After birth the baby must excrete toxins on his own even though a newborn kidney and liver functions are not fully mature. For this reason some substances can build up in a newborn's body even though the effects are short-lived in the mother. In short, while most medications do not require the mother to wean, one cannot look at the drug's use during pregnancy to determine compatibility with breastfeeding. When a mother chooses to use an OTC, it becomes her responsibility to check with her health care provider as well as other resources and watch the nursing baby for any possible effects. It is important for the mother to provide accurate information on the OTC she is considering using.
Some products have similar names yet vary widely in dosage, strength and duration.
There is a tendency for a mother to want to take the strongest and longest-lasting medication available. When a woman is breastfeeding, however, the smallest effective dose and the shorter-acting preparations are usually better choices. Remember that we, as Leaders, never recommend a medication or say it is safe. A mother may believe that a medication derived from herbs is natural and, therefore, safe. She might not even mention that she is taking an herbal remedy when asked if she is taking any medication.