Thank you for choosing ChristianaCare, Union Hospital for your radiology testing. As a breastfeeding-friendly organization, we want to support your choice and would like to provide you information about current recommendations concerning breastfeeding.

Contrast Dye

Two common tests that may be ordered are Computed Tomography (CT scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

These tests allow your physician to see detailed pictures of the inside of your body. You may require contrast during the test.

Contrast may be given orally, through an intravenous site (IV), or by injection. Contrast is a special “dye” that may improve the image being viewed.

Current guidelines state that these “dye” agents minimally affect breast milk and would be virtually unabsorbed orally by the baby. Your care provider has checked below the agent you will likely receive so that you can best determine how to proceed with infant feeding. However, to totally eliminate the risk, you may wish to pump breast milk and discard it for a 12-hour period of time.

Common contrast agents that are used at ChristianaCare, Union Hospital are:

  • Gadolinium – Safer for breastfeeding
  • Isovue – Probably safe for breastfeeding
  • Visipaque – Probably safe for breastfeeding
  • Gastrografin – Safer for breastfeeding

References

Hale, T.W. (2017). Medications in Mother’s Milk. 17th ed. Springer Publishing Company, LLC. New York, NY

  1. American College of Radiology Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media. Administration of contrast media to breast-feeding mothers. In, ACR manual on contrast media. 2012;Version 8:79-80.
  2. Webb JA, Thomsen HS, Morcos SK, Members of Contrast Media Safety Committee of European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR). The use of iodinated and gadolinium contrast media during pregnancy and lactation. Eur Radiol. 2005;15:1234-40. PMID: 15609057
  3. Chen MM, Coakley FV, Kaimal A, Laros RK Jr. Guidelines for computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging use during pregnancy and lactation. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;112:333-40. PMID: 18669732
  4. Hylton NM. Suspension of breast-feeding following gadopentetate dimeglumine administration. Radiology 2000; 216:325–326

 

Radiopharmaceuticals for Nuclear Medicine

Breastfeeding Guidelines:

  1. Breastfeeding should be interrupted for the time radioactivity is known at appear in breast milk. (Pump and dump).
  2. Close contact with an infant should be restricted to 5 hours in 24 hours for Tc-99m MIBI, Tc-99m labeled RBCs and I-131 (>3mCi) whether or not the mother is breastfeeding.

Radiopharmaceutical Recommendation

Tc-99m labeled DMSA, MDP, HDP, DISIDA, SC, MIBI, and Gluceptate, & In-111 WBC Interruption of 4 hours
Tc-99m labeled MAA, PYP, DTPA, and RBCs Interruption of 12 hours
99mTcO4-, I-123, I-131 hippurate Interruption of 24 hours
T1-201, Ga-67, I-131 Breastfeeding Contraindicated

 

References: Harding LK, Bossuyt A, Pellet S, Reiners C, Talbot JN. “Recommendations for nuclear medicine physicians regarding breastfeeding mothers.” European J Nucl Med.1995; 22:BP.