All medicines pass to a greater or lesser extent into breast milk and thus into the baby. However, it is rare that it is necessary to stop breastfeeding completely in connection with taking medicine. However, it is always important to consider whether the medicine is necessary - this also applies to over-the-counter medicines. If you are in doubt, you should contact your doctor for advice and guidance and remember to specifically mention that you are breastfeeding. If a medicine is necessary, but not suitable for breastfeeding, there is often an alternative preparation that can be used. The doctor will always be able to advise on which medicines you can breastfeed on.

The concentration of a drug in breast milk depends on the half-life of the drug, the dose, the time interval between taking the drug and breastfeeding, and the way you receive the drug. The concentration is highest with intravenous treatment, lower with oral pills, and lowest with inhalation and topical use.

Another thing about taking medicine and breastfeeding is that the medicine has to leave the body again. That is the liver's job. Medicine gives the liver extra work. Your adult liver can handle it, but baby's little new liver has a harder time handling the extra work. It is therefore both harder and more demanding for baby to excrete the medicine. Baby's liver is immature and will therefore take longer to excrete the medicine than an adult's liver. In short, all unnecessary medicine should be (re)considered carefully for baby's sake.

I am often asked if it is okay to take antibiotics when breastfeeding. It is. But both the baby's and your gut flora will be affected. Many of the good and important gut bacteria will be killed. Therefore, it is best to avoid antibiotics unless necessary. If your doctor recommends antibiotics, it is important that you finish the entire course. Some people find that milk production is affected by antibiotics. Therefore, pay attention to the basics in the form of rest, sleep, food and drink for those who are breastfeeding. And consider introducing extra skin-to-skin contact with baby to boost milk production. And of course, keep the milk bar open 24-7 😉

When the antibiotic course is over, I would recommend that both you and baby take a round of pre- and probiotics. Health food stores can advise on the right kind for baby depending on your child's age.

I hope you found this to be an informative post about breastfeeding and medication. Always give the baby the benefit of the doubt and it's better to check with your doctor once too much than once too little - and remember to tell the doctor that you are breastfeeding.