🚬 Substances

Non-prescribed amphetamine use (including recreational Adderall) should be avoided while breastfeeding. Amphetamines transfer into breast milk and can cause irritability, agitation, poor feeding, and sleep disturbances in your baby. If you have a legitimate ADHD prescription, talk to your doctor — prescribed low-dose use may be manageable.

An occasional drink is compatible with breastfeeding as long as you time it right — wait at least 2 hours per drink before nursing. There's no need to pump and dump.

Binge drinking (4+ drinks for women) is strongly advised against while breastfeeding. High alcohol levels impair your ability to safely care for your baby and can lead to dangerous levels of alcohol in your breast milk. If you do have multiple drinks, do not bed-share and arrange for a sober caregiver. Wait until you are completely sober before nursing.

Edibles and other THC products should be avoided while breastfeeding. THC from any source — eaten, vaped, or smoked — concentrates in breast milk and poses developmental risks to your baby.

The FDA advises against CBD oil use during breastfeeding. Unregulated products may contain THC, and CBD's effects on breastfed infants are unknown. Avoid while nursing.

CBD topicals have minimal systemic absorption and are unlikely to significantly affect breast milk. However, they're not formally studied, and product quality and THC contamination are real concerns.

Smoking is harmful, but breastfeeding is still strongly recommended even if you smoke — breast milk's benefits outweigh formula for smoking moms. The goal is to reduce smoking and protect your baby from secondhand smoke.

Cocaine is strictly contraindicated while breastfeeding. It rapidly transfers into breast milk and has caused documented serious adverse effects in breastfed infants, including seizures, irritability, tremors, and vomiting. Do not breastfeed for at least 24 hours after use.

Delta-8 THC should be avoided while breastfeeding, just like delta-9 THC. It's a psychoactive cannabinoid that is structurally similar to regular THC and shares the same fat-soluble properties that cause accumulation in breast milk. Delta-8 products are also poorly regulated and may contain contaminants from the chemical conversion process used to produce them.

Hookah smoking carries the same nicotine and toxin concerns as cigarette smoking during breastfeeding. A single hookah session can deliver more nicotine and carbon monoxide than a full pack of cigarettes.

Kava should be avoided during breastfeeding. It has been associated with liver toxicity and has no breastfeeding safety data. Kava compounds transfer into breast milk.

Avoid kratom while breastfeeding. The FDA has issued strong warnings about kratom safety, and no breastfeeding safety data exists. Opioid-like compounds in kratom transfer into breast milk and can harm infants.

Avoid marijuana while breastfeeding. THC is fat-soluble and accumulates in breast milk at 8x the maternal blood concentration, staying detectable for days to weeks. The AAP, CDC, and AAP all strongly advise against it.

MDMA (ecstasy/molly) should be avoided while breastfeeding. It transfers into breast milk and can cause serious adverse effects in infants. MDMA also impairs your ability to respond to your baby's needs and can cause dehydration and hyperthermia in you.

Nicotine gum is a safer alternative to cigarettes for breastfeeding moms. Nicotine still passes into milk, but without combustion toxins. Nurse just before using a piece to minimize baby's exposure timing.

Nicotine patches are a safer alternative to smoking for breastfeeding moms, as they deliver steady, controlled nicotine without the other toxic combustion products. The nicotine still passes into breast milk, but the harm reduction benefit is significant.

Recreational nitrous oxide (whippets) should be avoided while breastfeeding. Repeated use depletes vitamin B12, which is critical for your baby's neurological development. Nitrous oxide also impairs consciousness and coordination, making safe infant care impossible during use.

Poppy seed tea should be absolutely avoided while breastfeeding. It contains variable, potentially high amounts of morphine and codeine that transfer into breast milk and can be fatal to infants.

Psilocybin mushrooms should be avoided while breastfeeding. There is no safety data on psilocybin transfer into breast milk, and the psychoactive effects impair your ability to safely care for your baby. The unknown risk to your infant means avoidance is the only responsible choice.

Vaping exposes your baby to nicotine through breast milk, similar to cigarettes. Vaping is less harmful than cigarette smoking for secondhand exposure, but it's not safe. Breastfeeding is still recommended over formula if you vape.