Cephalexin and Breastfeeding

[cald1905]

A mother with whom I worked as a birth doula was diagnosed with mastitis yesterday. Her doctor prescribed Cephalexin. I did an internet search on the drug because I was not familiar with it and found this information http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000762/ One of the special precautions says "tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking cephalexin, call your doctor."

I am wondering if this drug has the potential of an adverse affect on either the mother or the breastfeeding baby.

Thanks in advance,

Sandy
Doula-la.com

[admin]

Cald1905:

Cephalexin is just an old cephalosporin drug similar to the penicillins. It is good for staphylococcal infections. It has been used for many years in infants, children, and breastfeeding women with mastitis..... without any problems. The stuff above is just package insert language which should be ignored for the most part.

Tom Hale Ph.d.