One of the most frequent doubts of breastfeeding mothers is related to the compatibility between medications and breastfeeding.
"I have a headache, can I take ibuprofen if I am breastfeeding?" "Can the dentist perform a filling if I am breastfeeding?"
There is false belief which states that a breastfeeding mother cannot take medication. It is thought that they can pass into breast milk and affect the health of the baby or child, or affect the composition and amount of breast milk.
A false belief that is reinforced by the ignorance of some healthcare professionals. Also due to the content of most of the drug leaflets that indicate "check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are breastfeeding" without giving more information.
They really exist few contraindications to breastfeeding. There are a few serious diseases and treatments that make breastfeeding impossible, such as the human immunodeficiency virus or radioactive isotopes and chemotherapy. But the vast majority of prescription drugs are compatible with breastfeeding.
The Association for the Promotion and Scientific and Cultural Research of Breastfeeding (APILAM) offers us a tool of recognized prestige: the web e-lactancy.org . This page allows compatibility query between breastfeeding, medication and herbal medicine. Its content is prepared and reviewed by a team of pediatricians and pharmacists.
We have another tool at our disposal: a quick guide to compatibility between medication and breastfeeding on the website of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics. It is aimed at professionals but we can take it to the consultation in case its existence is unknown.
By consulting these two tools we will know that we can take ibuprofen if we are breastfeeding and that our dentist can perform practically all the procedures we need. There is no need to endure pain or suppress breastfeeding, just have Quality information.