Question

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

Colonic irrigation lactation summary

Colonic irrigation usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Colonic irrigation is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Colonic irrigation may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Colonic irrigation may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Colonic irrigation low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Colonic irrigation We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to 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 Colonic irrigation usage in lactation

A widely-used pratice (Bazzocchi 2017) based on the ancient and totally outdated theory of auto-intoxication (Ernst 1997) to which numerous health benefits are attributed without ever having been proven (Ernst 2010, Acosta 2009, Richards 2006, Ernst 1997). Its use is not risk-free, and can even have serious health risks such as vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, intestinal perforation and spread of bacteria or toxins (Mishori 2011, Seow 2009,Tan 1999), even if they are not frequent (Richards 2006). Since the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breast milk. Given the lack of proven health benefits and the potential risks it carries, it is a completely non-essential practise, even more so during breastfeeding.
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.