When you're pregnant or breastfeeding, every pill, supplement, or prescription comes with a question: Is this safe for my baby? The LactMed database, a trusted, peer-reviewed resource from the National Library of Medicine that evaluates drug exposure during lactation. Also known as Drugs and Lactation Database, it gives clear, evidence-based answers on what medications pass into breast milk and how they might affect your infant. This isn’t just a list—it’s a decision-making tool used by doctors, pharmacists, and new parents who need real answers, not guesses.
Related to the LactMed database are other key tools and concepts that help keep moms and babies safe. Maternal medication safety, the practice of choosing drugs that minimize risk to the fetus or nursing infant involves understanding how a drug’s molecular size, protein binding, and half-life affect its transfer into milk. Then there’s breastfeeding drug interactions, how one medication might change the effect of another in a nursing baby—like when an antidepressant combines with a common cold medicine to cause unexpected drowsiness. And don’t forget pregnancy medication safety, the careful balancing act of treating conditions like hypertension, depression, or autoimmune disease without harming fetal development. These aren’t abstract ideas—they’re daily concerns for millions of women, and the LactMed database is one of the few places that answers them with data, not opinions.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real-world examples of how these concepts play out. You’ll see how hydroxychloroquine is safe during pregnancy for lupus patients, why certain antidepressants are preferred while others are risky, and how even common supplements like garlic can interfere with blood thinners in nursing mothers. These aren’t theoretical case studies—they’re stories from clinics, pharmacies, and homes, where someone had to choose between treating their illness and protecting their child. The LactMed database doesn’t make the decision for you, but it gives you the facts to make it confidently. Whether you’re a new mom, a healthcare provider, or just someone trying to understand what’s safe, this collection gives you the clarity you need—no jargon, no fluff, just what works and what doesn’t.
