August is National Breastfeeding Month. In recognition of the month, we will be focusing on some topics pertinent to breastfeeding in women with mood and anxiety disorders. Here are some things to take a look at:
Updated Breastfeeding and Medications Page
We have given this page a long overdue facelift; here, we provide updated guidance to support treatment decisions about medication use for mothers who are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. The updated page features new information on the use of stimulants and atypical antipsychotics.
So Glad You Asked with Dr. Ruta Nonacs – Everyone Has an Opinion: Is There a “Right” Way to Feed Your Baby?
In this episode of our podcast, we talk to four different moms about their experiences with infant feeding. Although they had different experiences, what comes through loud and clear is the pressure that many moms feel about breastfeeding and the fact that while breastfeeding is what is recommended, it doesn’t always come easily.
And later this month, stay tuned for:
Breastfeeding Challenges and Mental Health Risks
Does Breastfeeding Reduce Risk for Postpartum Depression?
Zuranolone and Breastfeeding: What Do We Know?
Balancing Risks and Benefits: Making Well-Informed Decisions About Medications and Breastfeeding
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for at least two years or beyond. These recommendations reflect the nutritional, immune, and health benefits of breastfeeding for the baby, as well as notable long-term health benefits for the mother, including reduced risk of diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.
However, breastfeeding is more complicated when a woman requires medication for the management of anxiety, depression, or another type of psychiatric disorder. All medications taken by a breastfeeding mother are secreted into the breast milk; the amount of medication to which the nursing baby is exposed via breast milk varies, but for most medications, appears to be relatively small. Understandably, breastfeeding mothers are concerned about the safety of their medications and, in order to prevent exposing the child to medication, may consider avoiding or delaying treatment, or they may decide to discontinue breastfeeding altogether.
While avoiding medication or forgoing breastfeeding may offer protection because the nursing infant would not be exposed to medication in breast milk, these decisions are not without risk. For one, avoiding or delaying necessary treatment may be associated with worsening of the mother’s illness, putting the mother at increased risk for impaired functioning and self-harm, and increasing the child’s exposure to the adverse effects of untreated postpartum depression or anxiety. Likewise, prematurely stopping breastfeeding may deprive the baby and mother of some of its established benefits.
Clinical research and extensive experience indicate that, for most medications prescribed for psychiatric conditions, the risk of adverse effects in the breastfed infant is low, and breastfeeding can often be safely continued with careful monitoring. Consulting reliable, up-to-date resources, such as LactMed, and seeking medical consultation whenever questions arise about medication and breastfeeding, are essential. An individualized, collaborative approach to decision-making helps mothers navigate complex choices with confidence, ensuring the well-being of their child, while attending to their own mental health.
Listen to Our Podcast:
Everyone Has an Opinion. Is There a “Right” Way to Feed My Baby?
