Can I take pills, antibiotics or antidepressants while breastfeeding my baby? What medications should be avoided while breastfeeding a baby?

For most young mothers, the problem of taking pills and medicines is especially acute not only during pregnancy, but also during breastfeeding. Fearing for the life of their child, women often forget that pain cannot be tolerated - it is necessary to find its cause and eliminate it immediately.

Special funds are called to help in this, which are allowed to be taken even during breastfeeding. But remember that most over-the-counter medicines are not recommended for wet nurses. First of all, due to the fact that the product is not licensed for use by nursing mothers and pregnant women. This happens due to insufficient research on the effects of drugs on infants.

It is impossible to establish exactly how this or that drug will affect the life of the baby. Therefore, if you have any doubts about any medicine or pills, consult your doctor, he will definitely tell you whether it is possible to use this or that drug during feeding.

How drugs affect the child

In many women's forums, as well as on the advice of doctors, we know that it is better to avoid any pills while breastfeeding. Even cold medicine can have a detrimental effect on a baby's health.

If, after you have taken the drug and fed the child, he develops the following symptoms:

• rash on the face and body;
• diarrhea and poor digestibility of breast milk;
• vomiting and others;

Seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY Even if the baby began to behave louder, cries all the time and nothing can calm him down - call the hospital, as his behavior indicates that he is experiencing discomfort or even pain.

With breast milk, the baby absorbs approximately 1% of the medicine that you have taken. Even after a few hours, the substances remain in the mother's body and can harm the baby.

In order to choose the right medicine, you need to consult with your doctor, he will prompt and advise a proven remedy that can protect you and your baby from unpleasant consequences.

How to take medicine while breastfeeding

There are cases in which you cannot do without medication, which is why there are a number of other factors that influence the decision to “drink or not drink”.
Before taking any medication, ask yourself a couple of questions:

1. How old is your baby and was he born prematurely? (the liver and kidneys of younger children are still developing and they are less able to cope with the negative effects of any drugs)
2. Whether your baby is exclusively breastfed or has other dietary options that may lessen the effects of any medications.
3. Have you fully read the description and contraindications of the drug?
4. Are there alternatives to the drug (health exercises, rest, diet)?

What to do if you take medicine while breastfeeding and which ones you should not take

If you still decide to take the medicine during feeding, choose the one with the fewest components. Reception of any medication should be postponed for a while after feeding the baby, and at least 2 hours before the next. This will reduce the concentration of the drug in the body.

Use drops and sprays that do not affect the nervous system to avoid unnecessary risks. Never take pills such as:

• Aspirin (it increases the risk of Reye's syndrome);
• Codeine (may cause sedation)
• Pseudoephedrine - countercurrent (may reduce milk supply);
• Guaifenesin: expectorant (to treat phlegm);
• Phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine are both decongestants;
• drugs that cause drowsiness;
• Cough remedies.

Some studies have shown that the effect of cannabis has both a physical and mental effect on a person, is transmitted through breast milk, and it is assumed that this may affect the development of children's motor skills. Research is not the last resort, but why take the risk?

There are also safe painkillers, you can also choose more gentle options for colds and other ailments. In any case, you need to consult the doctor's recommendations, and do not resort to self-medication.

What medicines can be taken while breastfeeding a baby

You will be surprised, but most antibiotics, such as painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, can be taken even while breastfeeding. As well as medicines for fever: choose antihistamines without sedatin.

Cough suppressants - cough syrup is good, but countercurrents should be avoided as they can significantly reduce the amount of milk. Asthma inhalers with a rationed dose of vitamins, most depressants, anticoagulants for DVT Domperidone (only in small doses).

Corticosteroid injections, flu shocks, and vaccinations will also benefit your child. Children's medicines are usually safe and allowed for breastfeeding mothers; these include loratadine and cetirizine for fever.

Warfarin and heparin block a protein in the blood and thus the drug is less likely to pass into breast milk (but if you need to take these drugs, make sure your baby was provided with enough vitamin K at birth, as the anticoagulant may interfere with milk flow) .

You can be wary of all hormone-containing drugs. So, when choosing the right birth control pills, you need to consider the amount of estrogen. Most of them are not suitable for nursing mothers .

Check with your doctor which ones are safe to take and which are not.
Remember that even while breastfeeding, you can become pregnant, so if you need to take birth control, then this should be done the next morning without stopping feeding the baby.

Don't trust unverified sources, make sure you get specific information from reliable sources! No matter how many tips are found on the Internet, the attending physician will advise much better than a certified specialist from the network. Do not self-medicate, contact a specialist in time! Health to you and your children!

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