Can you take betamethasone 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.
Betamethasone has not been well studied during breastfeeding. Systemic betamethasone is best avoided in favor of one of the shorter-acting and better studied alternatives because of its potency and low protein binding, which favors its passage into milk. Use of betamethasone 3 to 9 days prior to delivery of a preterm infant might decrease postpartum milk production in some women. Local injections, such as for tendinitis, would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants, but might occasionally cause temporary loss of milk supply. See also Betamethasone, Topical.
Quoted from Betamethasone — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised April 15, 2025.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of betamethasone. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
How much betamethasone gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
None reported with any corticosteroid.
Effects on milk supply
A 5.7 mg dose of depot betamethasone injected into the shoulder for bursitis had no effect in the milk supply in one mother. However, medium to large doses of depot corticosteroids injected into joints have been reported to cause temporary reduction of lactation.
A double-blind study in the 1970s randomized pregnant women in preterm labor to either 6 mg of short-acting betamethasone phosphate plus 6 mg long-acting betamethasone acetate or a control treatment containing 6 mg cortisone acetate. Later in the trial, the doses were doubled because of an incomplete response. A total of 560 women received betamethasone and 582 received cortisone. No difference was seen in the percentage of women lactating at hospital discharge (32% and 30.5%, respectively); however, these percentages are very low compared to the rates in many hospitals today.
A study of 46 women who delivered an infant before 34 weeks of gestation found that a course of betamethasone (2 intramuscular injections of 11.4 mg of betamethasone 24 hours apart) given between 3 and 9 days before delivery resulted in delayed lactogenesis II and lower average milk volumes during the 10 days after delivery. Milk volume was not affected if the infant was delivered less than 3 days or more than 10 days after the mother received the corticosteroid.
A study of 87 pregnant women found that betamethasone given as above during pregnancy caused a premature stimulation of lactose secretion during pregnancy. Although the increase was statistically significant, the clinical importance appears to be minimal.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take betamethasone while breastfeeding?
Betamethasone has not been well studied during breastfeeding. 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.
What can I take instead of betamethasone while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Methylprednisolone, Prednisolone, Prednisone as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does betamethasone pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for betamethasone are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking betamethasone?
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 betamethasone
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.