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When women who are breastfeeding are on medication,
these medications may pass
through the breast milk to the infant.
Because of the infant's small size and the
difference in metabolism between infants and adults,
occasionally this transfer of
medication can be harmful to the infant.
The majority of drugs that are given to
breastfeeding women do not cause problems in infants
(
Howard, 1999
).
Another large class of drugs do not pass into breast milk
and consequently they do not
reach the infant.
Most of the data on breastfeeding and drugs is based on single case
reports or small case series.
There is a tremendous need for more information on the
safety of drugs while breastfeeding.
How does one determine whether to be concerned
about a medication being prescribed for a breastfeeding mother?
One method of thinking about this has been proposed by Powers and Slusser
(
Powers, 1997
).
There are two basic questions that must be asked:
- Is the medication transferred into breast milk?
- If the medication gets into breast milk,
what is the effect on the infant?
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