When counseling breastfeeding mothers who intend to take or are taking medications (prescription, over-the-counter, and/or herbal), the questions below should be considered and asked. The provided answers are necessary to properly counsel mothers on the safe and effective use of medications while breastfeeding. A stepwise approach based upon these answers can then be used to minimize infant drug exposure while breastfeeding. The steps evolve from not taking a medication to discontinuing breastfeeding. Steps can be skipped or combined as appropriate. Following this approach almost always allows the nursing infant to continue to breastfeed safely.
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| 1 |
What is the name, strength, and dosage form of the drug? SHOW |
| 2 |
Do you still have the prescription? Or, have you already filled it and are taking the drug? SHOW |
| 3 |
Why is the drug being prescribed? SHOW |
| 4 |
Do you feel you need to take the drug? SHOW |
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If the drug is being prescribed for a relatively benign condition, the mother may be willing to endure some personal inconvenience to spare the infant from potential effects of the drug. This is also best decided in conjunction with the prescribing physician.
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What does your doctor say regarding breastfeeding outcome and taking the drug? SHOW |
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What is the drug dosage schedule and how often do you nurse? SHOW |
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How old is the baby? SHOW |
| 8 |
Was your baby full-term or premature? SHOW |
| 9 |
What is your baby’s weight? SHOW |
| 10 |
Is your baby currently receiving any medication? SHOW |
| 11 |
Do you know how to hand-express milk or do you have access to a breast pump? SHOW |
| 12 |
Is this your first breastfed baby? SHOW |
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Stepwise Approach to Minimizing Infant Drug Exposure SHOW |
| 14 |
Mastitis Antibiotic Algorithm SHOW |
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