Breastfeeding and Medications

I have been on various asthma medications for my whole life, including pregnancy and nursing with my two children. I was given Zyrtec last year and had no problems taking it while pregnant. I also take a nose spray similar to Nasonex for my allergies called Rhinocort. I have had no problems taking these while pregnant and nursing. Other moms I know have taken Nasonex while pregnant and nursing without any problem for the baby. I feel comfortable taking these medications, but I also know that if I didn't my health would suffer. Do what you think is best for you and your baby. Both my children are healthy and happy.

1 mom found this helpful

Alot of medications are still safe while you are nursing. Contact your pediatrician and they may be able to help you figure out if it's safe or not. I recently had Bronchitis, Toncilitis and an ear infection and I was able to take antiobiotics and still breastfeed my son.

Kudos to you for breast feeding in the first place! Second, for not automatically giving up when you started having a few problems. I breast fed my babies for 13 and 18 months and loved it despite the minor problems that came with it. I would assume the doctor that prescribed all of this medication is your primary care physician. I always checked with the pediatrician if I wasn't sure about something and then I'd research it on the internet and ask my pharmacist. If you're loving breast feeding, you should keep going. There's always an alternative medication available. Good luck!

M.,
I took Zyrtec while I was pregnant. I take Nasonex as well.
I was on albuteral etc. while I was pregnant and while I breast fed. All is well. Trust your MD. Best wishes.

What a horror story, M.!
There are other solutions, besides steroids for you. You are destroying your body, trying to fix one little symptom.
Have you tried sudafed?
Even better - try acupuncture and chinese herbs - they use magnolia buds to open up nasal passages. it works great.
Steroids are an emergency medicine, that should be evaluated against a lot of side effects.

Try homeopathics and a neti pot. No dangerous drugs, no side effects, and they've very effective. You can probably purchase both at your local health food store.

Hi M.,
I would call the St Jude Wellness Center at ###-###-#### and voice your concerns. There's a book they have where they can look up your medications and should be either able to put your mind at ease or tell you straight up if they're not okay. The nurses there are very pro-nursing, so they'll likely encourage you to keep on breast-feeding. My son is now six months old and has just started solids. Nursing him has been the most wonderful experience and I understand how you don't want to give that up yet. Anyway, I've called them every time I've had a question and they've been extremely helpful. Good luck!

If your allergist says it's safe, it probably is. Don't quit breastfeeding! Even if she does get a little of the drug it is still better than formula. But if you have any doubts call a lactation counselor- they know like Everything about nursing. Loma Linda has a good one- the number is 558-MAMA.

Hi M.,

Often moms think they're protecting their baby by weaning when they take any medication. But the greatest protection you can offer your baby is breastfeeding--the health risks of artificial feeding are greater than those of most meds you could take.

I'm not giving advice about your particular meds--that's your doctor's job and it looks like he's already checked and found them safe. If you need more information, call La Leche League. They're in the phone book and they can give you the latest research on each medication you're considering.

Your baby even more than others needs the protection of breastfeeding, because of your allergies. Artificial milks frequently trigger allergies because the baby's stomach isn't ready to digest anything but mother's milk yet. It would be a really good thing not to make her deal with those foreign proteins (cows' milk, soy, etc.) just yet.

Ask your pediatrician!!!

Here is some info from (www.kellymom.com)

http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/mom-surgery.html

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/pain-meds.html

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/anesthetics.htm

Don't stop breast feeding. Those medications, my OB/GYN prescribed to me last November- I was 4 months pregnant. I was told that If they are given to you during pregnancy, they are safe for breast feeding. So it is totally safe. If you want more assurance, call your ob's office and confirm. They will probably tell you they are safe too!

Good luck!

Hi my name is K. and im from santee now living in lakeside i am a mother of eleven-6 boys 5 girls.they range in age from 21-8.anyways just so you know a little bit about me.
Breast feeding has many advantages too many to list from health to bonding.you are blessed to able to breast feed without complications i am fully aware of the many pains and ups and downs of choosing to breast feed,i belive your concerns are valid about brest feeding while on any type of meds without a doctors approval.what im wondering is have you always had allergies,because if this is something just effecting you for the last few weeks then it may be something more.antibiotics suggest this also.if i was uncomfortable about one doctors opinion i would seek a second opinion.all in all dont stop breast feeding ,sometimes it takes a little extra reminder to take time out for yourself and your health but its worth it to your new daughter and you.get better and best of wishes to you and yours,K.

M.,

This site has a lot of useful information on breastfeeding and drugs: http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp
Hope it helps.

All the Best,
Doula M.

M.,

I shattered my kneecap last year when my son was 3 months old. I had surgery and was on some serious narcotics for about 3 weeks and spent some time on blood thinners. Out of that entire experience, the only thing my pediatrician said "no" to was steroids (I developed horrible tendonitis in my heel when I started PT for my knee - I was able to work through it with more PT and skipped the steriods). If you call your pediatrician's office and give them a list of what you are taking they have a reference book to use to tell you how safe the meds are for a nursing mother. There is also a book by Thomas Hale that you can buy (you might also be able to find some info on line). And there is a doctor www.drjaygordon.com who is a very pro-breastfeeding advocate. I emailed him (I'm not his patient and he doesn't know me from anyone) before I started the blood thinners and he responded to me within a day. He's really nice. 99% of the time having to take a medication is no reason to wean. My son is 18 months old now and still nursing (we are in the process of weaning now).

:-)T.

NO, don't wean, you can still nurse!!! Keep nursing, it's the BEST thing for your baby!!! SO LITTLE of any drug gets into your milk, it's not an issue, SOOOO many good nurses and docs SHOULD tell you that. Sounds like your doc isn't into breastfeeding, unfortuanly people are forgetting how PERFECT it is for babies. We are mammals, we're supposed to nurse and care for our young. What did people do before formula?? You want a healthy child and your milk is MADE for them specifcally!!

I would not stop breastfeeding over this! I don't know if the meds are safe, probably not a good idea this early on.

I highly recommend you see a chiropractor. No meds and they can fix just about anything!!

M.

Call your daughters Pediatrician. He/she will be able to answer whether they are baby safe or not. My OB said something was safe while trying to get pregnant, but my ped strongly disagreed. I chose to error on the side of caution and not take the med.

In the end, you have to do what you feel is best for your baby and yourself. Even if the ped gives you the thumbs-up, if you don't feel safe about it, then go with your heart.

Instead of using drugs that do have side effects have you considered or tried alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic or homeopathy. All 3 have helped many people with allergies get them under control and keep them there. The drugs you're taking don't fix the problem and are also dangerous for you.

Don't stop nursing. Keep it up. Your baby will be just fine. The body is miraculous at protecting a nursing baby. But nobody should be on antibiotics for a year. They are a short term drug, not a long term drug.

Don't stop nursing. Another website to use is www.safefetus.com. This also tells what is safe during pregnancy. You can alweays find medications that are compatible with breastfeeding. Good luck. :)

I find it hard to believe that your doctor would prescribe anything that was not safe to use while breastfeeding if you told him you were breastfeeding. The only side effect that you are really at risk for anytime you take an antihistamine while breastfeeding is decreased milk production. Remember milk production is supply and demand. If your baby is not at the breast as often this will decrease your milk supply too.

Hi M.,
There are several safe alternative solutions to your problem. Acupuncture and herbs recommended by a licensed acupuncturist is another idea that wasn't already posted on here. I also sell a natural anti histamine (allergy relief product) at my office if you want to try it. Just let me know! It's about $20. and usually is very fast acting and safe to use while nursing.
In health,
C. Tanaka, DC
www.naturallifechiro.com

Hi M.,
Great job on the breastfeeding! I recently just had a baby and soon thereafter I got a UTI. UGH!! I am BFing and I was concerned about using the antibiotic. The nurse said it was safe, but the lable said NO NURSING. Should I pump and dump? Go to formula? No fun.
Thankfully I vented to another board I'm on and a mom there had a copy of Medication and Mother's Milk (or something close to that) and she researched and told me that indeed it would be safe to nurse with the meds.
I HIGHLY recommend that book! You may be able to nurse and take your meds too!!! Sometimes timing is important. What is the molecular weight of the meds, what is the half-life? I don't know these things, but the book does. And then you can make your own informed decisions.
Good luck to you!!!
E.

I have been having the same problem, but i was told nothing more than benadryl and afrin nasal spray. My son seems to be fine and doesn't exhibit any forms of lethargy like I do when taking benadryl :)

I'm sure your dr is aware of what he's prescribing. The truth is, SOMETHING slips through while nursing -- it's inevitable. It really comes down to how much you're willing to endure in order to continue nursing. I had to take allergy medication during my second pregnancy and I was freaking out! My dr reassured me that it wouldn't harm the baby, but I ended up taking a mild version instead (Children's Claritin). Kudos to you for being so careful, Mom! Good luck.

Your doctor isn't worried and you shouldn't be either. You don't have to wean your daughter even if you stay on these medications.

Steroids are an L2 (safer) medication while you are nursing. According to what I found, because Nasonex is a nasal spray, very little of it gets into the bloodstream and it has to get into the bloodstream to be present in your milk. Zyrtec (also an L2) is also a recommended medication for nursing mothers.
This is a nice reference page for you (and also includes the link to the AAP list of medications) and also offers some natural treatments for you if you're still nervous but all the literature says you are fine with nursing and taking all the medications you've listed so there isn't any reason why you should have to wean now.

http://allergyware.wordpress.com/2006/03/28/zyrtec-and-br...

HEY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! You don't need to wean your baby unless you really just don't want to nurse anymore. I have been on oral steroids as well as allergy meds since long before I had my three kids. I can relate to the worry that comes whenever you think of your child getting the same medications through your breast milk, but your doctor knows that what is best for both you and baby is a healthy, functioning mom. Sure, baby probably gets a small dose herself, but the benefit far outweighs the risk. If you're still worried, call your pediatrician to double check. Good luck!

If the doctor says it's safe, then you should continue to take the medicine (babies need their mommies to be healthy). Maybe call the pediatrician if you're concerned, but doctors know what medicines to give to a breastfeeding woman. I hope you feel better soon. :)

Check your meds on Kellymom.com. Good luck.

I am a nurse and my dad is a doctor.
Read carefully:

DONT-TAKE-ANYTHING-YOU-DONT-WANT-TO-GO-TO-THE-BABY.
I say this out of love and care.

Wendy

Hi M.
All antibiotics are different. I got Mastitis when I was nursing and was put on antibiotics for it, my son didn't agree with it at all so I stopped. In any case I would put your baby on probiotics while you take any antibiotics. Probiotics are great for babies and adults and can be something they take every day regardless of antibiotics. It puts the good bacteria back in to the body.

I had horrible allergies when I was pregnant and I couldn't take anything. I did a warm salt water rinse in my nose with the little suction thing they use on babies, it really helped. I agree with some of the other posts; acupuncture is great and chiropractics as well.
Good luck.