Should I stop breast-feeding while taking medication?

Most medications are safe to take while breast-feeding. Also, the benefit of continuing to take a medication for a chronic condition while breast-feeding often outweighs any potential risks.

Still, a few medications aren't safe to take while breast-feeding. If you're taking a medication that could be harmful to your baby, your health care provider might recommend an alternative medication. Or he or she might recommend breast-feeding when the medication is at a low level in your breast milk.

Sometimes your health care provider might recommend that you stop breast-feeding temporarily or permanently — depending on how long you need to take the medication. If you have advance notice, pump in addition to breast-feeding and store expressed milk for use during that time. If you need to stop breast-feeding only temporarily, use a double electric breast pump to keep up your milk supply until you're able to breast-feed again. Discard the milk you pump while you're taking the medication.

If you're not sure if a medication is compatible with breast-feeding, pump, label and store expressed breast milk in a separate area until you check with your health care provider. If you need to stop breast-feeding permanently — which is unusual — ask your health care provider about weaning and to help you choose an infant formula.