What is the effect of silver on breastfeeding?
I must say this is something I had never thought of, perhaps because I am not a midwife, but we do need to consider the risks to the infant when breastfeeding mothers are exposed to silver.
This happens when dressings containing silver are used in the management of caesarean section wounds for example.
Read this enlightening paper by
Alison Johnstone, Katrina McGown, Martyn Butcher and Richard White
British Journal of Midwifery June 2012 Vol 20, No 6
you can find it on the following websites:
www.britishjournalofmidwifery.com/
or
www.intermid.co.uk
There is no proof and hence no claim that Ag dressings are safe for breast fed babies whose mothers receive silver treatment.
The dose of the silver is really low. However, it is not claimed to be safe. It is even mentioned on the IFUs that usage of the product in that case is not recommended and that is totally in the hands and due to professional evaluation of the “Healthcare Professional”. So One HCP may decide to go for it based on their personal evaluation of the patient’s situation and healing priorities but no clinical evidence verifies the total safety of such practice.