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Neonatal Benzodiazepines Exposure during Breastfeeding
The Journal of Pediatrics, 05/08/2012
Kelly LE et al. – This study supports the continued recommendation to initiate breastfeeding while taking benzodiazepines postpartum.
Methods- A prospectively recruited, retrospectively assessed cohort study of mothers who contacted the Motherisk program regarding the safety of benzodiazepines and were invited to participate in a follow-up program regarding the effects of these medications on their infants during lactation.
- A total of 124 consenting women participated. Adverse outcomes, specifically sedation, was identified in only 1.6% (2 of 124) of infants and was not associated with benzodiazepine dose, number of hours breastfed, or any demographic trait.
- Mothers reporting adverse outcomes in themselves (26% [32 of 124]) were more likely to be taking concomitantly a greater number of central nervous system depressants.