Advising Mothers on the Use of Medications during Breastfeeding: A Need for a Positive Attitude

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Riccardo Davanzo1, Jenny Bua1, Angela De Cunto2

  • 1Department of Perinatal Medicine, Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy.

Journal of Human Lactation : Official Journal of International Lactation Consultant Association
|July 16, 2015
PubMed

The use of medications by the nursing mother is a common reason for interrupting breastfeeding. Few drugs have been demonstrated to be absolutely contraindicated during breastfeeding. Excessive caution may lead health professionals to unnecessarily advise to interrupt breastfeeding, without assessing the latest evidence or considering the risk-benefit ratio of taking a medication versus terminating breastfeeding. To foster an appropriate approach toward the use of medications in breastfeeding women, the Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine created the following policy statement.

Keywords:
adverse effectsbreastfeedingdrug therapyhuman milkmedicationrisk assessment

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