Can I take antibiotics while breastfeeding?

What the evidence says

In most cases, yes — you can keep breastfeeding while taking antibiotics. Canadian guidance says most maternal illnesses and their treatments are compatible with breastfeeding, since only small amounts of medication typically pass into milk.

The Canadian Paediatric Society notes that breastfeeding can safely continue with most prescription medications because only small amounts pass through breast milk. U.S. guidance agrees: it's usually safe for mothers to use prescription medications, including most antibiotics, while breastfeeding, and most medications and immunizations are considered compatible with nursing.

That said, a few antibiotics are better avoided or used cautiously (for example, some can affect infants with certain conditions, or aren't well studied). Always tell your doctor and pharmacist you're breastfeeding when they prescribe an antibiotic — they can pick one with the best safety profile, or check a resource like LactMed for details on a specific drug.

Watch your baby for mild effects like loose stools, rash, or thrush, especially with certain antibiotic classes, and mention these to your doctor if they occur — but these are usually minor and don't require stopping breastfeeding.