How long does morphine affect breast milk?

Understanding Morphine’s Impact on Breast Milk
Morphine, a potent opioid analgesic, is often prescribed for pain management. However, its use during breastfeeding raises important questions regarding its effects on breast milk and, consequently, on nursing infants.
Duration of Morphine in Breast Milk
When a breastfeeding mother takes morphine, the drug does transfer into breast milk, but the levels are generally low. Research indicates that the average cumulative dose of morphine administered intravenously and orally over a 96-hour period is about 250 mg. From this dosage, an exclusively breastfed infant would receive approximately 5 micrograms per kilogram daily.
The half-life of morphine in the body can vary, but it typically ranges from 2 to 4 hours in adults. This means that after administration, morphine levels in the bloodstream—and consequently in breast milk—will decrease over time. For mothers who have taken morphine, it is often recommended to wait at least 48 hours after the last dose before resuming breastfeeding. This waiting period allows for the drug to clear from the system sufficiently to minimize any potential exposure to the infant.
Safety Considerations
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) considers morphine to be compatible with breastfeeding, suggesting that the amount transferred to breast milk is significantly lower than the doses that would be administered directly to infants. Most commonly used medications, including morphine, are deemed relatively safe for breastfeeding mothers, as the dose received via milk is much less than the known safe doses for infants.
However, it is crucial for mothers to consult healthcare providers regarding their specific circumstances. Individual factors such as the mother’s health, the dosage of morphine, and the infant’s health can influence the safety and timing of breastfeeding after morphine use.
Conclusion
In summary, while morphine does enter breast milk, the levels are typically low, and with appropriate timing—waiting about 48 hours after the last dose—breastfeeding can generally continue safely. Mothers should always seek personalized medical advice to ensure the health and safety of both themselves and their infants.

How long does morphine stay in a child’s system?

It takes up to three days for the body to remove morphine. After three days, traces of the drug are undetectable in saliva and urine. Hair tests may be able to detect the drug for up to 90 days, but hair hair tests aren’t commonly used by employers or rehab facilities.

Do pain meds pass through breast milk?

Small amounts of any medicine you take may pass through your breast milk to your baby. Generally, the amounts are very low and very few medicines are unsafe while you’re breastfeeding.

What is the safest opioid for breastfeeding?

Recommendation. Morphine is considered to be the strong opioid of choice for the treatment of severe pain in breastfeeding. However, the use of any opioid should be at the lowest effective dose and only short-term. A non-opioid analgesic should be used whenever possible.

Do I need to pump and dump after dental work?

Dental Drugs Safe for Breastfeeding
Your body does an excellent job of processing medicine and other substances before they get to the baby via your milk, and the old practice of pump-and-dump is rarely recommended anymore.

Can you take morphine in Labour and breastfeed?

because baby is exposed to the drug via the umbilical cord, it may cause difficulty with breathing at birth, particularly if the baby delivers soon after a morphine injection. it may also interfere with breastfeeding.

How long until you can breastfeed after morphine?

You can feed your baby infant formula, donor milk or milk you pumped before taking opioids. Pump and discard your milk for at least 1-3 hours. Pumping as often as you usually feed your baby is a good way to maintain your milk supply. Wait at least 1-3 hours after taking opioids before nursing your baby.

How long after taking painkiller can I breastfeed?

adjust your prescription to a level that’s safe for your baby. medication is at its highest level in your body 1 to 2 hours after you take it. If you take it right before feeding, the medication should be out of your body before your next feeding. on a regular schedule (every 4 to 6 hours).

How long do opioids stay in breastmilk?

Tramadol (Ultram) can stay in breast milk for longer than 10 hours. Fentanyl (Duragesic) stays in breast milk for an unclear amount of time. Methadone (Methadose) likely stays in breastmilk for up to 50 hours, based on its half-life in breastmilk of 8 to 10 hours.

Is morphine excretion in breast milk?

One can expect Page 5 MORPHINE EXCRETION IN BREAST MILK 369 that 0.8 to 12% of the maternal dose will be absorbed by the infant through the milk.

What is the excretion time of morphine?

70-80% of an administered dose is excreted within 48 hours. Morphine is predominantly eliminated in the urine with 2-10% of a dose recovered as the unchanged parent drug. 7-10% of a dose of morphine is eliminated in the feces. Morphine has a half life of 2-3 hours.