Bringing Breastfeeding Professionals Access to LactMed for Exposure Information On-the-Go
LactRx by MotherToBaby is a free app providing current information on the use of medications, vaccines, diagnostic agents & drugs of misuse during breastfeeding. The LactRx app provides easy access to the LactMed database, a resource from the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The LactRx app provides access to the LactMed database, which has information on the use of medications, vaccines, diagnostic agents & drugs of abuse during breastfeeding that is updated monthly.
Download the LactRx App
History of LactRx App Development
In 2019 the NLM announced that the LactMed app was being discontinued. The announcement prompted a discussion between Phil Anderson, PharmD, FASHP, UC San Diego clinical professor and author of LactMed and Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH, MotherToBaby Past President and Mommy’s Milk: Human Milk Biorepository Program Director, about MotherToBaby sponsoring a new app for LactMed. “This was a hugely popular resource with millions of hits,” said Chambers. Because of this, she saw it as an opportunity for MotherToBaby to help build and host a new app with all of the LactMed information.
In October of 2021, the idea was brought to the leadership of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), the professional non-profit that provides the MotherToBaby no-cost service. Development commenced and LactRx was born.
“The NLM made the decision to continue supporting web access to LactMed, and to discontinue support for its app. However, in Dr. Anderson’s experience, the app was a very popular and a user-friendly mode of access to the data,” explained Chambers. “In collaboration with NLM, MotherToBaby was given permission to create the LactRx app and, thus, to expand ease of access to this critical information for providers and the public worldwide.”
LactRx by MotherToBaby was launched in 2022 to bring lactation professionals on-the-go access to exposure information that they can count on. This resource is an extension of MotherToBaby’s free services which includes access to information specialists on breastfeeding and pregnancy exposures by phone, text, email, and live chat.
Additional Information
Information presented in the LactRx app is not intended to be a substitute for professional judgment. Users should consult personal healthcare providers for breastfeeding advice related to their particular situation.
MotherToBaby also works closely with the NLM to contribute bilingual (English/Spanish) evidence-based fact sheets regarding medications, vaccines, diseases, herbal supplements, occupational exposures and more during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
MotherToBaby traditionally provides information on exposures before and during a pregnancy as well as breastfeeding through its no-cost helpline 866-626-6847, texting service 855-999-3525 and website MotherToBaby.org, where the public can live chat or e-mail an expert.
