Breastfeeding Articles

Medication Tablets
Cold and Flu Medications While Breastfeeding

As cold and flu season swings into full effect, runny noses, coughing, and body aches leave many breastfeeding mothers wondering whether some quick relief from over-the-counter medications could negatively impact their breastfeeding baby....

Whats New about Zika Virus Infections in Breastfeeding Moms

Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes. Only 20% of adults infected will have clinical manifestations such as low-grade fevers, itchy rash, joint pain in the hands and feet, and eye...

Contraceptive Implant
Is Nexplanon contraceptive implant safe for breastfeeding moms?

Nexplanon has become a very popular contraceptive method in recent years because it lasts for 3 years and you do not have to take a pill every day. While the idea of an implant under the skin is daunting, many still prefer it over IUD insertion...

IUD Diagram
Can I get an IUD after my delivery if I plan to breast feed?

When looking at the research for IUD insertion, we first must ask “what type of IUD are you interested in?”. Copper IUDs (ParaGuard), do not release any hormones and thus do not affect breast milk production. The copper IUDs last for 10-12 years...

Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal
Free Copy: Transfer of Inhaled Cannabis Into Human Breast Milk

Legalization of recreational cannabis use in several states has caused growing unease in the medical community regarding the health risks associated with this drug, especially in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Although cannabis is one of the...

Kratom Leaves
Kratom

Kratom was on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) list of drugs of concern since 20051 and was almost reclassified as a Schedule I drug in 2016. The reclassification was...

Smiling Mom Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and Lead Contamination

Lead is an environmental pollutant that serves no useful purpose in the body and tends to accumulate in the body's bony structures based on their exposure. Some studies show that the half-life of lead in bone is approximately 27 years.  Thus you...

Introduction to Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as the exclusive source of nutrition for feeding young infants for the first six months of life. Data suggest that not only are there psychological benefits from its use, but...

Inaccurate Information Online Regarding Breastfeeding with Lyme Disease

When faced with a health concern, the first place that many people go is the internet. Although having medical advice at your fingertips is convenient, your search bar may not be the best bet for obtaining accurate information...

Drug entry into Human Milk

Mechanisms of Drug Entry into Human Milk

RED Milk. What causes your milk to turn red?

There are basically two reasons that a mother's milk is red.  Sometimes a small rupture in a blood capillary in the nipple or the breast may turn milk pink.   The second reason is a bacterium called Serratia marsescens.

Vitamin D Supplements

A recent study estimated that 1 in 5 Americans are at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a handful of foods (e.g. fatty fish or cod liver oil). Vitamin D is also produced in the body...

Marijuana Plant
Effects of Marijuana on the Fetus and Breastfeeding Infants.

     Current studies indicate that approximately 4% of women in the USA use illicit drugs while pregnant. Seventy five percent of these cases report the use of marijuana. Despite the widespread use of this product, the public is not...

Migraine Headaches

Migraines affect up to 17% of women of childbearing age. These headaches are usually one sided and are likely to have a pulsatile or throbbing quality. Accompanying features may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Stress...

Head Lice

Head lice or Pediculus humanus capitis, attack as many as 12 million children every year. Lice are spread by direct contact with infested hair. Sharing combs, brushes, beds, and hats may also contribute to the spread of these parasites. ...

Duration of Breastfeeding in the Working Mother

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and supports the continuation of breastfeeding through the first year of life along with the initiation of other foods. Most mothers make the...