I am nursing my 11 week daughter and have a cold my other kid had it first. Two had a cough and fever the older one had the diarrhea. Mine has manifested into a head cold mostly my nose is running. I have been taking hot baths, sitting in the bathroom with the shower running for steam. I just cant blow my nose one more time, it is red and chapped. My question is what is safe to take while breastfeeding.
Thanks you for all of your help i did try the sudifed but it didn't completely stop my nose form running. So I just keep up with the warm baths and vit c. I also did the Neil-Med and that helped a lot. I think that it just had to run it course.
Go here, they have all acceptable medications listed in multiple catagories
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/index.html
I used Puffs with Vicks and Sudafed Shower Soothers. Nothing to ingest, so its safe and I thought they did help. Besides that take Vitamin C, get rest (if that's possible) and chicken noodle soup. Feel better soon!
I do the Neil-med Nasal Rinses. Since starting those a year ago, I haven't had to take any decongestants and I've only had one sinus infection, which is a huge improvement. It's kind of miserable the first time, especially if you start out really congested, but you should feel great after 2 or 3. Best part is baby doesn't get any meds. Hope you feel better soon!
Contacting your local La Leche Leage is a good ide, since someone should be able to answer these questions for you. http://www.lllusa.org/UT/Utah.html is the site for all la leche league leaders in the UT area, even if you don't live in UT, someone could answer your question. I am a new leader with la leche league and would have to call around for this answer, but someone on the list will be able to answer your question. congrats on a new baby and breastfeeding your little one.
You can take the same things as while you were pregnant, except for anti-histamines (they can decrease your milk supply). Sudafed, Robitussin, Tylenol and ibuprofen are okay.
Call a La Leche League Leader or a lactation consultant at the hospital. Either of them should have the book Medication and Mother's Milk by Dr. Hale and can look up what is okay. Most OBs don't have this, so they end up limiting you more in certain circumstances. Most of what's been recommended here are things I used. Sudafed varies a lot person by person though. It didn't affect my supply a lot, but it immediately and hugely affected my friend's supply. I also take Bi Yan Pian, which you get at Whole Foods, recommended by my Naturopath, and I swear that stuff works miracles. Zicam helped me recently too and especially if you use the nose spray or nose gel, you don't have to worry about affecting supply.
Good luck!
The same meds that you could take when you were pregnant. Call your doctor and speak with the nurse if you can't remember.
Take Emergen-C (in vitamin isle at Wal-Mart) 3-4 x per day. Your cold should be gone in 3-5 days.
RE: previous comment stating, "The same meds that you could take when you were pregnant. Call your doctor and speak with the nurse if you can't remember."
This isn't true in all cases. There are some medications that were fine during preganancy, but not breastfeeding and vice versa. You should look up all medications online:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/DrugSafety/DrugIndex.htm
I got a netti pot and do a sinus rinse too. Weird the first bit, but a life saver really :) Also ditto to the pharmacist's recommendations. You need to function, you're the mom! Good luck and hopefully it won't pass all around your family :)
I recall being able to use sudafed when I was nursing but only at bedtime after I had fed the baby. Check with your pharmacist because things change all the time and this may not be accurate anymore.
Otherwise, drink tea, take tylenol and rest as much as you can... I know easier said than done; I have 4 kids and I have come to find that Moms don't get sick days...
S.
Go to a natural health / foods store and pick up tea tree oil. Dip a q-tip in it and swab the entry of your ear canal (caution: be gentle, and don't push or shove the swab in too deep or you'll hurt your ears), use a clean swab for each ear. Do this 3 times per day for 3 days.
A wide variety of cold symptoms, ear infections, and sore throats will clear up completely with 1 or 2 applications. Continue use for 2 days or up to 3 if needed. Do not use longer than 3 days, because tea tree oil will dry up the wax in your ears, which if continued can cause other problems.
Tea tree oil can be used full strength on kids as young as 2 years old. For infants under 2, dilute 1 drop tea tree oil with 10 drops organic unrefined warmed coconut oil. Gently swab the entry to the ear canal if possible and the inside of the ear and behind the ear for infants.
It's also very good to add a few drops of tea tree oil to a humidifier during the night to help coughs.
I've successfully circumvented any ear infections and most colds in both my daughters (age 2 and 6), and myself since learning about this trick about 5 years ago.
A Couple of final Notes: Tea Tree oil is stimulating, and it will feel kinda zingy in your ears for several minutes after using it. Avoid using right before bedtime (it will keep kids and some adults awake.)
And a final caution, there are many other essential oils that are not safe to put in your ears, or not safe to use during pregnancy or while nursing! Consult your natural health care practitioner for questions!
Good Luck!
I also suggest www.kellymom.com, and contacting your local La Leche League Leader. You can find her number at www.llli.org. Ibuprofen is compatible with breastfeeding, but I suggest you use anything with antihistamine very sparingly. Antihistimines work by drying out body fluids (suck as dripping noses) but that's the last thing you want to deal with when you are nursing.
Good for you for being so concientious and giving your baby the very best. Hope you feel better soon!
Just keep in mind that anything that is designed to dry up your sinuses, will tend to dry up your milk too.
S.
Always call your OBGYN on this stuff!!! They will give you a list of safe meds you can take. What on here is something someone says is safe unless they are a medical professional, it may not be for everyone.
Natural herbs and remedies are great, however they do not effect everyone the same. I would just call your Dr.
I know I could take sudafed/benadryl for congestion when I got sick while pregnant however I don't know about while breast feeding.
Just check with your Dr and hope you are feeling better soon.
Go talk to your pharmacist and they can help you answer that question. I had a head cold about a month ago and the pharmacist was a big help. He told me Sudafed, the plain one (red tablets). You can also put a call into your OB and they will tell you (without having to go in and see them too). Good luck, it seems like everything stops when mom is sick, take care and get better.
I go the natural way to fight off colds and it works really well. I use herbal supplements (such as boosting antioxidants, phyto-nutrients, vit. C, garlic). I'm an Herbalife distributor and the Herbalife herbal supplements are great because they are safe to take while nursing and pharmaceutically graded (good quality with no crazy fillers). If you'd like to take a look at this, feel free to contact me at my office number 888-236-4453 or email ____@____.com.
I stuck with stuff I could have during pregnancy. tyleonl and homepathics from hylands. I think I used Zicam too.
Nasal sprays are usually ok I think. I would call the doctor or pharmacist and ask. That's the only way to be sure.
The thing that has worked best for me is 1 Sudafed pill and 1 400mg Mucinex every 4 hours. This has been ok'd by my doctor and I've done it with no effects on my 4 month old.
This question should only go to your OB, pharmacist or even your pediatrician, ( the healthcare proffessionals). They have the right resources to respond. Not the general public. Over the counter medications are just as dangerous as prescription medications if not used properly!!
