Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Epsom salt? Is Epsom salt safe for nursing mother and child? Does Epsom salt extracts into breast milk? Does Epsom salt has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Epsom salt influence milk supply or can Epsom salt decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Epsom salt lactation summary

Epsom salt is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Epsom salt is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Epsom salt is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Epsom salt does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Epsom salt safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Epsom salt usage in lactation

El magnesio es un componente natural de la leche.Se utiliza en el tratamiento y profilaxis de la eclampsia y migraña (Pringsheim 2012), en la hipomagnesemia, en ciertas arritmias y como laxante osmótico. Su concentración en la leche es muy estable y depende poco de la alimentación y otros factores, incluida la administración de sulfato de magnesio a la madre: los niveles de magnesio en leche de madres tratadas con sulfato de magnesio intravenoso fueron de 6,4 mg/L frente a 4,8 mg/L en las no tratadas (Cruikshank 1982, Dorea 2000). Su baja biodisponibilidad oral dificulta el paso a plasma del lactante a partir de la leche materna ingerida (Morris 1987) y se considera seguro su uso durante la lactancia (Idama 1998). Se ha observado retraso en al lactogénesis II (subida de la leche) en mujeres tratadas con sulfato de magnesio antes o durante el parto para tratar o prevenir la eclampsia (Haldeman 1993) sí como hipotonía en los recién nacidos, lo que podría interferir en la estimulación mamaria adecuada (Riaz 1998) pero esto puede ser contrarrestado por una decisión materna firme y un apoyo eficaz a la madre (Cordero 2012). Academia Americana de Pediatría: medicación usualmente compatible con la lactancia.Listado de medicamentos esenciales OMS 2002: compatible con la lactancia.

Answer by DrLact: About Epsom salt usage in lactation

Intravenous magnesium increases milk magnesium concentrations only slightly and oral absorption of magnesium by the infant is poor, so maternal magnesium therapy is not expected to affect the breastfed infant's serum magnesium. Although intravenous Epsom salt given prior to delivery might affect the infant's ability to breastfeed, intention to breastfeed may be a more important determinant of breastfeeding initiation.[1] Postpartum use of intravenous Epsom salt for longer than 6 hours appears to delay the onset of lactation.[2][3]

Epsom salt Side Effects in Breastfeeding

Fifty mothers who were in the first day postpartum received 15 mL of either mineral oil or an emulsion of mineral oil and another magnesium salt, magnesium hydroxide equivalent to 900 mg of magnesium hydroxide, although the exact number who received each product was not stated. Additional doses were given on subsequent days if needed. None of the breastfed infants were noted to have any markedly abnormal stools, but all of the infants also received supplemental feedings.[5]

Epsom salt Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

One mother who received intravenous Epsom salt for 3 days for pregnancy-induced hypertension had lactogenesis II delayed until day 10 postpartum. No other specific cause was found for the delay, although a complete work-up was not done.[6] A subsequent controlled clinical trial found no evidence of delayed lactation in mothers who received intravenous Epsom salt therapy.[7] Some, but not all, studies have found a trend toward increased time to the first feeding or decreased sucking in infants of mothers treated with intravenous Epsom salt during labor because of placental transfer of magnesium to the fetus.[7][8] Another study found that among women with severe pre-eclampsia who received intravenous Epsom salt for up to one day postpartum and who intended to breastfeed, 85% of infants receiving routine well-baby care and 69% of those admitted to the NICU, breastfeeding was successfully initiated.[1] A study randomized women with preeclampsia to receive intravenous Epsom salt for either 6 or 24 hours postpartum. There was no difference in the rate of eclampsia between the two groups. However, those who received the infusion for 24 hours had a delayed onset of lactation, 36.5 hours compared with 25.7 hours in the 6-hour group.[2] A prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial in 9 Latin American maternity hospitals compared patients with severe pre-eclampsia who had received at least 8 grams of Epsom salt prior to placebo. Patients were randomized to continue Epsom salt for 24 hours postpartum (n = 555) or stopping the infusion (n = 558). There was no difference in the rates of eclampsia between the groups, but the time to lactation was significantly delayed in those who received Epsom salt postpartum (24.1 vs. 17.1 hours).[3]

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Zonisamide(Low Risk)
Pregabalin(Low Risk)
Ethosuximide(Unsafe)
Clonazepam(Low Risk)
Riluzole(Unsafe)
Primidone(Low Risk)
Phenytoin(Safe)
Castor(Unsafe)
Senna(Safe)
Cascara Sagrada(Low Risk)
Bisacodyl(Safe)
Cisapride(Safe)
Dimenhydrinate(Low Risk)
Rifaximin(Safe)
Ursodiol(Safe)
Alosetron(Low Risk)
Doxylamine(Unsafe)
Docusate(Safe)
Senna(Safe)
Cyclizine(Low Risk)
Cascara Sagrada(Low Risk)
Cimetidine(Low Risk)
Bisacodyl(Safe)
Droperidol(Low Risk)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.