The way a drug enters the breast milk of a nursing woman differs from the way the same drug enters the uterus of a pregnant woman. As a result, pregnant and breastfeeding women must follow different advice when it comes to drugs that are safe to take. If you're pregnant, you shouldn't take ibuprofen, because it could reach your developing baby and cause an abnormality. If you're breastfeeding, on the other hand, you can take ibuprofen without risking any harm, because the drug will not affect your baby, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Best-Choice NSAID
Ibuprofen, marketed under the brand names Motrin and Advil and available in generic visions, can alleviate pain and soreness and reduce fever and inflammation. If you must take an oral painkiller while you're breastfeeding, ibuprofen is the preferred choice because it has poor transfer into milk and has been well-studied in children, according to the journal "American Family Physician."
Why It's Preferred
When you take ibuprofen, your body absorbs most of it before it enters your breast milk. Only a minute amount actually reaches the baby, according to the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, which publishes research-based guidance to pregnant and nursing women. Even if you feed your baby shortly after taking the medicine, very little will reach your baby. And if you wait awhile, your body will reabsorb the ibuprofen that entered your breast milk. Additionally, researchers and doctors have not documented any harmful side effects for babies of breastfeeding mothers who take ibuprofen.
Safe As Possible
Even though you can take ibuprofen, try to take it only when necessary. Avoid using medications to address mild problems, and use topical medications rather than oral drugs, whenever possible. For example, ask your doctor for a prescription nipple cream if you have sore nipples, or use a warm washcloth if your breasts feel sore. This minimizes any potential undiscovered dangers. In particular, avoid ibuprofen and any other painkiller if you are breastfeeding a baby who's younger than one week, a preemie or a sick baby, advises the American Family Physician. These more sensitive babies can warrant extra precautions.
Usage Guidelines
Take the ibuprofen immediately after breastfeeding, so that your body has plenty of time to absorb it before your baby needs to eat again. Preferably, take it just before your baby's nap or bedtime. Follow the directions on the ibuprofen bottle box or information insert. Never exceed the recommended dosage.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Maternal Medication Usually Compatible with Breastfeeding
- American Family Physician; Medications in the Breast-Feeding Mother; Jeanne P. Spencer, et al.; July 2001
- Organization of Teratology Information Specialists: Ibuprofen and Pregnancy
- FamilyDoctor.org; OTC Medicines and Pregnancy; American Academy of Family Physicians; September 2005
