How long after a computed tomography (CT) scan with intravenous contrast can a mother safely breastfeed?

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Last updated: February 11, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

Breastfeeding can safely resume immediately after a CT scan with intravenous contrast, as the amount of contrast excreted into breast milk is less than 0.01% and even less is absorbed by the infant's gastrointestinal tract [(1, 2, 3)].

Key Points

  • Iodinated contrast can potentially cause neonatal hypothyroidism, but most CT studies now use non-ionic contrast, which has no effect on the thyroid gland 1.
  • Non-ionic contrast is considered safe for breastfeeding, as less than 0.01% of CT contrast is present in breast milk 1.
  • Gadolinium contrast is also considered safe for breastfeeding, as less than 0.04% of gadolinium is present in breast milk 1.
  • The American College of Radiology (ACR) recommends that lactating women do not need to discontinue breastfeeding after receipt of intravascular iodinated contrast 3.

Breastfeeding Recommendations

  • No waiting period is required before resuming breastfeeding after a CT scan with intravenous contrast [(1, 2, 3)].
  • Breast milk is safe for consumption by the infant, as the amount of contrast excreted into breast milk is minimal [(1, 2, 3)].

From the Research

CT Scan with Intravenous Contrast and Breastfeeding

  • There are no direct studies on the exact timing of when a mother can safely breastfeed after a CT scan with intravenous contrast.
  • However, studies have investigated the excretion of iodine from the body after contrast administration, which may be relevant to breastfeeding safety.
  • A study published in 2013 4 found that the median time for urinary iodine levels to normalize after contrast administration was 43 days, with 75% of subjects returning to baseline within 60 days, and 90% of subjects within 75 days.
  • Another study published in 2024 5 investigated the safety of repeated contrast agent administration and found that a sufficient time interval, probably more than 24 hours, between repeated contrast-enhanced CT examinations may be necessary to avoid deterioration in renal function.
  • Other studies have focused on the safety of contrast agents in general, including the risk of acute kidney injury 6, 7 and the safe use of power injectors for CT scans 8.
  • While these studies do not provide a direct answer to the question of when a mother can safely breastfeed after a CT scan with intravenous contrast, they suggest that the excretion of iodine from the body may take several weeks, and that caution should be exercised when administering contrast agents to patients with impaired kidney function.

References

Research

Immediate complications of intravenous contrast for computed tomography imaging in the outpatient setting are rare.

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, 2011

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.