The document provides guidance for breastfeeding mothers on taking prescribed drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbs, and illegal substances while breastfeeding, noting they can pass into breastmilk and potentially harm babies. It advises mothers to ask their doctors several key questions about any drugs to determine safety and offers alternatives to avoid when possible, such as short-acting drugs with minimal risk of side effects or building up in the baby's system. Mothers are warned never to take illegal street drugs while breastfeeding as they are very dangerous to babies.

1. Breastfeeding and Drugs If the answer is no, it is probably okay 5. One other thing to ask: Will this
to take when breastfeeding. drug reduce my milk supply?
Prescribed, Over-the-Counter,
If yes, ask the doctor if there is another
Herbs, Illegal 3. If the drug gets into my breastmilk, drug you could take that would not
will it survive in my baby’s stomach? affect your milk supply.
Anything you take into your body when If the answer is no, it is probably okay
breastfeeding may pass through your to take when breastfeeding. When you talk with your doctor:
breastmilk into your baby. Most of the
time, this is not a problem. BUT, you 4. If the drug survives in my baby’s 1. Make sure to explain that you are
should check out anything you plan stomach, will it get into my baby’s breastfeeding and that you want to
to take including prescribed drugs, bloodstream? continue to breastfeed.
over-the-counter drugs (aspirin, cold If the answer is no, it is probably okay
to take when breastfeeding. 2. Ask your doctor to prescribe short-
remedies, cough syrup, vitamin-mineral acting drugs – drugs that you have to
supplements, etc.), herbs (chamomile If the answer is yes, then the drug take every 3-4 hours rather than one
tea, echinacea, St. John’s Wort, etc.), might cause harm to your baby. you take once a day. These drugs do
and illegal drugs (street drugs like not build up in your baby’s system over
marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.) Then ask: what kind of side effects time.
might this drug cause in my baby?
First of all, don’t take illegal drugs 3. Ask your doctor if your baby can
when breastfeeding. They pass into If the side effects are harmful, ask your easily clear the drug from his system.
your breastmilk and are very harmful to doctor if there is another drug you If the drug builds up over time, this can
your baby! Taking illegal drugs could could take that might be safer. cause harmful effects. Older, healthy
have legal consequences, too. babies can handle drugs much better
Note: If babies are treated with this than newborn or premature babies.
Things to ask your doctor/pharmacist drug, it is probably okay to take
before taking any type of drug: when breastfeeding. 4. If a drug makes you sleepy or
depressed, it may make your baby
1. Will the drug pass into my sleepy or depressed. Stay away from
bloodstream? these drugs if you are breastfeeding. If
If the answer is no, it is probably you need to take an antihistamine, take
okay to take when breastfeeding. one that does not make you sleepy.
2. If the drug passes into my 5. Ask your doctor/pharmacist when
bloodstream, will it get into my the lowest amount of the drug is in
breastmilk? your system. Breastfeed your baby

2. when the amounts are lowest, usually IUDs, condoms, cervical caps, and
right before it is time for your next
Breastfeeding
diaphragms
dose. Progestin-only methods – mini-
and Drugs -
pill, Norplant, DepoProvera. Wait until
6. If you must take a drug that requires
your baby is six weeks old before
you to stop breastfeeding while
you take it, pump and throw your
breastmilk away while taking the drug.
starting progestin-only methods.
Prescribed,
Over-the-
9. One last reminder – do not take
This way, you will still have breastmilk street drugs when breastfeeding!
when your doctor says it is okay to
resume breastfeeding.
They are bad for you and your baby!
Street drugs will show up in your Counter,
7. Check out anything you apply to
your nipples. Things like vitamin E oil
baby’s urine for a long time. There
are reports of babies being taken away Herbs, Illegal
applied to your nipples can build up to from their mothers because urine tests
harmful levels in your baby’s body. Do in the babies proved positive for street
not assume vitamin and mineral oils drugs.
are harmless. There are many reports
of these items harming babies! For more information on drugs, check
the following resources:
8. Birth control products that contain
estrogen can impact your milk supply. A Medication Guide for Breastfeeding
The types of birth control that are okay Moms by Thomas Hale, PhD, and Ghia
to use when breastfeeding include: McAfee, PhD. (a reference for moms)
Breastfeeding – breastfeeding Medications and Mothers’ Milk by
is very effective if you meet all of Thomas Hale, PhD. (a reference for
the following: you are breastfeeding doctors and pharmacists)
every 4-6 hours during the day and
night; your baby is less than 6 months Both are available from:
old, you are not spotting and have www.iBreastfeeding.com
not started your monthly period, and © Copyright 2005
you feed your baby only breastmilk
– nothing else like cereal, juice, or 1712 N. Forest St.
formula. Hale Amarillo, TX 79106
Natural Family Planning – this
method involves watching your Publishing (806) 376-9900
(800) 378-1317
www.iBreastfeeding.com
discharge throughout the month.