lactation.
Drugline (phone 0844 412 4665) at The Breastfeeding Network, Paisley, Scotland. Call the Drugline for information on taking prescription drugs while breastfeeding, or visit their website for handouts on drugs and breastfeeding.
General articles :
Medications and the Breastfeeding Mother
The Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals Into Human Milk
Breastfeeding and Maternal Medication
Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation
"You Should Continue Breastfeeding"
Breastfeeding and Maternal Drugs
Alcohol and Breastfeeding:
Drinking Alcohol While Breastfeeding
Alcohol and Breastfeeding from the Infant Risk Center
Social Drugs and Breastfeeding
Effects of Marijuana on the Fetus and Breastfeeding Infants
Social Drugs and Breastfeeding : Handling an Issue that Isn't Black and White
Breastfeeding and Cigarettes
Breastfeeding and Cigarette Smoking
Antidepressants and Breastfeeding:
Herbs for Postpartum Depression
Epidurals
Figuring How Medications during Labor Effect Breastfeeding
Are We Using Our Brain When It Comes to Epidurals?
The Effects of Labor Epidurals on Breastfeeding
Herbals
Free Breastfeeding and Herbs E Book
Herbs and Breastfeeding from LLLI
On Taking Herbs While Breastfeeding
Herbs to AVOID While Breastfeeding