Melanie Frodsham completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy at Monash University’s Victorian College of Pharmacy in 2009. She is a community pharmacist based in Western Melbourne with an interest in breastfeeding. After having her first baby she completed a Cert IV Breastfeeding Education through the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) as she realised, first hand, how important it was for breastfeeding mums to receive accurate breastfeeding information and good quality support.

As well as her community pharmacy work Melanie volunteers as a breastfeeding counsellor, providing phone and face-to-face breastfeeding support. She helps to facilitate breastfeeding education classes for expectant parents, runs local support groups for breastfeeding mums and supports mothers through breastpump hire. 

Episode 5 Breastfeeding | What medications are safe?

Unfortunately, there are still many reports of mothers being given incorrect information and advice around using medications while breastfeeding.  Many mothers face challenges in breastfeeding their babies and receiving incorrect information or poor advice surrounding medication use can needlessly undermine a breastfeeding relationship.

Breastfeeding mothers frequently need to use medicines. Medication use may be for something directly related to breastfeeding or early motherhood. For example, for managing pain following the birth of their baby, treating infective mastitis or for post-natal depression and/or anxiety. Medication use may also be for other common conditions that come up in life; a common cold, hayfever, heartburn or headaches.

The truth is that most medications are safe to use while breastfeeding. Some may be preferred over others and there are a few that are good to avoid. There is almost always a safe option. Breastfeeding mums shouldn’t feel like they need to ‘suffer in silence’ and leave a medical condition untreated. Nor should they feel like they are required to stop breastfeeding in order to get the medical treatment they need (this is only the case for a small number of women with serious medical conditions).

Women deserve to receive accurate information around medicines use and good quality support to enable them to meet their breastfeeding goals wherever possible.

5 Indispensable tips

1. Most medicines are safe to take while breastfeeding. It is good to seek advice to find out which might be the best option for you.

2. Information on medicine boxes or on the leaflets that come inside boxes may not be the most up-to-date – use a reliable information source such as LactMed or speak to an expert on medicines in breastfeeding by calling one of the medicines information lines (see web links supplied)

3. If you are given strange advice about medicines and breastfeeding – eg ‘pump and dump’ for 72 hours – seek a second opinion!

4. Medicines can sometimes be helpful for increasing breastmilk supply, HOWEVER, other techniques, for example, more frequent feeding and getting good support to make sure baby is attaching well to the breast, are often MORE effective.

5. Spending money on expensive vitamin or herbal supplements is not necessary for breastfeeding  

Further resources and links

Breastfeeding Helpline (for general breastfeeding enquiries and support): 1800 686 268

Medicines in breastfeeding fact sheet for over the counter medicines. Produced by the Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne:

https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Medicines-in-breastfeeding-151018.pdf

LactMed:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/

Medicines information centres phone numbers for expert advice about medicines use during breastfeeding (list compiled by the Australian Breastfeeding Association):

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/safe-when-breastfeeding/breastfeeding-and-prescription-medications

Some further information and resources for other topics briefly touched on during this episode:

Information and support for parents experiencing post-natal depression and/or anxiety:

https://www.panda.org.au/

Increasing milk supply:

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns%E2%80%93mum/supply

Domperidone for increasing breast milk. Produced by the Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne:

https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Domperidone-for-increasing-breast-milk-supply-260219.pdf

Weaning:

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/weaning-and-introducing-solids/weaning

Lactation suppression:

https://shop.breastfeeding.asn.au/products/lactation-suppression/

Melanie Frodsham completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy at Monash University&rsquo;s Victorian College of Pharmacy in 2009. She is a community pharmacist based in Western Melbourne with an interest in breastfeeding. After having her first baby she completed a Cert IV Breastfeeding Education through the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) as she realised, first hand, how important it was for breastfeeding mums to receive accurate breastfeeding information and good quality support.
As well as her community pharmacy work Melanie volunteers as a breastfeeding counsellor, providing phone and face-to-face breastfeeding support. She helps to facilitate breastfeeding education classes for expectant parents, runs local support groups for breastfeeding mums and supports mothers through breastpump hire.&nbsp;
Episode 5 Breastfeeding | What medications are safe?
Unfortunately, there are still many reports of mothers being given incorrect information and advice around using medications while breastfeeding.&nbsp; Many mothers face challenges in breastfeeding their babies and receiving incorrect information or poor advice surrounding medication use can needlessly undermine a breastfeeding relationship.
Breastfeeding mothers frequently need to use medicines. Medication use may be for something directly related to breastfeeding or early motherhood. For example, for managing pain following the birth of their baby, treating infective mastitis or for post-natal depression and/or anxiety. Medication use may also be for other common conditions that come up in life; a common cold, hayfever, heartburn or headaches.
The truth is that most medications are safe to use while breastfeeding. Some may be preferred over others and there are a few that are good to avoid. There is almost always a safe option. Breastfeeding mums shouldn&rsquo;t feel like they need to &lsquo;suffer in silence&rsquo; and leave a medical condition untreated. Nor should they feel like they are required to stop breastfeeding in order to get the medical treatment they need (this is only the case for a small number of women with serious medical conditions).
Women deserve to receive accurate information around medicines use and good quality support to enable them to meet their breastfeeding goals wherever possible.
5 Indispensable tips
1. Most medicines are safe to take while breastfeeding. It is good to seek advice to find out which might be the best option for you.
2. Information on medicine boxes or on the leaflets that come inside boxes may not be the most up-to-date &ndash; use a reliable information source such as LactMed or speak to an expert on medicines in breastfeeding by calling one of the medicines information lines (see web links supplied)
3. If you are given strange advice about medicines and breastfeeding &ndash; eg &lsquo;pump and dump&rsquo; for 72 hours &ndash; seek a second opinion!
4. Medicines can sometimes be helpful for increasing breastmilk supply, HOWEVER, other techniques, for example, more frequent feeding and getting good support to make sure baby is attaching well to the breast, are often MORE effective.
5. Spending money on expensive vitamin or herbal supplements is not necessary for breastfeeding&nbsp;&nbsp;
Further resources and links
Breastfeeding Helpline (for general breastfeeding enquiries and support): 1800 686 268
Medicines in breastfeeding fact sheet for over the counter medicines. Produced by the Royal Women&rsquo;s Hospital Melbourne:
<a href="https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Medicines-in-breastfeeding-151018.pdf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Medicines-in-breastfeeding-151018.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037070000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFIlK0vYPytisIxLH1ugxbO_FWpNw">https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Medicines-in-breastfeeding-151018.pdf</a>
LactMed:
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037070000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFWa-eZFdHLXEAqCTmOL7VfK00UbQ">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/</a>
Medicines information centres phone numbers for expert advice about medicines use during breastfeeding (list compiled by the Australian Breastfeeding Association):
<a href="https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/safe-when-breastfeeding/breastfeeding-and-prescription-medications" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/safe-when-breastfeeding/breastfeeding-and-prescription-medications&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037070000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE3GZt7Lyj5fTIPWD1Nt4ZFQ6soJw">https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/safe-when-breastfeeding/breastfeeding-and-prescription-medications</a>
Some further information and resources for other topics briefly touched on during this episode:
Information and support for parents experiencing post-natal depression and/or anxiety:
<a href="https://www.panda.org.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.panda.org.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037070000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEa6mqBKjux-HFI24GesY8NM9RsQA">https://www.panda.org.au/</a>
Increasing milk supply:
<a href="https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns%E2%80%93mum/supply" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns%25E2%2580%2593mum/supply&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037071000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHIzx4Y27eYUa5wlfVuozzR6XLMYQ">https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/common-concerns%E2%80%93mum/supply</a>
Domperidone for increasing breast milk. Produced by the Royal Women&rsquo;s Hospital Melbourne:
<a href="https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Domperidone-for-increasing-breast-milk-supply-260219.pdf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Domperidone-for-increasing-breast-milk-supply-260219.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037071000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE5ag9ncxhoZJapf5Ix7XQlxY2b4Q">https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Domperidone-for-increasing-breast-milk-supply-260219.pdf</a>
Weaning:
<a href="https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/weaning-and-introducing-solids/weaning" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/weaning-and-introducing-solids/weaning&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037071000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGDGwRbRNUcMgx9JgiQYi72hNd69A">https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/weaning-and-introducing-solids/weaning</a>
Lactation suppression:
<a href="https://shop.breastfeeding.asn.au/products/lactation-suppression/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://shop.breastfeeding.asn.au/products/lactation-suppression/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1591146037071000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGjTFkzs0yQUAnV-llCCQc1z95j-w">https://shop.breastfeeding.asn.au/products/lactation-suppression/</a>

Indispensable is for Australians who want to know how to use their medications effectively and improve their health. In each episode, we share medication tips from the experts: pharmacists.

Indispensable is for Australians who want to know how to use their medications effectively and improve their health. In each episode, we share medication tips from the experts: pharmacists.

Indispensable Podcast

Indispensable is for Australians who want to know how to use their medications effectively and improve their health. In each episode, I share medication tips from the experts: pharmacists.

Indispensable is for Australians who want to know how to use their medications effectively and improve their health. In each episode, I share medication tips from the experts: pharmacists.