What happens if you take aspirin while breastfeeding?

Understanding Aspirin Use While Breastfeeding
Aspirin, a common over-the-counter medication, is often used for pain relief and to reduce inflammation. However, its use during breastfeeding raises important considerations for nursing mothers and their infants.
How Aspirin Affects Breastfeeding
When a breastfeeding mother takes aspirin, the drug does pass into breast milk, albeit in small amounts. The concentration of aspirin in breast milk can vary depending on the dosage taken. Higher doses of aspirin lead to disproportionately higher levels of salicylic acid, the active ingredient, in breast milk. This is particularly concerning because salicylic acid can have effects on infants, especially if they are exposed to higher concentrations over time.
Potential Risks to Infants
One of the significant risks associated with aspirin use in breastfeeding mothers is the potential link to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause liver and brain damage in children. This syndrome has been associated with aspirin use during viral infections in children. Although the risk of Reye’s syndrome from low-dose aspirin (typically 81 mg) is considered low, it is still a concern, particularly if the infant develops a viral infection or high fever.
There have been documented cases where infants experienced adverse effects after their mothers took aspirin. For instance, one case reported thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), fever, and other symptoms in a breastfed infant shortly after the mother began taking aspirin. Such incidents highlight the need for caution and medical advice before using aspirin while breastfeeding.
Recommendations for Breastfeeding Mothers
Health professionals generally advise that breastfeeding mothers should consult with their healthcare provider before taking aspirin. While occasional use of low-dose aspirin is not expected to pose significant risks to a breastfeeding infant, regular or high-dose aspirin is not recommended. If a mother needs to take aspirin, especially for pain relief, it is crucial to monitor the infant for any unusual symptoms and to stop taking the medication if the baby shows signs of illness.
In summary, while low-dose aspirin may be used cautiously during breastfeeding, it is essential for mothers to seek medical advice and remain vigilant about their infant’s health. The potential risks, particularly concerning Reye’s syndrome and other adverse effects, necessitate a careful approach to medication use during this sensitive period.

Is aspirin secreted in breast milk?

Katie: While Aspirin is not a problem in a breastfeeding mother, we don’t normally suggest its use. See our recent case report below. Basically, we found NO acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in milk. Only its metabolite, salicylic acid. Tom Hale Ph. D. J Hum Lact.

How long until aspirin is out of your system?

Aspirin has a very long half life. No point stopping a day or 2 before. The half life is 5 days, so after 10 days you still have 25% of the power of Aspirin left in your blood. Clopidogrel, Rivaroxaban, Apixaban and Dagibatran have all short half lifes.

What medications are unsafe 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.

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.

How to flush aspirin out of your system?

Other medicines may be given through a vein, including potassium salt and sodium bicarbonate, which helps the body remove aspirin that has already been absorbed. If these treatments do not work or the overdose is extremely severe, hemodialysis (kidney machine) may be needed to reverse the condition.

What happens if you breastfeed after taking 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.

Can aspirin cause miscarriage early?

Overall, researchers discovered no difference in outcomes for those who took aspirin compared to a placebo. “Early miscarriage may be due to many different reasons. The use of aspirin might be beneficial to reduce the risk due to a small portion of these reasons, but the evidence so far is inconclusive.”

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.

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 are the side effects of aspirin in nursing patients?

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects
GI: GI BLEEDING, dyspepsia, epigastric distress, nausea, abdominal pain, anorexia, hepatotoxicity, vomiting. Hemat: anemia, hemolysis. Derm: rash, urticaria. Misc: ALLERGIC REACTIONS, INCLUDING ANAPHYLAXIS AND LARYNGEAL EDEMA.