Medications Use While Breastfeeding-Prevalence and Attitude of Women

Introduction: Human milk is considered the ideal nutrition for infants. Despite the increased attention for breastfeeding, information about drug use by breastfeeding women is scarce [1-2]. Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of medications use while breastfeeding and the associated factors. Methods: Women who gave birth at the study hospital and stayed with their newborns were asked to participate in a structured interview. The questions included social status, health problems, breastfeeding status, prescribed medications, personal attitude to medications use during breastfeeding and related informational sources. Results: By the time of the analysis 50 questionnaires were evaluated. Forty eight women had babies younger than 1 month. Mean age was 32±5 years (17 to 44). 37 (74%) had higher education. Three women were not breastfeeding due to the medications: cyclosporine, antithymocyte globulin; amitriptyline, chlorprothixene, sulpiride; ciprofloxacin. Among those breastfeeding the prevalence of medications use was 76%; 15 women (30%) received 1 medication; 23 (46%)-2 to 7 medications. These were: oxytocin (11 (22%)); heparins (9 (18%)); ferrous preparations (8 (16%)); vaginal antiinfectives (8 (16%)); methyldopa (7 (14%)); antibiotics (6 (12%)); warfarin, ketoprofen, nifedipine, perindopril, torasemide, spironolactone, herbal urinary antiseptic, sotalol and metoprolol were used by 1 woman each. Thirty-six (72%) women considered breastfeeding necessary for the baby; seven (14%) believed it can easily be stopped. All women agreed that there are safe medications during breastfeeding while three of them believed the medications shouldn't be used; 31 women (62%) stated that even doctors don't know if it is safe to take medications while breastfeeding. The respondents told they would receive information from doctors (23-46%); Internet (11-22%); other women (10-20%); pharmacist (2-4%); family members (2-4%); professional associations (2-4%); 43 (86%) women reported that they can't get information about medications safety in breastfeeding. Conclusion: During the early postpartum period, almost all women in our cohort were breastfeeding. No unnecessary interruption due to the medications was noted. 14% of the women were negative towards breastfeeding in general, but not due to possible need for medications. Despite general readiness to use medications while breastfeeding, most women noted lack of information about their safety, and less than half of them showed