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Key takeaways
Amoxicillin is safe and effective to take during breastfeeding.
You or your baby may have mild effects from amoxicillin, such as diarrhea.
If you are prescribed amoxicillin, take it as prescribed and be sure to finish the full course of the medication.
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial infections in children and adults. It is also sold under the brand names Amoxil and Augmentin (a combination antibiotic that includes both amoxicillin and clavulanic acid). If you’re nursing, don’t worry. This medication is safe for most new moms and breastfeeding babies.
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Can you take amoxicillin while breastfeeding?
Yes. Amoxicillin is safe and compatible with breastfeeding, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
A recent animal study and multiple human pharmacokinetic studies indicate that only trace amounts of the drug appear in human milk and that these levels are not considered significant enough to affect infants. LactMed, the National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database, states that amoxicillin is not likely to cause adverse effects and that it is acceptable for use in breastfeeding women.
Alice Stegmann, RN, IBCLC, a nurse and lactation consultant at Austin City Lactation in Austin, Texas, says, of amoxicillin: “It clears the mother’s system quickly, only a small amount passes into breast milk, and it’s been widely used in lactating parents, so we have a lot of data.” The half-life of amoxicillin is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. It is rapidly cleared from the body, so the concentration of the medication in breast milk will decrease within several hours of dosing. After a single 1-gram dose of amoxicillin in a small study of six women, peak levels in breastmilk were found to occur about four to five hours after the dose. An exclusively breastfed infant would be expected to receive a maximum daily dose of about 0.1 mg of amoxicillin if their mother were taking 500 mg three times daily. This is equal to about 0.25%-0.5% of the typical dose of infant amoxicillin.
Amoxicillin can be prescribed to a breastfeeding mother for a variety of illnesses, such as a urinary tract infection, sinus or respiratory infection, skin infection, and occasionally, for mastitis (an inflammation of breast tissue that is caused by bacteria). Generally, penicillins are the first line of treatment for mastitis, although other types of penicillin antibiotics are preferred over amoxicillin when treating mastitis.
It is important to note that amoxicillin is often prescribed directly to infants when they have infections. The amount that a baby would get through breastmilk is much smaller than the dose a baby would get when taking the medication themselves. This further supports amoxicillin’s safety during lactation.
Side effects of amoxicillin while breastfeeding
Amoxicillin is generally safe to use while breastfeeding, but like any medication, it can have side effects for both the nursing parent and baby.
In babies:
The most commonly reported side effect is mild diarrhea. Some infants may develop a diaper rash, skin rash, or temporary stomach upset, but studies show these reactions are uncommon and usually mild.
Research suggests that any minor changes to a baby’s gut bacteria from amoxicillin are temporary, and breastfeeding itself helps restore the microbiome in the infant’s gut. Exposure of infants to amoxicillin through breast milk at standard doses is not likely to lead to antibiotic resistance.
In mothers:
Common side effects from amoxicillin include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and skin rashes. Less common reactions may include allergic responses (such as a rash or swelling) or yeast infections (thrush).
If you or your baby experience concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. For those allergic to amoxicillin, alternative antibiotics such as cephalosporins, clindamycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin may be appropriate options.
How to take amoxicillin while breastfeeding
If you’ve been prescribed amoxicillin while you are breastfeeding, take it as prescribed by your provider. The amoxicillin dose is based on age and weight. Most times, it is prescribed twice a day for five to fourteen days. Take the full course of antibiotics in order to treat the infection in your body. If you miss doses or stop taking the medication before the full course of antibiotics has been completed, the infection may return.
You do not need to wait to breastfeed your baby or pump breastmilk after amoxicillin is taken. Additionally, you can breastfeed them right away after you take the medication. This is because the amount that transfers into breastmilk is small and is not expected to affect your baby.
If you or your baby experience any side effects of amoxicillin, contact a healthcare professional as soon as possible. They can help you determine what next steps (if any) are appropriate for you.
What is the safest antibiotic for breastfeeding?
Amoxicillin and many other antibiotics are considered safe to use while breastfeeding. But the “safest” antibiotic is always the one that best fits your specific infection’s needs. Your healthcare provider will choose the right option based on your symptoms, medical history, diagnosis, and overall health.
“Most antibiotics are safe during breastfeeding,” says Rebecca Berens, MD, IBCLC, a family physician and lactation consultant. What matters most is treating the parent effectively, because a healthy mother is essential for a healthy baby. The risks to infants from most antibiotics are very small, but the risks to mothers of leaving an infection untreated can be significant.
At the same time, Dr. Berens notes that antibiotics should be used carefully: long-term or unnecessary use often disrupts the body’s natural bacteria (think disrupted gut microbiome with resultant gas and change in bowel movements) and contributes to antibiotic resistance.
To support your body while taking antibiotics, experts recommend rest, hydration, probiotics (especially those that support breast health), and nourishing foods.
The bottom line
Amoxicillin is safe and effective to take during breastfeeding and has very little risk of affecting a breastfed baby or a lactating parent in a negative way. As Dr. Berens explains, “The risk of an untreated infection in a mother could impact her overall health and therefore, her milk production and her ability to care for her baby. So, the risk of not treating that infection is likely greater than any potential risk from the amoxicillin itself.”
In other words, keeping you healthy keeps your baby healthy too. If your provider prescribes amoxicillin, feel confident to continue breastfeeding while taking the medication.
- Antibiotic exposure is associated with minimal gut microbiome perturbations in healthy term infants, Microbiome (2025)
- Amoxicillin, Pediatric Care Online (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021)
- Augmentin, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2025)
- Guidelines for endoscopy in pregnant and lactating women, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (2012)
- Gut microbiome and breastfeeding: Implications for early immune development, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2022)
- Management of mastitis in breastfeeding women, American Family Physician (2008)
- Passage of cephalosporins and amoxicillin into the breast milk, Acta Paediatrica Scandinavica (1981)
- Population pharmacokinetic modeling of amoxicillin in plasma and milk in lactating Göttingen minipigs – a contribution from the ConcePTION Project, The AAPS Journal (2025)
- Prospective follow-up of adverse reactions in breast-fed infants exposed to maternal medication, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1993)
- Technical report: Breastfeeding and the use of human milk, Pediatrics (2022)
- The safety of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cefuroxime during lactation, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (2005)