Can I use iodine while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is a very special period. There are many things to pay attention to when using medications. Some medications cannot be used indiscriminately. There is no problem if they are used normally, but breastfeeding is very sensitive after all. Indiscriminate use of medications may have a great impact on the child's feeding. Therefore, you should be careful even when using medications such as iodine. So, can iodine be used during breastfeeding? Let’s take a look below.

Pregnant and lactating women are prohibited from using iodine.

1. Pharmacokinetics: The drug is rarely absorbed by normal individuals after external application, but it can be absorbed through the vaginal mucosa and concentrated in breast milk. The concentration in breast milk is 8 times higher than that in maternal serum.

2. Adverse reactions: Adverse reactions are rare, however, external use in infants may result in significant absorption of iodine (including absorption after use in pregnant women and nursing mothers).

3. Note: FDA classifies this drug as Category C for use during pregnancy. Use with caution in newborns. For newborns who receive this drug, T4 and TSH should be measured every 7 to 10 days; it is at risk of inducing hypothyroidism in premature infants and is generally not used for very low birth weight newborns.

4. Instructions for use: Be cautious when using on large areas in pregnant women and newborns.

Povidone-iodine solution (iodine tincture) is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug. If used in large quantities and for a long time by pregnant or lactating women, the vaginal mucosa absorbs iodine, which may affect the thyroid function of the fetus or infant. Therefore, it is very necessary to provide "contraindications" of medication in the instructions.

However, the use of povidone-iodine solution (iodine tincture) as a disinfectant has been verified through clinical experiments, and it is used transiently or for a short period of time. The iodine intake is very limited and the impact is very minor. Therefore, there is no need to worry when using povidone-iodine solution (iodine tincture) during childbirth or when cutting the umbilical cord of a newborn. As long as it is not used on a large area for a long time.