Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts? Is Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts safe for nursing mother and child? Does Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts extracts into breast milk? Does Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts influence milk supply or can Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Answer by DrLact: About Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts usage in lactation

Information in this record refers only to the use of Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts as a replacement product for smoking cessation. With a 21 mg transdermal patch, Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts passes into breastmilk in amounts equivalent to smoking 17 cigarettes daily. Lower patch strengths of 7 and 14 mg provide proportionately lower amounts of Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts to the breastfed infant. No studies on Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts spray or Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts gum use in nursing mothers have been reported. Maternal plasma Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts concentrations after using the Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts spray are about one-third those of smokers, so milk concentrations are probably proportionately less. Maternal Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts plasma concentrations after using Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts gum are variable depending on the vigor of chewing and number of pieces chewed daily, but can be similar to those attained after smoking cigarettes. One source recommends the shorter acting agents over the patches.[1] Some have advocated use of Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts replacement products in smoking mothers to reduce the risk to breastfed infants of inhaled smoke and toxins in maternal cigarette smoke.[2][3] However, others point out that based on animal data, Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and might interfere with normal infant lung development. These authors recommend against using any form of Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts in nursing mothers.[4][5] No studies have been performed to resolve these issues. An alternate smoking cessation product may be preferred during nursing.

Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts Side Effects in Breastfeeding

Maternal smoking is a major risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts is thought to be the causative factor by reducing the dopamine content of the carotid bodies and reducing the infant's ability to autoresuscitate during hypoxic episodes.[4] Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts in the breastmilk of smokers also appears to reduce the heart rate variability in male breastfed infants.[6] In a study of the infants of 5 mothers who were using 21 mg Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts patches for smoking cessation, the infants' average Denver Developmental age was equivalent to their chronological age.[2]

Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

Cigarette smoking reduces milk yield.[7][8] This effect may be caused by Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts which lowers serum prolactin,[9] although other factors associated with smoking may also play a role.[10] In a study of 15 nursing mothers who were using Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts patches in decreasing doses from 21 mg to 14 mg to 7 mg over several weeks, their average milk production was 17% lower than average literature values as judged by infant milk intake. The study did not directly compare the milk production of smokers to nonsmokers, however. In this study, infant milk intake during maternal use of the Ortho N-4 and N-5 dusts patch was similar to that during smoking.[2]

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