Breastfeeding and medication for long-term conditions

Abstract

Women taking medication for long-term conditions who are breastfeeding require special consideration. Wendy Jones provides an overview of the key issues when prescribing medication for this group of patients As the number of women with chronic conditions increases, so does the number of women who will be breastfeeding while taking medication. General practice nurses have a key role to play in identifying these patients, as they may not always volunteer this information. When prescribing to breastfeeding women it is important to be aware that some of the drug that she takes is likely to pass to the baby via breastmilk. Prescibers need to be aware of sources they can use to find more information on this topic, so that they can help patients to make informed decisions and keep the mother and baby dyad at the centre of the consultation.