Reports: Most drugs safe for breast-feeding mothers, babies

NEW YORK — A new report by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that it is safe for women to take the medications and vaccinations they need while breast-feeding.

According to HealthDay News, the AAP worked with the Food and Drug Administration to produce the report, which is about proposed changes to drug labels. As part of the changes, the section, currently titled "Nursing Mothers," would be changed to "Lactation" and include more information about how a drug might be transferred to breast milk, and any potential harm it might cause to a baby.

The report also refers women and their doctors to a database maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine called LactMed, which contains information on more than 450 drugs. There are more than 3,000 unique pharmaceuticals available, but most have not been studied in breast-feeding women.