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> Is This Safe When Breastfeeding?
> Illness/Surgery
Dental Work and Breastfeeding
(x-rays, local anesthesia, sedation and
more)
By Kelly Bonyata, IBCLC
Both x-rays and novocaine
(and other drugs used for local anesthesia, such as bupivacaine
and lidocaine)
are considered to be compatible with breastfeeding.
Most medications used for oral and IV sedation
are considered compatible with breastfeeding.
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation
is also considered to be compatible with breastfeeding. It is virtually
insoluble in the bloodstream, which means it goes from your brain
to your lungs to the room air immediately after you stop breathing
it in. Per Hale, "it is rapidly eliminated from the body due
to rapid exchange with nitrogen via the pulmonary alveoli (within
minutes). A rapid recovery generally occurs within 3-5 minutes...
Ingestion of nitrous oxide orally via milk is unlikely." See
Conscious Sedation
for more information.
A mother who has wisdom tooth surgery
should not need to interrupt breastfeeding at all (except during
the surgery, of course). To minimize baby's exposure (and increase
mom's comfort), mom can nurse just before she goes in for the procedure.
There is no need to wait on breastfeeding afterwards or to pump
and dump -- mom can nurse as soon as she feels alert enough to hold
baby. See Breastfeeding when mom has
surgery for more information on breastfeeding and general anesthesia.
There are many pain medications compatible
with breastfeeding. See Pain medications
and breastfeeding for more information.
Additional information
@ 
@ other websites
Research
Giuliani M, Grossi GB, Pileri M, Lajolo C, Casparrini G. Could
local anesthesia while breast-feeding be harmful to infants?
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2001 Feb;32(2):142-4. Conclusion:
"This study suggests that even if a nursing mother undergoes
dental treatment with local anesthesia using lidocaine without adrenaline,
she can safely continue breastfeeding."
Ortega D, Viviand X, Lorec AM, Gamerre M, Martin C, Bruguerolle
B. Excretion
of lidocaine and bupivacaine in breast milk following epidural anesthesia
for cesarean delivery. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1999 Apr;43(4):394-7.
Conclusion: "This study documents the magnitude of excreted
lidocaine, bupivacaine and PPX in breast milk, and indicates that
the use of both lidocaine and bupivacaine for epidural anaesthesia
is safe with regard to breast-feeding."
Lebedevs TH, Wojnar-Horton RE, Yapp P, Roberts MJ, Dusci LJ, Hackett
LP, Ilett K. Excretion
of lignocaine and its metabolite monoethylglycinexylidide in breast
milk following its use in a dental procedure. A case report.
J Clin Periodontol 1993 Sep;20(8):606-8. "Nursing mothers
receiving lignocaine for standard dental procedures can be advised
that continuation of breast feeding is safe."
Page last modified:
09/08/2005
Written: 09/27/02
