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- Can the flu virus be passed through breast milk?
- Can a baby get flu from its mother?
- What flu medication is safe while breastfeeding?
- Is it safe to take Tamiflu while pregnant?
- What to do if a breastfeeding mom has flu?
- Are breastfed babies safe from the flu?
- Can I take Tamiflu while breastfeeding?
- Does Tamiflu affect fetus?
- What is a safe influenza drug for a nursing mother?
- What medicine can I take for stomach flu while breastfeeding?
Understanding Tamiflu’s Safety for Breastfeeding Mothers
As flu season approaches, many breastfeeding mothers may find themselves questioning the safety of medications like Tamiflu (oseltamivir). This antiviral drug is commonly prescribed to treat influenza, but concerns about its effects on nursing infants are valid and deserve careful consideration.
General Safety Profile
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tamiflu is generally considered safe for breastfeeding mothers. The CDC emphasizes that the benefits of treating influenza with Tamiflu often outweigh the potential risks associated with its use during lactation. This reassurance is crucial for mothers who may be worried about the implications of medication on their infants.
How Tamiflu Affects Breast Milk
Research indicates that Tamiflu does pass into breast milk, but the levels are typically low. A recent study highlighted that the dosage received by a breastfeeding infant is unlikely to reach clinically significant levels. This means that while some amount of the medication may be present in breast milk, it is not expected to cause harm to the infant.
Recommendations from Health Authorities
Health authorities, including the CDC, recommend that mothers who are treated with Tamiflu should continue breastfeeding. Breast milk is a vital source of nutrition and immunity for infants, and the advantages of breastfeeding during maternal illness are significant. The CDC’s guidance reflects a broader understanding of the importance of maintaining breastfeeding, even when a mother is ill.
Consultation with Healthcare Providers
Despite the general safety of Tamiflu for breastfeeding mothers, it is always advisable to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any medication. Each mother’s situation is unique, and a healthcare professional can provide personalized advice based on individual health needs and circumstances. This discussion can help ensure that the treatment plan is appropriate and safe for both mother and child.
Conclusion
In summary, Tamiflu is deemed safe for breastfeeding mothers, with health authorities supporting its use when necessary. The potential risks to infants are minimal compared to the benefits of treating influenza effectively. However, as with any medication, open communication with healthcare providers is essential to ensure the best outcomes for both mother and baby.
Can the flu virus be passed through breast milk?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu cannot be passed to an infant through breast milk so sick moms should continue to breastfeed, as milk contains antibodies and other immunological boosters for her baby.
Can a baby get flu from its mother?
If a mother is not ill with the flu, breastfeeding is encouraged. If you are sick, you may need to express your milk for use in bottle feedings given by a healthy person. It is unlikely a newborn can catch flu from drinking your breast milk when you are sick. Breast milk is considered safe if you are taking antivirals.
What flu medication is safe while breastfeeding?
Can I take flu medication while breastfeeding? Yes. Although there’s limited data on antiviral flu meds taken while breastfeeding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends nursing parents with the flu (confirmed or suspected) take antivirals, with oral oseltamivir being the preferred pick.
Is it safe to take Tamiflu while pregnant?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends women in any trimester of their pregnancy who have a suspected or confirmed influenza infection receive prompt antiviral therapy with Tamiflu (oseltamavir) or Relenza (zanamivir).
What to do if a breastfeeding mom has flu?
If you have the flu, you can keep breastfeeding your baby, even if you take antiviral medicines for flu-like symptoms. Breast milk is custom-made for babies, providing antibodies that babies need to fight infection. So, continuing to breastfeed can protect your baby from the infection that your body is fighting.
Are breastfed babies safe from the flu?
Influenza is not spread to babies via breastmilk. Rather, people infected with the flu can spread it to others via tiny germ droplets (eg when coughing or sneezing).
Can I take Tamiflu while breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding Patients
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is probably compatible with breastfeeding. Levels of oseltamivir in milk (39 ng/mL) are very low and would be subclinical to an infant. The infant would receive only about 0.5% of the mothers dose. The CDC considers oseltamivir safe to use in breastfeeding mothers.
Does Tamiflu affect fetus?
Even though these small amounts of Tamiflu cross to the baby, studies haven’t shown any risk of birth defects from it. In fact, Tamiflu is considered the first-choice antiviral medication for the flu during pregnancy because it has the most studies available to show it is safe and effective.
What is a safe influenza drug for a nursing mother?
For women who are breastfeeding with suspected or confirmed flu, the preferred antiviral medication is oral oseltamivir. Available data indicate that oseltamivir is not easily passed to the infant in breast milk.
What medicine can I take for stomach flu while breastfeeding?
Some people are prescribed (or buy) prochlorperazine (Buccastem ®, Stemetil ®) tablets to relieve the nausea and vomiting, loperamide (Imodium®) to reduce the symptoms of diarrhoea and rehydrating sachets (Dioralyte ®) to prevent dehydration. These drugs are suitable to take and carry on breastfeeding as normal.