Is aspirin safe to take when breastfeeding?

Is Aspirin Safe to Take While Breastfeeding?
The question of whether aspirin is safe for breastfeeding mothers is a nuanced one, with medical professionals often recommending caution. While aspirin can be an effective pain reliever, its use during lactation is not straightforward and requires careful consideration.
Aspirin and Breast Milk Transfer
Research indicates that aspirin does pass into breast milk, albeit in small amounts. The active ingredient, salicylic acid, is excreted into breast milk, and higher doses of aspirin can lead to disproportionately higher levels of salicylic acid in the milk. This raises concerns about potential effects on breastfeeding infants, particularly with long-term or high-dose use.
Recommendations from Health Authorities
Health organizations, including the NHS, generally advise against the routine use of aspirin while breastfeeding. They suggest that while occasional use may be permissible, especially if other pain relief options are unsuitable, it is crucial for mothers to consult their healthcare providers before taking aspirin. The consensus is that low doses of aspirin (typically 75-150 mg daily) are less likely to pose risks to breastfeeding infants compared to regular strength aspirin, which is not recommended.
Potential Risks to Infants
One of the significant concerns associated with aspirin use in breastfeeding mothers is the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can affect children and is linked to aspirin use. Additionally, there have been reports suggesting that high-dose maternal aspirin ingestion could lead to metabolic acidosis in breastfed infants. Therefore, while occasional low-dose use may be considered safe, the potential risks necessitate a cautious approach.
Conclusion
In summary, while low-dose aspirin may be compatible with breastfeeding, it is not typically recommended as a first-line pain relief option. Mothers should always seek personalized medical advice to weigh the benefits and risks based on their specific circumstances. Consulting with a healthcare provider is essential to ensure the safety of both mother and child when considering the use of aspirin during lactation.

What medicine to avoid while breastfeeding?

Common medicines that are not recommended when you’re breastfeeding include:

• codeine phosphate.
• decongestants that come as tablets, liquids or powders that you swallow.
• some nasal decongestants that come as nose sprays or drops – check with a GP or pharmacist before using them.
• aspirin for pain relief.

Can aspirin affect the baby?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, advises pregnant people not to take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) after 19 weeks of pregnancy. Taking these medicines could cause rare but serious kidney conditions in a fetus.

What does aspirin do to babies?

Aspirin should not be given to children aged under 16 unless on the advice of a doctor. This is because there is a very small risk that children can develop a condition called Reye’s syndrome if they are given aspirin when they have a viral illness.

What is not recommended for breastfeeding?

Medical Contraindications for Breastfeeding
There are a few medical contraindications to breastfeeding, and these include: An infant who has the metabolic disorder of classic galactosemia (galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency). A mother living with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I or type II.

What pain reliever is OK for breastfeeding?

You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen together during breastfeeding if needed, up to their maximum daily doses. If your baby needs to take ibuprofen suspension (e.g. Nurofen for Children®) whilst you are taking ibuprofen, they can do so at their own full and normal dose.

Can breastfeeding mothers take aspirin?

Only take low dose aspirin while you’re breastfeeding if your doctor has advised you to do so. Aspirin passes into breast milk in very small amounts, and it is unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby. However, there is a possible link between aspirin and Reye’s syndrome in children.

What medications dry up milk supply?

What medications do you think have been found to decrease milk supply? Choose 1 or more:

• Epinephrine.
• Labetolol.
• High dose steroids (such as Solumedrol)
• Strong antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Testosterone.
• Estrogen.
• Methylergonovine (Methergine)
• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)

What does aspirin do nursing?

Aspirin passes into breast milk. When used in large amounts (such as to treat pain or fever), it may harm a nursing infant and breastfeeding is not recommended while using this medication. However, low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention may be used if directed by your doctor.

Is aspirin better than ibuprofen while breastfeeding?

While ibuprofen has been proven safe for moms and babies while breastfeeding, other medications are not the same. For instance, breastfeeding women should avoid aspirin and Pepto Bismol, as well as Aleve. Aspirin has a blood-thinning effect and can increase the risk of bleeding for your baby.

How long does it take for a baby aspirin to get out of your system?

The plasma half-life of aspirin is only 20 minutes; however, because platelets cannot generate new COX, the effects of aspirin last for the duration of the life of the platelet (≈10 days). After a single dose of aspirin, platelet COX activity recovers by ≈10% per day as a function of platelet turnover.