It is important for the health care team to counsel patients both on the serious potential risks of cocaine exposure for babies and on the benefits of breastfeeding, to allow for an informed choice. Three hours after first ingesting the cocaine, the mother noted that her infant became markedly irritable, had dilated pupils, and began having vomiting and diarrhea. The remaining cocaine can take significantly longer to dissipate. Cocaine use is associated with many substantial health problems, including increased risk of contracting infectious disease, malnourishment, gastrointestinal complications, and acute cardiovascular events eg, stroke, myocardial infarctions, myocardial arrhythmias , which might affect both maternal and infant health. Detection of cocaine and its metabolites in breast milk. She was a bright, white, middle-class woman who used cocaine as a recreational drug, which I suppose brings up the fact there is no such thing as recreational drug use. It is paramount for the health care team to balance the risks and benefits—to maximize the potential benefits to the baby from breastfeeding, but to limit the substantial risks from potential infant cocaine exposure.
Amanda: Cocaine and alcohol have a very short half life. Benzoylecgonine 7. The infant appeared to be normal but was small for his age. Recent questions in Breastfeeding Diarrhea in 2 month old baby. Remember to pump as often as your baby feeds, otherwise your milk supply will go down. Your child needs you.
