Antibiotics and Breast Milk are both very powerful healers. While antibiotics protect us from many bacterial infections and keeps us safe, same goes for breast milk in infants as that is the only source of nutrition for the baby. While there is no doubt that both antibiotics and breast milk are good for fighting off infections but it should be noted that they do not gel well together. This means that a woman who is breast feeding should avoid taking antibiotics.
There are various studies conducted which prove that some compounds of the antibiotic may pass on to the infant through breast milk which can adversely affect the overall health and development of the child of which some affects may be permanent.
Why Should Antibiotics be Avoided When Breastfeeding?
The very first reason for avoiding using antibiotics while breastfeeding is that antibiotics kill all the bacteria present in the gut of the child of which some are good bacteria which are essential for growth and development of the immune system of a child.
The breast milk increases the number of good bacteria in the baby which is quite essential for the development of the immune system of the baby. With antibiotic use, all these bacteria, good or bad, get destroyed thus compromising not only the overall health of the child but also his or her development and may make the child prone to frequent infections.
Infants who get exposed to antibiotics through breast milk are also at risk for obesity later on in life. The good bacteria that are present in the child through breast milk help control the production of fatty acids which is indirectly related to the digestive system of the body. If the child is exposed to antibiotics then these good bacteria are destroyed and the production of fatty acid gets restricted and thus compromises the functioning of digestive system which may result in obesity very early on in childhood.
It is also recommended not to utilize antibiotics in children until prescribed by the pediatrician as it may pose significant health hazard for the child. It not only increases the risk of sleepiness with the child sleeping for prolonged periods of time but also predispose him towards an upset stomach and in some cases even convulsions or seizures. Thus, it is recommended not to use antibiotics in children unless prescribed by the pediatrician.
In summary, any child who gets exposed to antibiotics either through Breast Milk or otherwise is at significant risk for having health conditions and may also affect their development of which some may be permanent, especially when the antibiotics get inside the body of the child through breast feeding.
Thus it can be said that Antibiotic use in Breastfeeding Females is not safe.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Antibiotics and Breastfeeding. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/vaccinations-medications-drugs/antibiotics.html
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Antibiotics and Breastfeeding. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Antibiotics-and-Breastfeeding.aspx
- Mayo Clinic. (2021). Breast-feeding and Medications: What’s Safe? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/breast-feeding-and-medications/faq-20464555
- La Leche League International. (2021). Medications and Breastfeeding. https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/medications-considerations/
- Australian Breastfeeding Association. (2021). Medications and Breastfeeding. https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/medications-and-breastfeeding
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