About Cynthia Morrison Expertise I would be happy to answer questions on breastfeeding relating to the following areas: History of breastfeeding, anatomy of the human breast, physiology of lactation, biochemistry of human milk, immunologic significance of human milk, nursing mom and suckling infant diet, drugs in breast milk, transmission of infectious diseases through breast milk, reproduction during lactation, and the collection and storage of human milk.
Experience I attempted to nurse my first child with little success. I succeeded in nursing my second child and realized the things that went wrong the first time around. Most importantly I learned that experience is always the best teacher.
Publications Although not in breastfeeding, I have been published in the Journal of Virology and the Journal of Virus Research (under Cynthia Montalto-Morrison)
Education/Credentials AAS in Medical Laboratory Technology. BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I am also an adjunct instructor in the nursing and medical laboratory technology departments at a local college.
Expert: Cynthia Morrison Date: 4/25/2006 Subject: drugs in breastmilk
Question I had a c-section and I am taking percocet, I;m bottle feedind right now but I want to start breastfeeding and I want to know how the drug will affect my newborn? And if I can breastfeed safely
Answer Hi Vanessa,
Yes you can breastfeed safely while taking the Percocet for the pain from your C-Section. If you somehow have a script (or some other way of obtaining narcotics) that is for something other than your C-Section, that is a different story.
I am wondering the age of your baby. I am assuming the baby has recently been born. If you have been pumping your milk out, you may still be able to breastfeed, Percocet aside. If you have not been pumping your milk, you may have already "dried up" your milk supply. Either way you may want to consider going to a La Leche League meeting in your area (to find one in your area go to:
www.lalecheleague.org). They have more experience than anyone in helping new moms and babies with the beginnings of breastfeeding.
If you take the Percocets recreationally, or plan on taking them for an extended period of time, you may want to read some of the other women's questions I answered regarding drugs in breast milk.
I hope this information helps. Please get back to me if you have any further questions or concerns. Best of luck to you and your baby.
