Medications and Breastfeeding for Mothers With Chronic Illness

Management of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Obstetric Patients: Concerns for Critical Care Nurses

“…In addition, in these patients, research by pharmaceutical companies cannot be conducted using clinical trials because of ethical considerations. 29 Spencer 29 suggested that health care providers refer to LactMed and the Infant Risk Center for the most current information on medications and human milk. After birth, if a woman is unable to breastfeed or pump, her breasts can become engorged and painful.…”

Pharmacologic Management of Common Ailments in Women Who Are Breastfeeding

“…Table lists selected medications that may be seen in the outpatient setting that are generally not recommended because of potential adverse effects either on the infant or on the woman's milk supply. Drugs that should be strictly avoided if a woman is breastfeeding because of potential for infant harm include antineoplastic agents, radionuclides, and oral retinoids . Agents that are generally regarded as contraindicated, but can be used in specific cases with extreme caution, include lithium (Lithobid), ergot alkaloids, amiodarone (Cordarone), gold salts, and chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) .…”

“…Drugs that should be strictly avoided if a woman is breastfeeding because of potential for infant harm include antineoplastic agents, radionuclides, and oral retinoids . Agents that are generally regarded as contraindicated, but can be used in specific cases with extreme caution, include lithium (Lithobid), ergot alkaloids, amiodarone (Cordarone), gold salts, and chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) . Central nervous system active

drugs such as psychotropics and antiepileptics should be chosen carefully with consideration of the lowest dose possible.…”

“…Central nervous system active

drugs such as psychotropics and antiepileptics should be chosen carefully with consideration of the lowest dose possible. The majority of psychoactive medications are compatible with breastfeeding, although several may transfer easily into breast milk or have insufficient data of safety during breastfeeding, which warrants selection of an alternative agent or careful infant monitoring if one of these agents is chosen for therapy . Dopamine agonists, antiestrogens, selective estrogen receptor agonists, and ergot derivatives (eg, bromocriptine [Parlodel], cabergoline [Dostinex]) can seriously suppress lactation and thus should not be used .…”

“…Infants and newborns at high risk are those younger than 2 weeks, those born at a premature gestation (before 37 weeks), those who are acutely ill, and those who have chronic health conditions that affect kidney or liver function. Any drugs the infant is taking should be considered for potential drug‐drug interactions when combined with the drug in maternal breast milk . For infants who are at high risk, health care providers must carefully evaluate the risk‐benefit ratio of treatment and consider consulting with the infant's pediatric care provider before prescribing any medication.…”