What Lactating People Need to Know about Urgent Care
Visiting urgent care is a drag at the best of times. But it presents special challenges if you’re nursing a little one.
What’s the problem?
When people who are producing milk visit urgent care or call telehealth services for any reason (related to lactation or not), it’s very common for a provider to prescribe medication to treat the issue and say, “This medication is not safe for breastfeeding/chestfeeding.”
Many lactating people have gone through ups and downs on their nursing journey. To be told suddenly by a medical provider they’ve never met before (and probably won’t see again) that they can’t nurse anymore is a HUGE DEAL.
But all too often, this medical advice is given with little to no regard for what a big deal it really is. Many medical providers don’t understand the effects sudden weaning can have on little ones, caregivers, and family routines.
The worst part? Most of the time:
the medical provider has incorrect information and patients actually wouldn’t need to stop nursing or pumping for their babies (this is surprisingly common!), or
there is an alternative treatment or medication that is safe during lactation and wouldn’t require any change.
We’ve heard dozens of stories from clients, friends, and acquaintances over the years about how their breastfeeding/chestfeeding relationship is dismissed by medical providers at urgent care facilities. Even when no change in lactation is needed after all, there is often an intense emotional roller coaster in the following hours or days while figuring everything out.
We’ve put together a guide for how you can get the most out of your urgent care visit when you need quick medical attention - with minimal emotional suffering, and without sacrificing your breastfeeding/chestfeeding journey.
Before you go:
If possible, plan to bring someone with you
Having a supportive person with you in a doctor’s appointment can make a huge difference. It’s best if this is someone you know will respect your wishes and support you in a nonjudgmental way. Bonus points if they volunteer to jot down some notes during the appointment!
Keep in mind that there are very few medications that are truly incompatible with lactation
This is really good news! Most medications do pass through your milk to some extent, but that doesn’t mean they are harmful to your baby.
Remember that your little one gets much smaller amounts of medications than you actually take because of the way human milk is made in the body. (If you want to learn more about this, there is some technical information here.) So if someone says, “this medication passes through your milk to your baby,” that is NOT the same as saying “this medication passes through your milk in amounts that are dangerous to your baby.”
Have the Infant Risk Center website on hand
Infant Risk is a leading research center providing evidence-based information regarding the safety and effects of medications on pregnancy and lactation. There are a few ways they offer support:
There is a lot of info on their website regarding various medications
They have a hotline you can call to ask specific questions (highly recommend this!)
They have an app you can use to check the safety of certain medications.
Consider the benefits of lactation and feeding your little one human milk
Sometimes when there are slight risks of side effects to your little one with a medication, the benefits of feeding your baby milk may outweigh those risks. That is a VERY personal decision, and it’s not a decision that any medical professional can make for you.
Practice and/or write down a few key phrases
You may even want to revisit the BRAIN decision-making acronym you may have used in preparation for birth.
“Nursing my baby/child is very important to me. Will this medication have any effect on my milk supply? Can I keep nursing my little one while taking this medication?”
“Is there something I can try first that won’t interrupt lactation?”
“Is there an alternative treatment that won’t affect my milk supply?”
“Is there an alternative treatment that is safe for my baby/child while nursing?”
During the visit:
Do your best to remain calm if a provider says you will need to stop breastfeeding/chestfeeding.
As we’ve mentioned, it’s very common for medical professionals to say that a medication is not safe for breastfeeding, even when that isn’t true. (We didn’t make this up! It’s a problem that is acknowledged within the medical field.)
If a provider recommends a treatment and says it is not safe during lactation, ask more questions.
Remember those phrases you practiced or wrote down? Now is the time to put them to use! Ask the provider about alternative treatments that would not disrupt lactation. Lean on your companion for moral support if it feel intimidating to ask questions. This is YOUR appointment, YOU are paying the provider for their time, and medical providers are legally and ethically REQUIRED to answer your questions.
Keep in mind that urgent care providers and primary care providers are NOT specialists in medication safety during lactation.
If a provider recommends a medication but says you’ll need to stop feeding your little one while taking it, take a breath. Remind yourself that this is just one opinion, and that it is very likely not an expert opinion since urgent care providers are generalists by default.
Contact Infant Risk if you are told that a recommended treatment requires you to stop nursing.
They are the experts, so reach out to them if you want to get a second opinion about a certain treatment option. You can step outside for a few minutes to call them, and then come back into the office with more information and/or more questions you can ask.
Remember that you don’t have to make final decisions right this second.
It’s ok to get the information you can during the visit, then leave and follow up in the ways that you need to in order to feel comfortable moving forward.
After the visit:
Get extra support if needed as you choose how to proceed.
If you’ve worked with a lactation professional, reach out to them if you want more support making your decision. You can even call Infant Risk again if you think of more questions or other details you want to know about.
Take your time making the decision that feels right for YOU.
You can choose not to fill a prescription at the pharmacy, or you can choose to fill the prescription but not start taking it until you feel comfortable. Remember not to put pressure on yourself to make a decision one way or another while you’re there in the visit. (For bonus points, talk this over ahead of time with your support person who is coming with you so you’re both on the same page!)
Feel better soon!
We hope you heal quickly and get all the rest and support you need while you aren’t feeling your best.
