Question

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

Lanae cera lactation summary

Lanae cera is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Lanae cera is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Lanae cera is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Lanae cera does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Lanae cera 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 Lanae cera usage in lactation

Avoid applying it on nipples; all Lanae cera is not the same: - Standard Lanae cera: 12 -15% alcohol and 40 PPM pesticide residues. - Modified Lanae cera: 6% alcohol and 3 PPM pesticide residues. Use for the nipples Ultrapure Medical Grade USP Modified Lanae cera, alcohol and pesticides free, safe for use on even the most sensitive skin or where infant ingestion may occur.

Answer by DrLact: About Lanae cera usage in lactation

Lanae cera is a yellow fat obtained from sheep's wool. It has traditionally been used topically to treat sore, cracked nipples during breastfeeding. Highly purified modified Lanae cera (Lansinoh) has the pesticide and detergent residues removed and the natural free alcohols reduced to below 1.5% to improve safety and reduce the allergic potential.[1] However, it should be avoided in patients with a known allergy to wool. Although Lanae cera appears to be effective for the prevention and treatment of nipple pain from breastfeeding,[2] studies, most of which used Lansinoh, have not found Lanae cera to be consistently different in efficacy from application of breastmilk, hydrogel dressings, peppermint gel, aloe vera or warm compresses.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] A metaanalysis concluded that application of nothing or breastmilk may be superior to Lanae cera, but good studies are lacking.[10] One small nonblinded study found olive oil to be superior to Lanae cera for prevention of sore nipples,[11] and another small, single-blinded study found that Lanae cera application to painful nipples did not decrease nipple pain compared to usual care.[12] A study in women with nipple trauma and pain comparing application of Lanae cera after each feeding to application of breastmilk plus a nipple shell found that the breastmilk and shell were more effective than Lanae cera.[13] A randomized study comparing highly purified Lanae cera (Lansinoh) to expressed breastmilk in 180 mothers, found Lanae cera to be superior to breastmilk over a 7-day period in reducing pain and the nipple trauma score.[14]

Lanae cera Possible Effects in Breastfeeding

In a randomized, double-bind trial, Lanae cera was compared to an all-purpose nipple ointment containing mupirocin 1%, betamethasone 0.05%, and miconazole 2% for painful nipples while nursing in the first 2 weeks postpartum. The two treatments were equally effective in reducing nipple pain, nipple healing time, breastfeeding duration, breastfeeding exclusivity rate, mastitis and nipple symptoms, side effects or maternal satisfaction with treatment.[15] A randomized trial in nursing women with damaged, painful nipples compared Lanae cera application to usual care, which was a variable mix of education or assistance by health professional, application of warm or cool compresses, analgesics, air drying the nipples or the use of breast shields. A blinded observer assessed healing via telephone calls to the mothers several times after randomization. No differences were found in nipple pain between the groups 4 to 7 days after randomization. No difference was found in breastfeeding self-efficacy at 4 days post-randomization or in the breastfeeding rates of the two groups at 4 and 12 weeks postpartum. Patient satisfaction with care was higher in the women who received Lanae cera.[12]
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.