Breastfeeding and Medication Safety

Breast milk is the best food for babies, and breastfeeding offers a wide range of health benefits for both babies and mothers. Therefore, when you have concerns about taking medications while breastfeeding, it is important to know that, in most cases, the benefits of breastfeeding, even when taking medications, are much greater than the disadvantages of stopping breastfeeding to take medications.

Breast milk protects against infections and strengthens the immune system. The impact of medications on the composition of milk is usually negligible. If you take a medication regularly and plan to breastfeed, consult your healthcare provider about combining medications with breastfeeding.

The transfer of medications into breast milk

Several factors influence how medications pass into breast milk. Some factors relate to the medication itself, and some to your metabolism. Other factors relate to your baby’s ability to metabolize.

Influential factors

• Age and maturity: your baby’s ability to handle medications, neutralize them and secrete them, improves with age. Premature babies and babies under two months old may be more affected by medications than older babies due to their evolving metabolisms.
• Absorption of the digestive system: the medication's biological composition affects its absorption. The absorption is affected by the acidity level of the stomach, by the activity of digestive enzymes, and by the timing and amount of food intake before breastfeeding.
• The effects of the medication: the effects depend on the form of administration, the absorption rate, peak plasma concentration, metabolism, and volume of distribution.
• The effects depend on whether your baby is exclusively breastfed or receives a combination of breast milk and other foods.
• The effects also depend on whether the medication is taken in a single dose or administered repeatedly over a period of time.

Even if a medication is not included in this list, it may still be safe for breastfeeding mothers. Always consult the healthcare provider who prescribes the medication. In most cases, you will not need to stop breastfeeding to take medications. However, it is crucial to consult a healthcare professional who can provide personalized and professional guidance.

To learn more about the type of medication and how it interacts with breastfeeding, you can consult the following sources:

• The National Center for Teratological Advice: 02-6243663/9
• Assaf Harofeh Medical Center: 08-9779309