Question

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

Meri-C lactation summary

Meri-C usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Meri-C is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Meri-C may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Meri-C may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Meri-C low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Meri-C 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 Meri-C usage in lactation

Vitamin C is abundantly present in food. A balanced and comprehensive diet makes vitamin supplementation useless. Any amount of vitamin C taken by the mother as a supplement does not affect significantly the concentration in breast milk of women who are on a varied and balanced diet.
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.