Breastfeeding During a Medical Abortion: What to Do and Avoid

Breastfeeding During a Medical Abortion: What to Do and Avoid

For a woman, following a medical abortion, things are different physically and emotionally. This is especially true for new mothers who are breastfeeding. If you have any queries about how abortion pills may impact breast milk, or whether to stop breastfeeding for the moment, in this blog, we will talk about both these concerns. However, you can rest your mind because even during a pregnancy termination with pills, the infant can still feed on the mother’s milk, and the woman can stay safe as well.

Here, we will take you through breastfeeding during a medical abortion and what is safe and what needs to be avoided, how to manage your health and the baby's as well.

The Safety of Breastfeeding During Medical Abortion

In a medical abortion, people usually use Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills. The method is valid up to 12 weeks of pregnancy or gestation. For new mothers, the safety of health while breastfeeding resumes as a priority, not just for the baby but for themselves. So, conducting pregnancy termination without affecting the nutrition for the infant is something we will delve into further.

  1. Do: Consult Your Healthcare Provider

    2. Before ending a pregnancy with pills, if you are breastfeeding, always consult a doctor and discuss your medical condition and that of the child. Reveal the infant’s age and seek personalized advice, if any, for their safety and nutrition.

  2. Do: Know the Abortion Pills and Their Impact

    3. Mifepristone is a progesterone-blocking abortion pill that detaches the pregnancy from the endometrial lining by shedding the latter. The second medicine is Misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analog. It causes uterine contractions and expels the conception, and leads to heavy vaginal bleeding. The side effects are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, stomach upset, headache, tiredness, and mild fever. While abortion pills are safe during breastfeeding, some of their contents can get into the breast milk. The amount of the medicine ingredient that goes into the milk is low, especially for Misoprostol, as the medicine exits from the body soon. However, due to temporary effects on the breast milk, it is safe to pause breastfeeding when under the effect of Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills.

  3. Don’t: Assume All Abortion Pills Are Compatible

    4. Yes, the pregnancy termination pills are suitable for new mothers. But not all of them may support breastfeeding. For instance, Mifepristone may not cause much of a problem for nursing mothers and infants. However, Misoprostol may pass into the breast milk in small amounts. While it is safe to continue Misoprostol during lactation, it does not break down easily. Thus, one must stop breastfeeding, especially when administering the prostaglandin medication.

The Do’s: Safe Practices for Breastfeeding Mothers

It is easy to manage a pregnancy termination if done early with pills and still have your child depend on breast milk. Here, we will discuss how to carefully plan the procedure so that it is a win-win situation, not just for you, but for the baby as well:

  1. Plan the Medical Abortion in Advance

    2. If you want to get a medical abortion at home, speak to a doctor beforehand and let them know you are breastfeeding. In many cases, one can time the abortion pill administration in a way that breastfeeding has to be paused only for a short time. The healthcare provider may be able to guide when the pill effect will be maximum, and to halt breastfeeding at that time.

  2. Pump and Store Breast Milk Beforehand

    3. Even if you have to pause breastfeeding momentarily, like for a day or more, after the use of Mifepristone or Misoprostol, have backup milk in store for the baby. You can pump the milk and store it in an airtight container. Refrigerate the milk at an adequate temperature, but do not freeze it excessively. Then you can take out the milk and let it normalize, and feed the baby when you cannot directly breastfeed them.

  3. Resume Breastfeeding When the Doctor Advises

    4. When under the effect of Misoprostol, you may have to prohibit breastfeeding for a few hours. However, it could be safe to resume breastfeeding once the medicine elements pass out of the body. But for Mifepristone, you must maintain an interval of at least 24 hours after use to start breastfeeding. The duration of not breastfeeding may vary from one person to another. A doctor can help better understand this depending on a person’s health and other factors.

  4. Monitor Your Health and That of the Baby

    5. While the medical abortion is ongoing for a new mother, they must keep an eye on the symptoms such as abdominal cramps, pain, fever, bleeding, etc. They must also keep a track of the baby’s health during this period. Any unusual reactions for the baby or mother indicate prompt medical attention without delay.

  5. Self-Care is Crucial

    6. Breastfeeding resuming is important for the baby’s nutrition and health. However, at the same time, the mother must also recover emotionally and physically as what happens to their health will impact the internal processes and lactation. So, if you are a nursing mother when ending a pregnancy, prioritize rest, hydration, and inclusion of nutritious food to support recovery and an undisturbed milk supply.

The Don’ts: What to Avoid During Breastfeeding and Abortion

Now that you know what to follow for breastfeeding during a medical abortion, it is time to know what to avoid and the precautions to take during this time. Here is guidance on that:

  1. Do Not Rely on Unverified Information

    2. It is easy to fall prey to false information and myths about breastfeeding at the time of medical abortion. This can come from online sources, friends, family, or just anyone. This does not help, but rather creates misconceptions of things to do or avoid. Thus, the first step of awareness about the situation is referring to sources that provide evidence and scientific knowledge, or simply depend on the recommendation of your healthcare provider.

  2. Do Not Forget Contraception

    3. Just after two to three weeks of a successful medical abortion, your fertility can return even if your regular period has not yet begun. So, it is vital to start with birth control during breastfeeding if you are sexually active. Since you are a nursing mother, go for progestin-only contraception as it does not affect the milk and its supply. Or, you can choose non-hormonal birth control for additional safety,

  3. Do Not Panic Over Minor Side Effects

    4. As medical abortion may cause temporary side effects, there is no reason to worry. The procedure does not reduce milk supply. However, if you see a minor fluctuation in the milk quantity, do not panic. Your body needs some healing after ending the pregnancy. The hormonal balance should resume soon, and you can get back to normal breastfeeding at the earliest once the doctor gives a thumbs-up for it.

  4. Do Not Delay Seeking Help If Needed

    5. Signs of infection post an abortion or during the process may include severe pain, excessive bleeding, foul-smelling and discolored discharge from the vagina, high fever for over 24 hours, etc. Do not avoid these instances but seek emergency care. Similarly, if the infant shows any signs of sickness or being unwell, do not delay contacting a pediatrician and seeking support.

To Conclude

Breastfeeding at the time of medical abortion is possible without causing complications if you follow the necessary do’s and don’ts. Though you may have to stop breastfeeding for a while when under certain abortion pill effects, you can always keep a milk supply reserve so that the infant’s health and nutritional needs are fulfilled. Similarly, keeping a tab on your health and that of the child becomes important during this period.

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