OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency of medication use in the immediate postpartum period and to evaluate possible effects on breastfeeding. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 2,173 women that gave birth in four hospitals in Belo Horizonte, a city in the southeast of Brazil, between July 1998 and July 1999. The sample was calculated by means of the data obtained from the Citýs Health Department according to the number of labors made in these four hospitals in 1995, which amounts to approximately 5% of the total number that usually occurs within a year. Women were randomized according to the calendar of epidemiological weeks. The interviews consisted of a questionnaire through which information about breastfeeding and sociodemographic data were obtained. In addition, the data were collected from motherś and newbornś medical records. The drugs were classified according to their compatibility and incompatibility with breastfeeding, and were monitored as to the possible adverse effects on newborn infants. RESULTS: 2,090 (96.2%) of 2,173 women received drug therapy in the immediate postpartum period. Among the drugs used, 2,054 (98.3%) were not contraindicated for breastfeeding; 338 (16.2%) did not contain safe information, and 3 (0.14%) were contraindicated. CONCLUSIONS: Although drug therapy was widespread among the mothers followed up at these four hospitals, there seems to be no influence on breastfeeding. Fortunately, most prescribed drugs did not interfere with motherś and infantś health.

Artigo submetido em 03.05.01, aceito em 05.09.01. ResumoObjetivo: estudar a freqüência do uso de medicamentos no pós-parto imediato e verificar possíveis interferências nas recomendações quanto à amamentação.Métodos: foi realizado um estudo transversal em quatro maternidades de Belo Horizonte, no período de julho de 1998 a julho de 1999, incluindo 2.173 parturientes. A amostra foi calculada com base em dados da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde sobre o número de partos ocorridos nessas instituições, no ano de 1995, ou seja, em torno de 5% do total em um ano. A distribuição da amostra foi aleatória, utilizando o calendário de semanas epidemiológicas. Através de entrevistas junto às mães, usando um questionário próprio, e da coleta de dados obtidos de prontuários médicos da mãe e do recém-nascido, foi avaliada a freqüência do uso de medicamentos no pós-parto imediato. Os medicamentos foram agrupados em categorias quanto à compatibilidade com amamentação, à incompatibilidade, ao uso criterioso em monitorar e observar o recém-nascido para possíveis efeitos indesejáveis.Resultados: de um total de 2.173 mulheres, em 2.090 (96,2%) foram prescritos medicamentos no pós-parto imediato. Dos medicamentos utilizados, 2.054 (98,3%) foram de drogas sem contraindicação à amamentação natural; 338 (16,2%) foram de drogas sem informações seguras, e 3 (0,14%) de drogas contra-indicadas à amamentação.Conclusões: observou-se um amplo uso de medicamentos pelas mães nas maternidades de Belo Horizonte, no pós-parto imediato. A maioria das drogas é compatível com a amamentação, o que parece não influenciar negativamente a prática do aleitamento materno. AbstractObjective: to study the frequency of medication use in the immediate postpartum period and to evaluate possible effects on breastfeeding.Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out with 2,173 women that gave birth in four hospitals in Belo Horizonte, a city in the southeast of Brazil, between July 1998 and July 1999. The sample was calculated by means of the data obtained from the City's Health Department according to the number of labors made in these four hospitals in 1995, which amounts to approximately 5% of the total number that usually occurs within a year. Women were randomized according to the calendar of epidemiological weeks. The interviews consisted of a questionnaire through which information about breastfeeding and sociodemographic data were obtained. In addition, the data were collected from mothers' and newborns' medical records. The drugs were classified according to their compatibility and incompatibility with breastfeeding, and were monitored as to the possible adverse effects on newborn infants.Results: 2,090 (96.2%) of 2,173 women received drug therapy in the immediate postpartum period. Among the drugs used, 2,054 (98.3%) were not contraindicated for breastfeeding; 338 (16.2%) did not contain safe information, and 3 (0.14%) were contraindicated.Conclusions: although drug therapy was widespread among the mothers followed up at these four hospitals, there seem...