Breast-feeding and medication use in mothers of newborn infants

Abstract

s ingediend voor het Amsterdam Kindersymposium 2013 51 Breast-feeding and medication use in mothers of newborn infants Marinka L.F. Hol (1), Willemijn E. Corpeleijn (1), Johannes B. van Goudoever (1,2), Sintha D. Sie (3), Mirjam M. van Weissenbruch (3) (1) Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam (2) Department of Paediatrics, Emma Children’s Hospital – Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam (3) Department of Paediatrics, IC Neonatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam INTRODUCTION Human milk feeding off ers substantial benefi ts to both term and preterm infants. When medication is used during lactation, the nursing infant might be exposed to the medication. We aimed to investigate the incidence and type of medication use in women delivering in our hospital and to investigate whether or not medication use infl uences the likelihood of a mother to breast-feed. Furthermore we wanted to investigate whether the used medication is contra-indicated during lactation. METHODS Mothers of newborn infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or to the Maternity Ward were included. Information on medication use was collected from medical records. During a structured interview with the mother information on medication use, alternative medication use and their thoughts on medication use during lactation was collected. Afterwards, the decision whether or not a medication was contra-indicated during lactation was judged based on scientifi c literature. RESULTS Sixty-two mothers were included, of whom 79% started breastfeeding. Infants had a median birth weight of 2598 grams, and a median gestational age of 34 weeks. 51% of the children were born premature. 87% of the women used medication on a daily basis and 54% used alternative medication. 42% of the women used medication that was potentially contra-indicated during lactation. 24% of all interviewed women stated that their medication use had infl uenced their decision to breastfeed. CONCLUSION Medication use, especially alternative medication, during lactation is an underestimated problem. Caregivers and lactating women should be aware that alternative medication is not always as safe as presumed.