Can you send me the name of the drug and I?ll look it up in the book
Medications and Mothers? Milk by Thomas Hale?
It is important to get a non-drug manufacture?s view of the drug as the manufacture nearly always says not to breastfeed to protect themselves from litigation. The main book that the doctors use is a book which lists the drug manufacture?s information.
Below is what Hale says about Prednisolone (a very common steroid found in eye drop medications). Eye medications are usually small doses.
In small doses, most steroids are certainly not contraindicated in nursing mothers. Whenever possible use low-dose alternatives such as aerosols or inhalers. Following administration, wait at least 4 hours if possible prior to feeding infant to reduce exposure. With high doses (>40 mg/day), particularly for long periods, steroids could potentially produce problems in infants growth and development, although we have absolutely no data in this area, or which doses would pose problems. Brief applications of high dose steroids are probably not contraindicated as the overall exposure is low. With prolonged high dose therapy, the infant should be closely monitored for growth and development.
He gives the drug a Lactation Risk of L2 ( L1 = Safest, L2 = Safer, L3 = Moderately Safe, L4 = Possibly Hazardous, L5 = Contraindicated)
And a Pregnancy Risk of C
The AAP say it is a maternal medication usually compatible with breastfeeding.
Also remember when deciding to stop breastfeeding to way up the problems of the baby not being breast fed. Our society often assumes this is zero and this is not the case. Usually it is healthier for a baby to continue getting breast milk even with a bit of the mother?s drug in it than to have formula milk.
I hope you are feeling better soon.
SARAH
Sarah Hung IBCLC
www.lotuslactation.com
