Should I take medicine while breastfeeding?

While breastfeeding, you are sick and need to take medicine. You wonder if you should take medicine while breastfeeding and what effect does taking medicine have for your baby? You will have the answer shortly.

Breastfeeding is a happiness that only those who have experienced it can understand. For your baby, breastmilk is the most precious gift you give. Breast milk not only provides health benefits, but it also helps to strengthen the special affection between mother and baby. What you eat or drink while breastfeeding can directly affect your baby through the flow of breast milk. Some medicines may be safe and some are not for a breastfeeding woman. Therefore, depending on the type of medicine you can take, be very careful and consult your doctor before taking it.

Some drugs are safe

You need to be very careful to make sure that your baby is not in danger of making mistakes in your medication. When you take it, certain drugs pass into your breast milk and sometimes pose certain risks. Here are some medicines that are safe during lactation that are very popular in everyday life:

1. Pain reliever

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB)

Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) is for short-term use only.

2. Antibiotics

Fluconazole (Diflucan)

Miconazole (Monistat 3, Micaderm)

Clotrimazole (Mycelex, Lotrimin)

Penicillins (Amoxicillin, Ampicillin).

3. Decongestants, contraception

Saline nasal drops

Medicines containing pseudoephedrine ( Sudafed , Zyrtec)

Progestin-only birth control pills.

4. Digestive drugs

Famotidine (Pepcid)

Omeprazole (Prilosec)

Cimetidine (Tagamet).

5. Antidepressants

Paroxetine (Paxil)

Sertraline (Zoloft)

Fluvoxamine (Luvox)

6. Medicines for constipation

Docusate sodium (Colace).

Medications that you take will pass into breast milk

Most medicines you take will go into your bloodstream and into your breast milk. Although the drug concentration in breast milk is very low, it can still affect the baby's health. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before taking any medicine. Ideally while breast-feeding, you should also not take the medication if it is not the case.

Some drugs should not be used

There are some medications that you should not take while you are breastfeeding:

Antifungals and anticonvulsants are medications that you should avoid. These drugs are quite poisonous and they can be dangerous to your baby's health.

Iodine (iodine) is very easily transferred into breast milk. You should avoid using medications with high levels of iodine as it can cause hypothyroidism in your child.

Medicines containing lithium carbonate can be dangerous for your baby if it is present in breast milk.

Tobacco is also not allowed because the nicotine in cigarettes can pass into breast milk and cause danger to the baby.

What to do when your baby is allergic to the drug?

If you are taking medication during this stage, watch your baby carefully to see if your baby has unusual symptoms.

If you notice that your baby has unusual symptoms, take him or her to the pediatrician immediately. This is a way to limit the long-term health risks.

Do not give your baby any medicine to treat your child's symptoms if you are still not sure about your baby's condition. Using the drug at this time is not only unhealthy, but it can also cause negative effects for the baby's health.

Your baby's health and safety should be your top priority. So, be very cautious with the medicines you take during breastfeeding.