Scan Showed No Growth Of Foetus. Is It Safe To Take Mifeprin 3?

Posted on Mon, 29 Oct 2012

Question: Hi am advised by my gynec to take mifeprin 3 tabs and then 2 days later zitotech vaginally to clear medically as my current foetus is not growing after repeat scans. This should have been 10 weeks old now, however the growth is 5 weeks still and no cardiac activity and fetal pole. Is it safe and also worried about - by taking this medicine, can I continue feeding my son who is only 11 months old now.

Answered by Dr. Hema Yadav (1 hour later)

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.

Medical termination of pregnancy using a combination of Mifepristone( mifeprin) and Misoprostol(zitotech) is indicated for early medical abortion up to 9 weeks (63 days) of gestation and is usually a safe method.
However it's not very safe in nursing mothers and is ideally best avoided as a method in lactating mothers .To explain the facts,
1. It is not known whether Mifepristone is excreted in human milk. Many hormones with a similar chemical structure, however, are excreted in breast milk. Since the effects of Mifepristone on infants are unknown, breast-feeding women should consult with their doctor to decide if they should discard their breast milk for a few days following administration of the medications.

2. Although it is not known whether Misoprostol or Misoprostol acid is excreted in human milk. Misoprostol should not be administered to nursing mothers because the potential excretion of Misoprostol acid could cause diarrhea in nursing infants.

But still many a times doctors do prescribe these medications due to this being an easy and effective method preferred by many patients as opposed to surgical MTP.
So in your case as termination is necessary ( since fetal pole absent) you can consult your doctor and discuss the matter . The decision can then be taken as to go for surgical MTP or medical MTP with due risk though minor to the nursing first baby .
Please remember that not all people taking a medication will develop sideeffects so there are cases who have taken such risks but to be on the safer side I would advise you to go for a surgical procedure which too is easy and safe in case of such early gestation.

Hope I have answered your query.
Kindly accept my answer in case you have no further queries.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Hema Yadav (20 hours later)

Thanks Dr. My condition is that I am undergoing the meds now from yesterday per Gynec advise only. However i am not feeding my baby from sday nite after taking meds and discarding it. I wanted to know how long should I do this? and when can I actively feed. I want to be doubly sure as my son shouldnt be affected because of it for any cause. Please clarify

Answered by Dr. Hema Yadav (16 hours later)

Hello,
Thanks for the follow up.
The medications take about 3-5 days to get eliminated from your blood and hence it's advisable to discard your milk for about 3-5 days from the first intake of the tablet . Some studies show that majority of the drug is eliminated by 72 hours which then remains in minimal amount not likely to cause any sideeffects .After that you can actively breastfeed your baby . I understand your concern for your child and I would advise you to start breastfeeding your baby after 72 hours of the dose intake which is quite safe and unlikely to cause any harm to your baby .
Please do not worry as stress may be harmful to you as well as your nursing child .
Wishing you all the best.
Hope I have answered your query.
Kindly accept my answer in case you have no further queries .
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar