Drugs and breast feeding

Ledward, R. S.; Hawkins, D. F.; Stern, L.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-3296-9_3

R. S. Ledward BSc (Manchester), MR Pharm. Soc., MB, ChB (L’pool), DA, DM (N’ham), LRCP, MRCS, MRSH, FRCS, FRCOG, DHMSA^6,7,
D. F. Hawkins BSc, PhD, DSc, MB, BS (Lond), MD (Mass), FRCOG, FACOG^8,9 &
L. Stern MD, FRCP(C)¹⁰

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Abstract

The characteristics of a drug which influence the rate and amount excreted in breast milk include its protein binding capacity — only those molecules not bound to protein are available for transfer. Other factors include the degree of ionisation of the drug at its physiological pH. The amount of milk ingested by the baby regulates its intake of any drug therein; for example very little can pass in the first three days in colostrum. The fact that the baby ingests the drug does not mean that it is necessarily absorbed.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

South-East Kent Health Authority, England
R. S. Ledward BSc (Manchester), MR Pharm. Soc., MB, ChB (L’pool), DA, DM (N’ham), LRCP, MRCS, MRSH, FRCS, FRCOG, DHMSA (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Honorary Senior Teaching Fellow)
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Royal London Hospital, England
R. S. Ledward BSc (Manchester), MR Pharm. Soc., MB, ChB (L’pool), DA, DM (N’ham), LRCP, MRCS, MRSH, FRCS, FRCOG, DHMSA (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Honorary Senior Teaching Fellow)
Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
D. F. Hawkins BSc, PhD, DSc, MB, BS (Lond), MD (Mass), FRCOG, FACOG (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Emeritus Professor of Obstetric Therapeutics)
University of London, England
D. F. Hawkins BSc, PhD, DSc, MB, BS (Lond), MD (Mass), FRCOG, FACOG (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Emeritus Professor of Obstetric Therapeutics)
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
L. Stern MD, FRCP(C) (Late Professor and Chairman of Pediatrics)

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R. S. Ledward BSc (Manchester), MR Pharm. Soc., MB, ChB (L’pool), DA, DM (N’ham), LRCP, MRCS, MRSH, FRCS, FRCOG, DHMSA
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D. F. Hawkins BSc, PhD, DSc, MB, BS (Lond), MD (Mass), FRCOG, FACOG
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L. Stern MD, FRCP(C)
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Ledward, R.S., Hawkins, D.F., Stern, L. (1991). Drugs and breast feeding. In: Drug Treatment in Obstetrics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3296-9_3

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3296-9_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-34900-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3296-9
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