Every nursing mother wants her milk to be full of nutrients and free from harmful substances to keep her baby healthy. So many people worry about whether breastfeeding mothers can take paracetamol or not.
Why should I worry about whether breastfeeding mothers can take paracetamol?
The baby is under the effect of drugs more than the mother
During the first months of life, babies are completely dependent on breast milk . So all the effects of drugs on the mother will have an effect on the baby. Even the baby has to suffer the effects of drugs more than mothers, because the baby's ability to clear drugs is only about 10% compared with adults.
The more lipid-soluble drugs, the drug has a small molecule and the lower maternal ability to bind to plasma proteins, the higher the rate of transfer through breast milk. The amount of medicine in milk varies from time to time, the more fat-soluble the breast milk is at the end of a breast-feeding, the more fat-soluble drugs it contains.
With what properties can a nursing mother take the medicine?
The amount of medicine a baby receives through breast milk depends on the dose, the number of times the mother's medication is taken, the time between taking the drug and the time of feeding the baby, the length of time to breastfeed and the amount of breast milk the baby receives during the day. Therefore, mothers who are breastfeeding when trying to take a medicine need to be prescribed by a doctor to weigh the effects and harms of the drug. The doctor will usually select drugs according to the following criteria:
Less secreted in milk
Side effects and pharmacological effects of the drug do not affect the child's health
The drug does not change the smell and taste of milk
The drug is not able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier of the child
Topicals or sprays because they have less side effects in the baby than oral or injectable drugs
The things mothers should pay attention to while breastfeeding and using drugs
Breastfeeding before taking the drug, to the next breastfeed (after about 2 hours) can be bottle-fed, breastmilk removed, and then the baby can breastfeed normally.
During the time when the mother is taking the medicine, it is necessary to monitor the baby's symptoms such as irritability, drowsiness, irritability, diarrhea or breastfeeding, ... if any, the mother should stop the drug and consult a doctor.
With drugs that have not determined the safety of the baby but the mother is required to use it, she should breastfeed, express breastmilk at the right time of the feed to maintain the source of milk and will continue to breastfeed. come back after the drug is completely eliminated.
So can breastfeeding mothers take paracetamol?
Paracetamol is an extremely popular pain reliever and fever reducer. This drug secretes in milk quite little, only about 6% of the usual dose. Therefore, paracetamol can be used for breastfeeding or pregnant mothers .
In addition to paracetamol, breastfeeding mothers may take some of the following drugs:
Analgesics such as paracetamol, ibuprophen, codeine, and naproxem are considered to be safe because it is less likely to pass through breast milk. Don't take aspirin.
Antibiotics penicillin, cephalosporin, macrolide, aminoglycoside, ... can be used, but tetracycline, fluoroquinolone can not be used because it harms the child's teeth and joints, metronidazole makes milk bitter, so it should be avoided.
Generation I antihistamines are safe for children even when they take high doses, but they can drowsy or irritate babies; loratadine, fexofenadine less transport through milk so can also be used.
Cardiovascular, sedative, debilitating, anticonvulsant, antiviral ... drugs are available but need careful guidance on dosage and duration of medication.
Are there any side effects of Paracetamol for breastfeeding mothers?
Another issue that is concerned about breastfeeding mothers is whether paracetamol can cause mother's milk loss . Its main use is to relieve pain and reduce fever, so it rarely affects the functioning of the milk gland if used with a sufficient dose. However, if you take paracetamol for a long time, you may lose a little milk depending on the location.
If you have this condition, you just need to stop taking medicine and eat enough, you will come back as much as at first.
See more:
Can Panadol be taken by a lactating woman?
What mothers should breastfeed on - 8 foods you should not use when you breastfeed
8 answers to questions from obstetricians for successful breastfeeding