Drug Use and Breast Feeding

Using Drugs While Breastfeeding – A Mega No-No.

Breastfeeding is easy, natural, cheap – the best thing for your baby. There are 55% more deaths in infants fed on formula alone, compared with breastfed infants. Formula was only intended for use by mothers who could not breastfeed their baby.

But did you know that if you do drugs and breastfeed your baby – that the baby might die?

In California, charges have been laid against the meth addicted mother of baby Anthony Acosta – 6 weeks old, and dead from meth that he got from his mother’s milk. The mother knew about the risks of meth – she had been given that information. Anthony’s sister 19 months old is now in protective care – testing positive for meth drug in her body.

Another mother, Stephanie Greene was charged in South Carolina in 2010, with her baby’s death – she was addicted to prescription painkillers – the child died from morphine poisoning, from his mother’s breast milk.

Perhaps the first mother to be put on trial for a baby’s breastfeeding death was Amy Leanne Prien, in 2003. She was found guilty of second degree murder because the jury found that she loved drugs more than she loved her baby.

Mothers who do any drugs and breastfeed are playing Russian roulette with their baby’s health, perhaps risking their life.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs excrete into breast milk. Taking drugs and breastfeeding really is a no-no. However, authorities try to balance the benefits of breastfeeding with continued prescription drug use. Nursing mothers who want to know about prescription drugs can contact Motherisk at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, LactMed or from the Infantrisk Centre at Texas University.

Government agencies state that NO drug use is safe for a nursing mother and her baby. Non-drug alternatives should be used.

However, modern drug based healthcare is very much pro-drug use. It is left to people to report and act upon any adverse symptoms that they notice in the baby, something to sort out with your doctor.

Governments waver between warning the public of drug risks and allowing doctors carte blanche to prescribe drugs to nursing mothers.

For example: Codeine. A baby died at 13 days old of morphine poisoning in 2006. The mother was using codeine at less than the recommended dose. The mother had a rare genetic condition that together with codeine caused fatal morphine toxicity to the baby..

Apart from powerful immunosuppressants, used in cancer treatment, and illicit street drugs virtually all other prescription drugs are said to be safe, on the basis that few of them have ever been tested, and complaints are rare.

The FDA permits prescription drug use during breastfeeding on the basis that nursing mothers will use restraint, good sense and avoid drug use if they can.

The many drugs listed as “safe” by the FDA, most of which are known to cause severe side effects in the adults using them, are in fact unproven as regards breastfeeding safety.

Developmental defects and disorders caused by drugs don’t always show up immediately. If an infant is irritable as result of drugs in breast milk – then drug effects on that baby are toxic, the nervous system is involved. Drugs in your breast milk might lead to disablement of your child later on in life.

As Aldous Huxley says – “Facts don’t cease to exist because they are ignored”.

Common sense says don’t do drugs when breastfeeding baby.

Caffeine, Nicotine and Alcohol

Drugs that breastfeeding mothers should avoid include alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Expert opinions vary. Latest research says that drugs like a glass of wine, a cup of coffee, a cigarette or two are in fact powerful drugs that can harm your baby when breastfeeding. Substance abuse when breastfeeding can include drinking homemade herbal brews.

All countries recommend no alcohol drinking for nursing mothers, alcohol can make baby drowsy, cause developmental damage, whereas stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine can make baby irritable, and unsettled. A baby can receive a dose of alcohol up to 20% of the mothers BAC and caffeine levels in the baby can be 35% of caffeine levels in the nursing mother.

Nursing mothers must bear in mind that many drugs will cause incremental damage when used on a long term basis, particularly alcohol and nicotine.

Illicit Drugs

Drugs that must NOT ever be taken when you are breastfeeding baby are heroin, amphetamines, meth drugs, marijuana, cocaine, crack, ketamine or PCP, or any hallucinogenic such as LSD. Herbal or bath salts drugs and other so called “legal” drugs are toxic and must not be used when breastfeeding.

Taking drugs when breastfeeding is potentially harmful to your baby. Get help to give up all drug use if you are a nursing mother – to give you and your baby the best chance possible to have a happy healthy life.

This post was written by Frank Julien. Frank is passionate about helping educate folks about addiction and parenting. Frank writes for the Narconon Drug Rehab network.