Do drugs used in obstetric anesthesia interfere with early breastfeeding? What determines drug safety in lactation? Part 1

Dev Period Med. 2019;23(4):227-232. doi: 10.34763/devperiodmed.20192304.227232. Epub 2021 Jan 29.

Abstract

The issues concerning the transfer of drugs into mothers' milk and their influence on breastfed babies have not been fully studied. Assessment of the situation should include such aspects as drug transfer into fetal blood and into mother's milk, the real risk of inhibiting lactogenesis 2 in women after birth, as well as the psychological consequences for the mother of suspending breastfeeding. The risk of feeding a newborn with formula based on cow's milk is another fateful issue. The following paper presents the pharmacokinetic characteristics of drugs which determine their transfer level through the placenta and into mother's milk during the perinatal period and lactation.

Keywords: anesthesia; cesarean section; delivery; drugs; breastfeeding.

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia / adverse effects*
  • Anesthesia, Obstetrical / adverse effects*
  • Anesthetics / adverse effects*
  • Breast Feeding / methods*
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lactation / drug effects
  • Milk, Human / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Anesthetics