Essential Reads: Cannabis and Breastfeeding
At this point, the medical use of cannabis is legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.). The recreational use of cannabis has been legalized in 21 states and D.C. The downstream effect [...]
You Asked: Is Ketamine an Option for the Treatment of Breastfeeding Women?
I am taking care of a patient with a history of severe recurrent depression. Although she did relatively well during pregnancy on duloxetine 120 mg, she experienced recurrent, severe depressive symptoms after giving birth. [...]
Essential Reads: Breastfeeding and Anti-Epileptic Drugs
While data are limited regarding AEDs and breastfeeding, it appears that none of the AEDs are excreted at high levels into the breast milk, nor have they been associated with high rates of adverse events in the nursing infant.
Essential Reads: Medications for Smoking Cessation in Breastfeeding Women
Our information on the use of medications for smoking cessation in nursing mothers is limited.
What You Need to Know About Cannabis and Breastfeeding
We continue to see more and more women of reproductive age using marijuana in various forms. While marijuana is viewed by some as a safe alternative for the treatment of various maladies associated with pregnancy, [...]
Breastfeeding Difficulties May Affect Bonding: How Can We Help New Moms?
Although new mothers describe breastfeeding as a meaningful and fulfilling aspect of caring for their infants, breastfeeding is also a common source of stress and anxiety. A recent study suggests that difficulties with breastfeeding may [...]
Essential Reads: Alcohol and Breastfeeding
We frequently receive questions regarding the safety of drinking alcohol while breastfeeding. While the harmful effects of alcohol use during pregnancy are well known, we have much less information regarding the consequences of alcohol [...]
You Asked: What Medications Can Be Used For Smoking Cessation in a Breastfeeding Woman?
Smoking is relatively common during pregnancy, with about 10% of all women smoking at some point during their pregnancy. The rates are even higher among women with psychiatric illness. While many women may be [...]
Psychological Distress in the Mother May Affect Levels of Immunoglobulins in Breast Milk
We have seen multiple studies which indicate that postpartum depression (PPD) interferes with breastfeeding. Postpartum women who suffer from depression are less likely to breastfeed, and they typically breastfeed for a shorter duration than women who are not depressed. A recent study looks at an entirely different question, asking whether postpartum stress affects the quality of the breast milk. In this study, the researchers focused on levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the breast milk. (Immunoglobulins or antibodies are passed from the mother to the baby through the breast milk and help to confer immunity.)
Methadone and Breastfeeding
Up until 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that methadone was compatible with breastfeeding in women taking less than 20 mg per day. Because most women on methadone maintenance therapy typically require 50 to 15o mg of methadone per day during pregnancy, this meant that most women on methadone were not able to breastfeed. However, the dose restriction for methadone was eliminated in 2001, a decision driven by several studies indicating that the levels of methadone secreted into human breast milk were relatively low.