Breastfeeding: Learning outcomes
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- Describe the advantages of breastfeeding.
- Outline the factors that affect whether a medicine is compatible with breastfeeding.
- Give practical advice to minimise risks associated with the use of medicines in breastfeeding mothers, and know where to look for information.
You can download a PDF of this whole tutorial (without interactive elements such as Learning Exercises) and a one-page summary of key points. one-page summary of key points.
You should allow 60 minutes to complete this tutorial, including Learning Exercises.Competencies
If you are a hospital trainee pharmacist, this tutorial may help you achieve GPhC learning outcomes such as these:- LO 2 Work in partnership with people to support and empower them in shared decision-making about their health and well-being
- LO 5 Proactively support people to make safe and effective use of their medicines and devices
- LO 12 Take an all-inclusive approach to ensure the most appropriate course of action based on clinical, legal and professional considerations
- LO 16 Apply professional judgement in all circumstances, taking legal and ethical reasoning into account
- LO 29 Apply the principles of clinical therapeutics, pharmacology and genomics to make effective use of medicines for people [including in their prescribing practice]
- LO 30 Appraise the evidence base and apply clinical reasoning and professional judgement to make safe and logical decisions which minimise risk and optimise outcomes for the person
If you are a foundation pharmacist, this tutorial may assist with meeting certain competencies from the RPS framework including:
- 1.2 Need for the medicine (relevant patient background)
- 1.4 Selection of the medicine (medicine-medicine, medicine-patient, and medicine-disease interactions)
- 3.1 Gathering information
- 3.3 Analysing information
Continuing professional development
Finally, here are some CPD activities you could consider:
★ Ask your Medicines Information pharmacist if you can complete a clinical enquiry about the use of medicines in a breastfeeding mother. Can you comment on the quality of evidence that you used to make decisions in this situation? How did it compare to the quality of evidence underpinning, say, the licensed indication for a medicine?★ Accompany your women’s health pharmacist on their postnatal ward. What medicines are being used in practice by mothers who are breastfeeding their newborn infants? What do your information sources say about the compatibility of these medicines with breastfeeding? Ask about the breastfeeding support services available to women in your area: where can they go if they are having problems?