Can I take hypertension medication by breastfeeding mothers? & bull; hello healthy

For those of you who have high blood pressure (hypertension), you may worry when you have to breastfeed your little one. Yes, not a few mothers with hypertension hesitate to give breast milk to their babies, for fear that hypertension drugs taken while breastfeeding will also enter breast milk and affect the health of the baby. However, is it true that hypertension drugs should be avoided by breastfeeding mothers? Is the hypertension drug dangerous for the health of babies and nursing mothers? Here it is the answer.

What if you have to take hypertension medication while the mother is breastfeeding?

Hypertension is a chronic health disorder that cannot be cured and can only be controlled. Therefore, to keep your blood pressure normal, doctors recommend taking hypertension medication. Maybe before you had a baby, you had no problem if you had to take high blood pressure medication every day. However, what if you have to take hypertension medication while breastfeeding? Will the high blood pressure medication pass into breast milk when the mother is breastfeeding?

Many mothers think that way, so they are reluctant to breastfeed their babies or even stop taking hypertension medication without the doctor's knowledge. In fact, there is scientific evidence that exclusive breastfeeding can help lower blood pressure in mothers. So, you should still give your little one exclusive breastfeeding even though you have high blood pressure.

After all, almost all hypertension drugs tend to be safe to take while breastfeeding. If there is a hypertension drug that can enter breast milk, the level is only small, so breastfeeding mothers don't have to worry about any side effects of any drugs on their little one.

However, you need to be careful if your baby is born prematurely. Breastfeeding that contains a certain drug, can affect his health because his body functions, especially the kidneys, are not completely perfect.

So, breastfeeding mothers should always consult their doctor before using or stopping high blood pressure medications. Stopping or taking drugs that are not as recommended can be detrimental to both your health and the baby.

What hypertension drugs are safe for breastfeeding mothers to take?

Almost all hypertension drugs are safe for consumption while breastfeeding. However, this actually depends on your physical condition as well as the dose of medicine you are taking. The more severe the hypertension you have, the higher the dose of medicine your doctor will give you.

Some types of hypertension drugs recommended by Drugs.com for nursing mothers are methyldopa, beta blockers, calcium channel blocker, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics.

If a breastfeeding mother has suffered from high blood pressure during pregnancy and has taken hypertension medication from a doctor, usually these medicines can be continued after the mother gives birth. However, of course you need to consult your doctor first about a combination of high blood pressure drugs that are safe for breastfeeding mothers.

The following is a further explanation of the types of hypertension drugs that are safe and recommended for breastfeeding mothers:

1. Methyldopa

Methyldopa is included in hypertension drugs that are safe to consume while breastfeeding. Drugs classified in acting α2-adrenergic agonistit works by reducing the release of catecholamine, a group of hormones that triggers vasoconstriction (constriction of blood vessels).

Some of the side effects that may arise from consuming methyldopa are fatigue, difficulty sleeping, increased saliva production, and the risk of depression. Therefore, this drug is not usually recommended for breastfeeding mothers who have or are suffering from depression.

2. Beta blockers (except atenolol)

Beta blockers is also a type of hypertension drug that doctors prescribe for nursing mothers. Drug beta blockerswhich are commonly given to treat high blood pressure during breastfeeding babies are labetalol and metoprolol

Labetalol is generally used to treat acute hypertension that is severe during breastfeeding. In addition, this drug is considered to be more effective when compared to methyldopa.

As for medicine beta blockersanother, namely atenolol, is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. According to Drugs.com, atenolol has the potential to affect a baby's health, such as experiencing bradycardia (decreased heart rate) or hypothermia (a drastic drop in body temperature).

3. Calcium channel blockers

Drugcalcium channel blocker, such as nifedipine and verapamil are often prescribed to help treat high blood pressure in nursing mothers. This drug works by relaxing the muscles in the blood vessels, so that blood flow is much smoother.

Possible side effects from consumptioncalcium channel blockerinclude irregular heartbeats (tachycardia or palpitations), peripheral edema, headache, and flushing.

4. ACE inhibitors

Drugs that are included in ACE inhibitors and used for hypertension in nursing mothers are captopril, enalapril, and benazepril.

ACE inhibitors help relieve symptoms of hypertension by inhibiting the production of angiotensin II compounds. These compounds can trigger blood vessel constriction in people with hypertension.

Side effects that can potentially arise from this drug are headaches, dry mouth, fatigue, blurry vision, low blood pressure, and excessive sweating.

5. Diuretic

The use of diuretics as high blood pressure medication for breastfeeding mothers is considered safe. The type of diuretic drug that is commonly given to nursing mothers is hydrochlorothiazide.

However, hydrochlorothiazide is thought to cause an increase in diuresis, or urine production in nursing mothers. If breastfeeding mothers urinate more frequently, milk production may decrease.

However, so far hydrochlorothiazide has not caused any abnormalities or problems in babies who drink breast milk. Apart from hydrochlorothiazide, the diuretic hypertension drug spironolactone is also safe for consumption by nursing mothers.

To find out whether it is safe to take high blood pressure medication while breastfeeding, you should talk to your doctor about this. Ask also the right time to take the hypertension medication, whether there are provisions for drinking before breastfeeding or vice versa.

What if the baby has a certain reaction or symptom?

Although the drugs consumed by breastfeeding mothers tend to be safe, you need to be aware of the reactions that may occur in your baby. Some of these reactions, namely:

• Diet changes.
• Changes in sleep patterns.
• Fussy
• Certain skin problems, such as rashes.

If this happens to your baby, there is no need to panic. Symptoms or reactions that appear in babies do not necessarily come from the hypertension medication you are taking. However, if this happens to your baby, you need to immediately consult your little one to a doctor for further treatment.

Apart from taking hypertension medication, this is what breastfeeding mothers also need to do

Although hypertension can be controlled through drugs, nursing mothers also need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This can help lower blood pressure as well as increase milk production. Here are some things that breastfeeding mothers need to do:

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet, while reducing your salt intake. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to keep your energy up during breastfeeding.
• Drink enough water, including water, juice, and milk to stay hydrated during breastfeeding. Choose nonfat milk to help control blood pressure.
• Reduce drinking alcohol and caffeine which can increase blood pressure as well as have an effect on your baby.
• Do not smoke.
• Enough rest.
• Reduces stress.
• Light exercise routine.

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