Motrin and Advil are considered safe for nursing mothers. Even though this medicine enters breast milk, the amount passed to the baby is so small that it is almost undetectable. This small amount would only be a fraction of the average dose your child's healthcare provider would prescribe to your baby for treatment of fever. Experiencing pain and discomfort is common after delivery.
Many women want to take medications to help relieve their symptoms, but they may not know which medications are safe to take while breastfeeding. Fortunately, ibuprofen has been proven to be safe for both mother and baby while breastfeeding. Postpartum and postpartum pain is very common as the body recovers from pregnancy and delivery. As with many medications, remnants of the over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever can be transferred to your baby through breast milk.
The potential of Reyes and the availability of safer alternatives make its use undesirable during breastfeeding. Not all medicines can pass into breast milk, and of the medicines that do, not all are in sufficient quantities or in the right form to be of concern to the nursing baby. It's not uncommon for nursing mothers to need pain relief, as they may be recovering after the birth of their baby or they may experience pain associated with breastfeeding, including mastitis. Read on to learn more about ibuprofen and breastfeeding, and how to keep breast milk safe for your baby.
If a mother needs this level of pain relief, she may not feel well enough to breastfeed and means of maintaining her milk supply should be considered. It should also be noted that just because it is safe to take ibuprofen while breastfeeding does not mean that it is safe to take it during pregnancy. Although ibuprofen has been proven to be safe for mothers and babies while breastfeeding, other medications are not the same. He had sought medical help on several occasions before the baby died, as he was lethargic and had intermittent periods of difficulty breastfeeding.
However, even with the safest medications, there are always side effects to watch out for. If any side effects are observed in the baby, the medication should be stopped and medical advice sought immediately. If you had an episiotomy or a cesarean delivery (also called a cesarean section), your provider may prescribe an opioid such as codeine or tramadol to help relieve pain. You can also take naproxen up to the maximum daily dose, but this medication should only be taken for a short period of time.
Whether you feel pain immediately after delivery, or you have a headache or breast problems weeks later, you don't have to suffer just because you're breastfeeding.
