✅SafeCurated
CT Scan
A CT scan without contrast is completely safe while breastfeeding — the radiation does not affect breast milk. CT scans with iodine-based contrast are also safe; the contrast agents have very low transfer into breast milk and are poorly absorbed from the infant's gut. No pumping and dumping is required for either type.
Iodinated contrast agents (used with CT scans) do appear in breast milk in very small amounts, but less than 1% of the maternal dose transfers to milk, and of that, less than 1% is absorbed by the infant's gut. Major radiology societies (ACR, ACOG) and LactMed agree that breastfeeding can continue without interruption after iodinated contrast. Gadolinium-based contrast (used for MRI) also has very low transfer — see the MRI entry for specifics.
Always confirm with your doctor or lactation consultant before making dietary changes while breastfeeding.
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