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Drug therapy in the nursing mother
A E Dillon1, C L Wagner, D Wiest
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America
|September 1, 1997
Summary
Most medications are safe for breastfeeding mothers, and concerns about drug effects on infants are often unfounded. Healthcare providers can minimize risks with careful drug selection and monitoring, ensuring breastfeeding can continue.
Area of Science:
- Lactation Pharmacology
- Neonatal Health
- Maternal-Infant Health
Background:
- Breastfeeding offers significant benefits for infant health and maternal-infant bonding.
- Healthcare providers often interrupt breastfeeding due to unfounded concerns about maternal medication use.
- A vast majority of medications are safe or have favorable risk-benefit profiles during lactation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address unfounded concerns about medication safety during breastfeeding.
- To provide guidance for healthcare providers on managing maternal drug therapy while supporting lactation.
- To empower healthcare providers to counsel mothers on safe breastfeeding practices with concurrent medication use.
Main Methods:
- Review of medication safety profiles during lactation.
- Identification of strategies to minimize potential infant exposure to medications.
- Discussion of risk-benefit assessments for drug use in nursing mothers.
Main Results:
- Only a small minority of drugs are contraindicated during breastfeeding.
- Most medications can be used safely, with risk-benefit analyses favoring continued breastfeeding.
- Practical strategies exist to mitigate risks associated with medications during lactation.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers should be better informed to support breastfeeding mothers on medication.
- Interruption of breastfeeding due to medication concerns is often unnecessary.
- Informed management allows for the continuation of breastfeeding alongside necessary maternal drug therapy.