By the Specialized Information Services Division of the National Library of Medicine

Women often wonder if a certain drug is safe to take while breastfeeding. LactMed, from the National Library of Medicine, is a free online tool with information that addresses those safety concerns.

You can find information about several hundred prescribed drugs, including

• the safe level of a drug in a mother’s milk
• the safe level of a drug in a infant’s blood
• possible effect of a drug on a breasting feeding infant
• effects on lactation
• other safe alternative medications

In addition to prescription drugs, LactMed also lists supplements used in alternative medicine such as lecithin, milk thistle, stinging nettle and St. John’s wort. The focus is on those supplements that are used by nursing mothers, like those claiming to stimulate milk production.

You can also use the LactMed app for iPhone/iPod Touch and for Android devices.

Summer has the highest birthrate in the U.S. If you’re expecting, learn how to ready your home for a new arrival.