Final answer:
Following IV administration of iodinated contrast, breastfeeding mothers are advised to pump and discard breast milk for 24 to 48 hours to prevent infant exposure to the agent. Contrast agents can enter breast milk, and caution is used to protect the infant during the elimination period.
Step-by-step explanation:
After a patient has undergone IV administration of an iodinated contrast agent, it is recommended that a patient should pump and discard breast milk for a period of 24 to 48 hours. During this time, the contrast agent is eliminated from the body to ensure that it does not affect the infant. Contrast agents can enter the breast milk and may potentially have an effect on the breastfeeding infant, which is why this precaution is recommended. It is important to note that iodine-131, used for thyroid imaging, has a half-life of approximately 8 days, and while the doses for imaging are typically low, caution is necessary to prevent potential exposure to the infant. In general, the composition of breast milk changes over time, with colostrum being produced in the first few days postpartum, providing critical immunoglobulins and then transitioning to mature milk around the tenth day.