There are tons of medications out there. Often a major concern on mother’s minds is “is it safe for me to take this while breastfeeding?” Although it’s impossible to touch on every single medication available and its impact on breastmilk or infant health here in this article, today we will discuss medications that decrease milk supply.
Disclaimer
This article is not meant to replace, diagnose or be any form of treatment of any kind. If you are concerned about your medications affecting your milk production, consult your doctor. This article is meant for education only and is not exhaustive in its list.
My Story
It was the day before Thanksgiving and I felt like crap. My head hurt. I had tons of pressure in my face. Getting good sleep at night was difficult because of horrible congestion. I was breastfeeding my 6 month old and hoped I could see a doctor and get medication that was safe to take while breastfeeding.
The doctor came in to see me and was more excited to see the baby than me, which I really didn’t mind. She diagnosed me with a sinus infection and prescribed a safe antibiotic for me to take while breastfeeding.
While she was talking to me, she added, “Do you take any other medications at home?”
“Yes, Tylenol when I need it.” I’m not big on medications and prefer to use herbal supplements or wait it out and let my body heal itself.
The doctor added, “Stay away from medications ending in -phen or -phol. They will decrease breastmilk supply.”
Good to know!
At home I took a mental note on how much milk I would produce after taking Tylenol. I could tell that my body was producing slightly less breastmilk after having Tylenol.
-Phens & -Phols
According to my doctor, medications that end with the suffix -phin or -phol have the ability to decrease your milk supply. When I was sick and took Tylenol, I could definitely tell that I was producing slightly less milk at each feeding for my baby. Because of this, I avoided Tylenol and tried drinking more water instead.
What Other Reliable Sources Say
Although I my doctor said to try to avoid acetaminophen while breastfeeding, every other reputable resource I found online (Verywell Family, Mayo Clinic, National Library of Medicine, etc.) all said that taking acetaminophen while breastfeeding was considered safe for both mom and baby. They did not consider acetaminophen as a medication that decreased milk supply.
However, those sources were speaking from the standpoint of infant health. Very small amounts of acetaminophen could be found in the mother’s breastmilk after she took some. These levels were not considered harmful to the baby. These studies were not considering the affects on breastmilk supply.
There does not appear to be enough evidence to say for sure that Tylenol and other medications do, in fact, decrease milk production.
What You Should Do
Always consult your doctor with any questions you may have regarding the safety of medications while breastfeeding. You can discuss the impact certain medicines may have on infant health. Additionally, you can ask your doctor’s opinion on medications that decrease milk supply. If your doctor gives you the go ahead, then don’t hesitate to use a medication if you need it.
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Want To Know More?
Check out these articles to learn more about nutrition while breastfeeding!
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Foods And Drinks To Be Careful Of While Breastfeeding
“Healthy Calories” And Breastmilk – Does What I Eat Affect The Quality of My Breastmilk?
How Much Water Should A Breastfeeding Mother Drink?
Why Eating Enough Should Be Your Goal Instead Of Losing Weight