I seem to have deleted my source for this article.  Sorry there is no
reference.  I think it might have come from the LLL site?
___________________________________________________________________________
Corrine Mahar-Sylvestre
Quinte Doula Service
Postpartum Support Program of Quinte
[log in to unmask]
"Perhaps we share stories in much the same spirit that explorers share maps,
hoping to speed each others journey, but knowing the journey we make will be
our own"
                                               Gloria Steinem on motherhood

Is St. John's Wort Safe for Breastfeeding Moms?


St. John's Wort is not recommended for nursing mothers.

This information is taken from an article "St. John's Wort in
Breastfeeding", by Tom Hale (author of "Medications and Mother's Milk"). I
got the info from his website: http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/index.html.

"At present we have no data on the transfer of hypericin to milk or the
infant. Judging by its chemistry, it likely pentrates milk. It is quite
lipophilic and has a large volume of distribution, which suggests that it
could build up over a long period of exposure. It is orally bioavailable and
would be absorbed by the infant. One section of the FDA is proposing to
study the breastmilk levels but this has not yet been done."

"At this point it is my impression that we should be very cautious with this
product in breastfeeding mothers. The fact that hypericin is at least
partially an MAO inhibitor is quite concerning. MAO inhibitors have a sorted
past and are due cause for concern. Because we presently have well studied
and effective antidepressants such as Zoloft (sertraline) and Paxil
(paroxtine) which we believe transfer to the breastfeed infant poorly, I
would urge breastfeeding mothers not consume St. Johns Wort products until
we know more."

There are several depression meds that you can take while breastfeeding.
According to Tom Hale's site (see above for address), Zoloft should be OK,
along with several others. St John's Wort and Prozac are not recommended.

You may wish to read some of the articles at Hale's site if you're going to
take medication (or print them out for yourself and/or your doctor). There
are 5 articles there on antidepressant medications and breastfeeding. They
are located in the Professional Lactation Forum. You can also ask questions
about specific drugs (in the Open Lactation Forum) if you can't find
information about them there.

I've also put together some general information on postpartum depression.

More on St John's Wort for Depression in Breastfeeding Women by Gillian
Arsenault MD FRCPC - La Leche League Medical Associate.

Last Revision Date: 3/27/99
Written: 7/13/98

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