Is Augmentin Safe for Nursing Mothers?
Yes, Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) is safe and compatible with breastfeeding for treating bacterial infections in nursing mothers. 1, 2
Safety Classification and Evidence
The American Academy of Dermatology and European Respiratory Society classify amoxicillin/clavulanate as "compatible" with breastfeeding—the highest safety designation for antibiotics during lactation. 1 The FDA categorizes it as Pregnancy Category B, and while amoxicillin is excreted in human milk, the amounts are minimal and not clinically significant. 2
Clinical Recommendations
Amoxicillin/clavulanate is explicitly recommended as a safe and effective first-line choice for nursing mothers across multiple clinical scenarios including mastitis, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infections. 1, 3, 4
The drug is particularly useful for infections requiring broad-spectrum coverage, including those caused by beta-lactamase-producing organisms. 1
Breastfeeding should NOT be interrupted when taking Augmentin—the benefits of continued breastfeeding outweigh the minimal risks of antibiotic exposure through breast milk. 1
Infant Monitoring Considerations
While Augmentin is safe, you should monitor the breastfed infant for:
Mild gastrointestinal effects such as diarrhea or gastroenteritis due to alteration of intestinal flora, though serious adverse events are rare. 1
Potential for falsely negative cultures if the infant develops fever requiring evaluation while the mother is on antibiotics. 1
Sensitization reactions are theoretically possible but extremely uncommon. 2
Important Caveat to Avoid
Do NOT confuse the pregnancy warning with the breastfeeding recommendation. Amoxicillin/clavulanate should not be used in women at risk of pre-term delivery due to a very low risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in the fetus. 1 However, this caveat applies only to the pregnancy/delivery context—for postpartum breastfeeding after term delivery, Augmentin remains fully compatible and safe. 1