{"id":631391,"date":"2025-02-20T09:30:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T14:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631391"},"modified":"2025-02-13T15:29:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T20:29:32","slug":"metformin-nursing-considerations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metformin-nursing-considerations\/","title":{"rendered":"Is metformin safe while breastfeeding?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Millions of people take prescription medications every day without a second thought. But once you become pregnant or are <\/span>planning to breastfeed<\/span><\/a>, you may start putting everything you take into your body under a microscope\u2014even drugs as common as metformin\u2014for fear that it may not be safe for your baby. So, can you take metformin to treat diabetes while breastfeeding?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Metformin<\/span><\/a> is an oral medication commonly used to manage <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>,\u201d says primary care provider and women\u2019s health expert Navya Mysore, MD. \u201cIt works by improving insulin sensitivity, decreasing glucose production in the liver (hepatic glucose production), and enhancing glucose uptake by our body’s cells.\u201d Since hardly any metformin passes into breast milk, it is generally safe to take while breastfeeding. Here\u2019s everything you need to know to keep you and your baby safe and healthy while taking metformin and nursing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take metformin while breastfeeding?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cWhile it\u2019s always important to consult your healthcare provider to discuss your specific situation, metformin is generally considered safe to use while breastfeeding,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Mysore<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a> that looked at levels of metformin in breastfeeding women who were taking different doses and at various frequencies determined that breastfeeding infants would receive less than 0.5% of their mother\u2019s dosage of metformin\u2014well below the <\/span>10% level<\/span><\/a> that would be of concern for breastfed infants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Metformin<\/span><\/a>, also known by the brand name Glucophage XR, belongs to a pharmacologic class of drugs called biguanides <\/span>that work by reducing glucose absorption from food in the intestines, decreasing glucose production in the liver, and increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin.<\/span> It is the most commonly prescribed medication antidiabetic agent for <\/span>Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a> mellitus. Why? It works. According to research published in <\/span>Diabetes Spectrum, <\/span><\/i>metformin alone reduces the progression of Type 2 diabetes by 31%. It is particularly effective in patients who are obese, have higher fasting blood glucose levels, have a history of <\/span>gestational diabetes<\/span><\/a>, or are on the younger side. So, while metformin is highly effective for the majority of people with Type 2 diabetes, it\u2019s also a top choice treatment for Type 2 diabetics who are breastfeeding.<\/span><\/p>\n

To put any metformin nursing considerations further into perspective, <\/span>multiple studies<\/span><\/a> also looked at the growth and development of breastfed infants whose mothers were taking metformin, finding no adverse effects. This was true for babies in whom metformin was undetectable as well as those in whom tiny amounts of metformin did come up on blood tests.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long should I wait to breastfeed after taking metformin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cThere is such a tiny amount of metformin that passes into breast milk that there is not a need to wait a certain amount of time after taking metformin to breastfeed or pump,\u201d says <\/span>Jessica Madden, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified pediatrician and neonatologist, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Medical Director of <\/span>Aeroflow Breastpumps<\/span><\/a>. The minuscule amount of metformin found in breast milk is just one of two reasons that you don\u2019t need to time breastfeeding around taking the medicine\u2014the other is that the tiny amount of metformin in breast milk does not really change over the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Metformin<\/span><\/a> comes as a tablet taken two or three times a day, an oral solution taken one or two times a day, or an extended-release tablet taken once daily. All of these are meant to maintain steady blood sugar levels throughout the day. As such, <\/span>research <\/span><\/a>has shown that levels of metformin in breast milk vary little over 24 hours, so there\u2019s no need to adjust your medication or breastfeeding schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n

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