As breastfeeding rates have risen in the United States during the past decade, pediatric practitioners are frequently faced with questions from expecting and lactating parents regarding the safety of maternal medication use while breastfeeding. For the purpose of this article, we reference mothers and women because most available research has focused on individuals who identify as female, although the concepts apply to any lactating parent. The practitioner must balance the harm of the mother's untreated condition with any potential medication risk to the infant as well as consider the benefits of breastfeeding itself on maternal and infant health. Shared decision making is critical to supporting a mother’s breastfeeding goals. Evidence for medication use during lactation is limited and available primarily as case series and case studies, sometimes in small numbers. Although mothers report feeling anxious or discouraged about breastfeeding due to misinformation, the fact is that only a handful of...
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