Can you take bacampicillin while breastfeeding?
What LactMed says
The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.
Limited information indicates that bacampicillin produces low levels in milk that are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Occasionally disruption of the infant's gastrointestinal flora, resulting in diarrhea or thrush have been reported with penicillins, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Bacampicillin is acceptable in nursing mothers.
Quoted from Bacampicillin — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised September 15, 2024.
How much bacampicillin gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Only traces of drug could be detected in breastmilk after a 500 mg oral dose of bacampicillin in 2 women.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
Bacampicillin is rapidly converted to ampicillin. Some adverse reactions from ampicillin have been reported. An uncontrolled observation of the breastfed infants of mothers taking ampicillin noted a seeming increase in cases of diarrhea and candidiasis that was attributed to ampicillin in breastmilk.
In a prospective follow-up study, 5 nursing mothers reported taking ampicillin (dosage unspecified). One mother reported diarrhea in her infant. No rashes or candidiasis were reported among the exposed infants.
A small, controlled, prospective study had mothers monitor their infants for signs of adverse effects (furring of the tongue, feeding difficulties, changes in stool frequency and consistency, diaper rash, and skin rash). Weight change and the development of jaundice were also recorded. No statistical differences in these parameters were found between the infants of the control mothers and those of mothers taking ampicillin.
Naproxen possibly caused prolonged bleeding time, thrombocytopenia and acute anemia in one 7-day-old infant in a mother also taking bacampicillin. The role of bacampicillin in this reaction is unknown.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take bacampicillin while breastfeeding?
Limited information indicates that bacampicillin produces low levels in milk that are not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.
Does bacampicillin pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for bacampicillin are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking bacampicillin?
LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.
More on bacampicillin
LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.