A woman telephones the practice about her 3-week-old, who was born at term and is thriving on exclusive breast…

Question

A woman telephones the practice about her 3-week-old, who was born at term and is thriving on exclusive breastfeeding. Yesterday another doctor started her on an oral antibiotic for a skin infection. The leaflet inside the packet states that the medicine should not be used while breastfeeding, and a friend has told her to switch to formula. She has taken two doses and the baby is feeding, settling and passing urine normally. Which one of the following should you do first?

Accepted Answer

Check the drug in an Australian breastfeeding medicines resource

Answer

Advise her to express and discard milk during the course

Answer

Advise her to formula feed until the course is finished

Answer

Advise her to stop the antibiotic and come in for review

Answer

Reassure her that the packet leaflet overstates the risk

More from Paediatrics