‘A lifeline when no one else wants to give you an answer’: An evaluation of the Breastfeeding Network drugs in breastmilk service.

The Breastfeeding Network commissioned an evaluation of their Drugs in Breastmilk service. This service provides information to parents, professionals and supporters about the level of risk of taking medications or having medical procedures whilst breastfeeding. The evaluation sought to explore who is using the service, why they are accessing it, what information they are receiving and their views of the service. It also explored the impact the service upon maternal wellbeing, professional practice and ultimately breastfeeding duration. Key Conclusions: The gap in service identified in 2007 remains. BfN continues to fill this gap by providing a service to mothers seeking advice around breastfeeding and medications. The service is highly valued by breastfeeding organisations, mothers, professionals, and mother supporters as giving accurate, reassuring, evidence-based information. It enables mothers to make an informed choice about continuing to breastfeed, and also look after their own health and that of their baby, as if forced to choose many women would prioritise their baby and breastfeeding rather than take prescribed medication. As well as protecting physical health, the service has an invaluable impact on maternal wellbeing. In its present format the service is not sustainable. Further long-term funding is vitally important to secure and expand the service so that more mothers can benefit