Safe to Breastfeed After Radio-Contrast Dye

There are times when breastfeeding mothers may encounter a circumstance when they would need to have a scan, normally performed by a Radiologist, in which they would be subject to a radio-contrast agent, also called radio-contrast dye. In the past, these mothers have been told to interrupt breastfeeding for a given amount of time for the fear of affecting the breastfeeding child. We now know that, in most cases, this is an inappropriate suggestion and may cause harm to the nursing mother or breastfeeding child. You will see this poster that lists all the radio-contrast agents, including about 70 drugs, including iodinated ones.

PLEASE share this information with mothers that are breastfeeding, breastmik-feeding or may become pregnant and breastfeeding at a later time. I urge you also to please share this information with your health care providers, specifically a provider or Radiologist that may be performing this procedure. If they are not already up-to-date with this latest information, they will be now, and will continue to pass along accurate, up-to-date information to breastfeeding mothers.

This below quotes come directly from the American College of Radiology, Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media. Administration of Contrast Media to Breastfeeding Mothers, ACR Manual on Contrast Media, Version 7, 2010.

“Review of the literature shows no evidence to suggest that oral ingestion by an infant of the tiny amount of gadolinium contrast agent excreted into breast milk would cause toxic effects. We believe, therefore, that the available data suggest that it is safe for the mother and infant to continue breast feeding after receiving such an agent.”

“Because of the very small percentage of iodinated contrast medium that is excreted into the breast milk and absorbed by the infant's gut, we believe that the available data suggest that it is safe for the mother and infant to continue breastfeeding after receiving such an agent.”

Summer J Friedmann, IBCLC

6/25/2012