There are many benefits to breastfeeding, but there are concerns that contact with immunosuppressant medications through breast milk may be harmful to an infant.
However, there are female recipients who breast feed without causing problems in their children.
If you are thinking about breastfeeding, talk to your obstetrician, transplant team and pediatrician about what is best for you and your child. If you choose to breastfeed, your physician will check immunosuppressive levels in your blood. The infant’s blood and your breast milk may also be checked. Your baby will also be monitored for side effects of immunosuppression.
Reference and Publication Information
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. The content on this page was originally created on June 8, 2005 by UNOS and last modified on June 17, 2005. The following sources were used as references:
American Association of Kidney Patients, retrieved June 9, 2007.
Armenti, Vincent, et al. “Report from the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry (NTPR): Outcomes of Pregnancy after Transplantation”. 103-113.
Morinia, Alberto, et al. “Pregnancy after heart transplant: update and case report.” Human Reproduction 13.3 (1998): 749-757.
Lessan-Pezeshki, Mahboob. “Pregnancy after renal transplantation: points to consider.” Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 17 (2002):703-707.
