Customer Reviews

Medications and Mothers' Milk 2008

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr. Hale's work has saved so many breastfeeding relationships from well-meaning but uninformed medical advice. As a nursing mama, I can't tell you how many times I've encountered the old "pump & dump" instructions, or even been told outright to wean my children. Thanks to Hale's guide, which fits perfectly in a diaper bag or vehicle glove box, I can do my own research right on the spot during medical appointments, and show doctors firsthand that a medication is either safe or can be substituted with a breastfeeding-friendly replacement with equal healing value.

Medications are listed in easy-to-find alphabetical order, including a quick index of common/generic/brand names. A classification system will show at a glance any warnings and allow the mother to see specific risks (with clinical studies referenced) during both pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is a risk-based rating which allows mothers to see to what extreme a medication may be at risk - you might not choose a specific drug if you are pregnant or nursing an infant, but it would fall into a safer category for a nursing toddler, for example.

Not only is Hale's guide invaluable when it comes to prescription medication, but he includes hefty sections on common OTC medications and even herbals. The OTC (Over the Counter/non-prescription) section includes just about everything imaginable for colds and flu, allergies and more. I am SO grateful for the years of nursing we've been blessed with that Dr. Hale has helped make possible, without having to rely on outside advice but instead going straight to the most respected expert in this field.

So grab a copy for yourself or someone you love, as early in pregnancy as possible. Bring it to your birth, every medical appointment, and keep it handy during travel. Let your friends know you have a copy and can help look up medications if they ever need help. When you're done with your copy, please pass it on to a LaLeche League leader or hospital Lactation Center in your area and it will be helpful to hundreds of other families, too! :)

It's a very good book for use as Lactation consultunts, MD and everyone else that works with breastfeeding mothers.

I suffered from Post Partum anxiety and depression so I went through a lot of different medications in several months. With the already-in-place anxiety, you can imagine my concern about taking drugs and the effects that might have on my baby while I was breastfeeding. I was adamant that I wanted to breastfeed as long as possible, but being an educated person felt like I wasn't getting enough reliable information from the Internet or other sources on how the drugs might really affect my baby.

This book helped educate me on the drugs I tried, took, and might take in the future so I could make educated decisions in my medication choices. It gave me great peace of mind and I even showed it to my doctors who hadn't seen it before (I recommended it to them). It includes all drugs by their actual drug name (not brand name) and includes additional things such as nutritional supplements (fenegreek, ginko, etc.) and even drugs/alternative therapy (cannabis, to name one). It gives complete information about affect on the mother, number of studies done, what made those studies more or less reliable, half life, blood-to-plasma ratio, what to look for in the infant, and more as well as good explanations of what the scientific terms are.

Recently I got sick and this allowed me to be educated on cough syrups and antibiotics that are safe for me to take while breastfeeding as well.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for any nursing mother who might need to take medication, but still wants to breastfeed and be aware of the risks.

This is a must have resource for any pediatric practice. This is what poison control also uses as their resource.

I am a nurse on a labor and delivery unit, and a breastfeeding mom. This is the resource we use on the unit to guide our care. I'd recommend any woman buy it, because many doctors will just arbitrarily issue guidelines, without actually looking at the literature. It is your best resource, in my opinion, to have for your own care and care of baby for breastfeeding.

An excellent reference. Basic meds (over the counter) and RX reviewed as well as radio opaque contrast materials for xrays, and unconventional medications. This is a must have reference for all health care providers/professionals.

This book is THE guide for medication safety when breastfeeding. It is the most comprehensive book available, written by the leading expert in the field. The book is updated every couple years to keep up with new data and new medicines.

Amazingly enough, the majority of pharmaceuticals on the market are compatible with breastfeeding. If a doctor tells a mom she needs to wean because of a medicine she needs to take, it's a good idea to check this book first. Oftentimes weaning is not truly necessary.

I bought my first copy of Medications and Mothers' Milk before my son was born in 2005. It went with me to every doctor's appointment, when I had surgery, and I kept it by the computer for when other nursing friends had questions about prescribed medications. Easy to locate medications by their brand or generic names in the index. LOTS of information (from pregnancy safety rating, breastfeeding safety rating, common side effects in mom and baby, alternatives for some of the more risk-laden medications - even a chart for radiocontrast agents and common cold/allergy medications). When the new edition came out in 2008 - and I had another nursling - there was no question in my mind about purchasing the updated book.

If the price is what's stopping you, think of all the research and study that goes into the preparation of this book. As I said, it goes with me to every appointment - I've even had doctors ask for the ISBN and ordering information to get copies for their own clinics. Great for you and baby, and great for all the other mom/baby pairs they'll treat as well. It's a nursing mama's must-have.

This is a good reference book for physicians, dentists, and pregnant women to know which medications are safe to use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

This is a great resource. I have used this in a previous Pediatric/Family Practice setting. Now work in OB/GYN setting and requested this book be purchased for triage department.