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There are many factors which
affect whether it is safe to take a drug if you are nursing a baby,
including the dosage, the baby's age, how the adult processes the drug, and
how the baby processes the drug. Obviously a smaller dose of a drug is less
likely to be of concern than a larger dose. A newborn, whose system is not
mature enough to deal with processing drugs is at greater risk than an
older baby who may be getting nourishment from solid foods.
Some drugs won't pass
through to the milk in large quantities, while some will pass through
such that the amount in the milk is the same or greater than the amount
circulating in a mother's blood.
Valium is listed by the
American Academy of Pediatrics as a "drug whose effect is unknown but
may be of concern." Your doctor is certainly in the best position to
help you make this decision.
Breastfeeding does
reduce a mother's risk for cancer, and generally the longer you
breastfeed, the greater that protection. Pumping only, without
breastfeeding directly at the breast, is difficult to maintain for any
length of time. I honestly don't know whether the protective effects of
breastfeeding would hold up in this kind of situation.
You might discuss with
your doctor the possibility of your taking another drug which might be
less of an unknown than Valium.
In any case, you are to
be commended for thinking this through ahead of time. Ultimately, you
can make the decisions that seem best for you. The more information you
get, the better that decision will be.
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