QUESTION: I am currently taking 20mg of Prozac. Without the medication I can not function properly. I have a deep desire to breastfeed my baby when it is born. Will I be able to do this without passing the drug on to my baby? I have spoken to my midwife about this and she gives me the run around like she isn't sure.

Cynthia,

The use of Prozac in nursing moms has increased dramatically in the last few years and other medications of the same drug class. All medications have the possibility of getting into mothers milk -- just like all medications have the possibility of passing to the baby while you are pregnant. The question that comes to be is -- if the small amount of medication will cause a problem in the baby. What is good is that most medications do NOT cause major problems with the baby. If you need further support in your quest for information please feel free to e-mail me again.

I have had a number of moms who nursed while taking Prozac or similar medications. It has to be judged what risk would be greater to the baby -- to have a mom who cannot keep it together because she needs medication or exposing the baby to small amounts of a medication so mom can fully function. In the majority of situations I would vote to keep mom on the meds. But that is a question for you and your doctors to decide.

Sincerely,

Anne Norton-Krawciw, RPh, IBCLC
Breastfeeding Specialists Inc.
Sterling Heights, Michigan

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