In Minneapolis, a mother is questioned by her 14-month-old’s guardian ad litem who is recommending that the mother discontinue breastfeeding as she takes a host of various prescription medications. The mother has subsequently become a champion for breastfeeding advocacy saying that her doctor recommended she breastfeed and supports her decision.

According to reports, the mother takes Topamax, used to treat epileptic seizures and migraines, Baclofen for muscle spasms, Ambien occasionally to help her sleep, and Tylenol 3.

She also cites a letter from Thomas Hale, author of “Medications and Mothers’ Milk,” who writes, “They [the medications] are basically all fine, particularly in a 14-month-old infant who can metabolize drugs as good if not better than an adult.”

Even if a 14-month old can metabolize all those drugs, should they? Is it healthy? You likely wouldn’t directly give an infant any of those medications. Is there zero risk? And if not, doesn’t that go against a core belief of breastfeeding vs. formula, the tenet that formula feeding increases the risk of medical complications?

The courts are insinuating that there is information that the public doesn’t know about this case and urging people not to make assumptions. The father is seeking custody of the baby and although I’m no legal expert, typically guardian ad litem’s are appointed when the custodians of the child have been proven unfit to act on the child’s behalf.

UPDATE on new FDA warning issued for nursing mothers taking codeine:

Nursing mothers who take codeine should watch their infants for increased sleepiness or other signs of overdose, U.S. government health officials warned Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration warning of the rare but serious side effect was prompted by a 2006 report of the death of a nursing infant whose mother was given codeine for episiotomy pain.

Genetic testing later showed the woman’s body converted the codeine to morphine more rapidly and completely than in other people. That led to higher-than-expected morphine levels in her breast milk.

While the rapid conversion of codeine to morphine is a very rare side effect in some mothers, it can result in high and unsafe levels of the latter drug in the blood and breast milk, the FDA said in an alert.

Bookmark to: