Hi, I looked at the responses to the question of marijuana and breastfeeding from last year and wrote to some of the posters for additional information. I have been on a committee looking at how we are going to proceed when mother and/or baby have a positive UDS. We all agree she shouldn't be breastfeeding based on the available literature but we also agree that even if she doesn't breastfeed while inpatient, there is nothing stopping her from breastfeeding after discharge. We have been instructing mothers to pump and dump for 10 - 14 days, obtain a UDS and if negative can breastfeed but can't find the reference to support this recommendation. We also suspect there is litte compliance.
Most mothers, when told that the medication they are on is contraindicated, will either try to find an alternative medication or not breastfeed. Marijuana is a totally different drug re how mother's respond to being told that it is contraindicated. I checked with our social worker and positive UDS results are referred to the Bureau of Child Welfare.
I'd like to hear from you re: 
1. what your policy is and share it if you can 
2. if you instruct mothers to pump and dump, how long and what is the reference that this recommendation is based on 
3. what has been your success rate in mothers complying with abstaining and then obtaining a UDS or breastfeeding successfully after.
Thank you so much for your time.
Christine, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Milwaukee, WI

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