Advising Mothers on the Use of Medications during Breastfeeding: A Need for a Positive Attitude

Riccardo Davanzo; Jenny Bua; Angela De Cunto; Maria Luisa Farina; Fabrizio De Ponti; Antonio Clavenna; Stefania Mandrella; Antonella Sagone; Maurizio Clementi

doi:10.1177/0890334415595513

Advising Mothers on the Use of Medications during Breastfeeding: A Need for a Positive Attitude

J Hum Lact. 2016 Feb;32(1):15-9. doi: 10.1177/0890334415595513. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

Authors

Riccardo Davanzo¹, Jenny Bua¹, Angela De Cunto², Maria Luisa Farina³, Fabrizio De Ponti⁴, Antonio Clavenna⁵, Stefania Mandrella⁶, Antonella Sagone⁷, Maurizio Clementi⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Perinatal Medicine, Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy.
² Department of Perinatal Medicine, Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo," Trieste, Italy [email protected].
³ Poison Control Center, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
⁴ Pharmacology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁵ IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri," Milan, Italy.
⁶ La Leche League Italia, Rome, Italy.
⁷ International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Rome, Italy.
⁸ Teratology Information Service-Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

PMID: 26173811
DOI: 10.1177/0890334415595513

Abstract

The use of medications by the nursing mother is a common reason for interrupting breastfeeding. Few drugs have been demonstrated to be absolutely contraindicated during breastfeeding. Excessive caution may lead health professionals to unnecessarily advise to interrupt breastfeeding, without assessing the latest evidence or considering the risk-benefit ratio of taking a medication versus terminating breastfeeding. To foster an appropriate approach toward the use of medications in breastfeeding women, the Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine created the following policy statement.

Keywords: adverse effects; breastfeeding; drug therapy; human milk; medication; risk assessment.

Publication types

Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health Personnel*
Breast Feeding*
Contraindications
Directive Counseling / methods*
Directive Counseling / standards
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*
Female
Health Promotion / methods*
Health Promotion / standards
Humans
Italy
Organizational Policy
Perinatology
Societies, Medical