To : Denise Re : Methyldopa Methyldopa is known to suppress the blood pressure of newborn infants for at least 2 days postpartum when prior to delivery. This could be a cause for some sedation, or weakness. The amount transferred into milk is quite minimal, or less than 1.14 mg/liter of milk following a dose of 1000 mg/day. Its poorly absorbed orally (25-50%), so the neonatal exposure via milk is quite minimal. Sedation is know to occur in new users of methyldopa, but generally wanes after a few days of therapy. If this infants blood pressure is in the normal range, its probably just a sleepy neonate and not drug related. Regards Tom Hale I have an enquiry from concerned parents about the effects of maternal methyldopa on their breastfeeding baby. The baby is settled and is gaining weight. It is being demand fed to a four hourly limit (hospital policy because of birth weight under 2.8 kgs) and needs to be woken for most feeds although feeds well once woken. Dad feels the baby is excessively sleepy and was wondering whether the Methyldopa could cause this. Does anyone know if this is known to occur ? Perhaps Dr. Hale might have some information on this one. I would appreciate being emailed directly as I am NOMAIL at the moment because of time constraints. Thanks, Denise Hartley RN RM IBCLC (Queensland, Australia)