Prescription and over-the-counter medications: The majority of medicines get diluted or become totally inactive by the time they get to your breast milk. But, there are some that do not including chemotherapy drugs; drugs such as bromocriptine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, doxorubicin, ergotamine, lithium, methotrexate, and phencyclidine; and radioactive compounds used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Don't leave anything to chance: Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you pop any pills. And we don't even have to mention that you shouldn't take any illegal or street drugs, right? We thought so.
Alcohol: Moderation is key to preventing issues here here. Feel free to have a glass of wine here or there while breastfeeding, but try to avoid nursing your baby for at least two hours after you've downed that drink. Alcohol can seep down into your breast milk and make a baby sleep and affect his motor skills if he drinks it, so the more time you give it to wash out of your system, the better. Heavy drinking should definitely be avoided.
Smoking: It's common knowledge that second-hand smoke is bad for babies. Period. And just as you shouldn't smoke around your child, you shouldn't serve her your breastmilk if you smoke. Why? Well, nicotine and other byproducts of smoking are passed through the milk, and that's not healthy for a baby to ingest. It can lead to above average rates of colic, other health problems and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Also, breastfeeding moms who smoke have lower prolactin levels than those who don't smoke, which often leads to their babies weaning faster than their non-smoking counterparts'.
Caffeine: If only the baby would s-l-e-e-p, you wouldn't dream about a caffeine fix at all hours of the day and night. But babies who ingest caffeine from breastmilk (from sources like coffee, tea, soda, chocolate and more) have higher levels of irritability and hyperactivity AND can't seem to fall asleep (exactly what you're trying to avoid). Drink up with decaf instead.
Herbal products: Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it can't be harmful. Check with your doctor before you drink herbal teas or other herbal products. There have been rare but documented cases of breastfed babies who died because their moms drank too much herbal tea.
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