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Home
Introduction
Pregnancy
and Drugs
Breast
Feeding
Mixing
Drugs
Anaesthetic
Gases & Solvents
Designer
Drugs
Marijuana
Cocaine
Amphetamines
(Speed)
Analgesics
and Over-The-Counter Drugs
Alcohol
Tobacco
Heroin
& Methadone
Prescription
Drugs
Resources
Acknowlegements
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Breast Feeding
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Most drugs pass through the bloodstream and will be present in small
amounts in the mother's milk. Some drugs can be a problem for the
baby. You will need to discuss this with your doctor or midwife.
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Although there may be problems with drugs being passed through breast
milk and therefore affecting the baby, breast feeding has a number of
advantages which may override this disadvantage.
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Breast feeding helps form close ties between you and the baby. If
a baby is going through withdrawal or is sick, it can be a long
and difficult process to feel close to your baby.
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Breast milk is a safe and easily available food for your baby and
gives your baby a balanced diet as well as some protection from infections.
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If you are using alcohol or other drugs for any reason then it is a
good idea to plan with your midwife or doctor how you will feed, so
that your baby is least likely to be affected.
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You can express your breast milk and save it (the midwives or maternal child
health nurse will show you how to do this if you don't already know). if
its not possible to express, substitute formula for breast milk for a couple
of feeds until the effects of the drug have worn off.
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If you think you are going to use any drug it would be better to feed the
baby before you do this, so that the concentration of the drug will have
decreased in your breast milk by the next feed.
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