I'm coming down with a cold. I know the worst has yet to come and I'd like to take care of this before I become miserable. I have plans to go to a doctor as soon as I find one, but in the meantime, are there any over-the-counter medications I can take that are safe while I'm nursing my 8-week-old son? I can always store untainted milk and feed him that while I'm medicated, but I need to know how long my milk will be affected so I can dump the bad milk. Does anyone know how long medication will appear in breastmilk?
I would like to say thanks to everyone who helped me out with this. What I ended up doing was using one Benadryl two nights in a row. I took it right after his "big feed" before his longest stretch during the night, and my milk supply suffered no ill effects. I have taken two packages of Emergen-C Immune Defense two days in a row, and a few Cold-Eez lozenges. What normally would have taken me about two weeks to fully get over, in just three days I am in the final stage - the sniffles. I completely skipped all the misery, and I am super grateful!
My lactation consultant said care for the symptoms - most of the long lasting stuff can supress milk production - I think sudafed can. Fenugreek tablets is an herbal supplement to aid in milk production - don't know if that would offset the sudafed. Afrin (or store brand version) was ok'd for me, and throat lossenges. Good luck, feel better!
Yes, there are lots of medications that are safe while nursing. Unfortunately, many docs believe you have to stop nursing to take medications. Call a lactation consultant that has the book Medications and Mother's Milk by Dr. Thomas Hale. This book is the authority on what is safe and not safe to take while nursing.
my doctor has given me the okay to take tylenol based medicines
Zicam works great! It's a OTC homeopathic, available everywhere, and really shortens a cold!
Don't panic! There are many medications that are safe to take while breastfeeding...most over the counter stuff really. Only a very small percentage of anything transfers to your milk. Here's the best resource I have found for information.
http://www.kellymom.com/health/index.html
Hope this helps!
i heard that if you take medication for colds when you're nursing your body produces morphine in your milk. ask your doc about this it came on msn news.
I take Mucinex D (I have been nursing -different children- the past 4 years. Drink water, juice, and soup like a sonofagun and you shouldn't notice a difference in milk production.
S.
Good rule of thumb is if it dries your nose up, it will dry your milk up possibly. The issue isn't really with it transferring to the milk and baby, but it dries you up. Get the book Medications and Mothers Milk. It is the breatsfeeding/medicaition bible.
I was just in that situation and was given sudefed (i used the walmart brand). The pharmasist can also direct you in the right direction. :) Get well soon!
Steer clear of any type of antihistamine or anything made to dry up mucus....it will slow your milk production.
Also, DON'T stop nursing or pump/dump while you're sick. Keep nursing your little one and he'll get the antibodies that your body is making against the cold!
I am still nursing my 12 month old. I've only been sick once or twice in that time, but my doctor said I could take any Tylenol product and Sudafed. And I agree with the others, don't stop nursing! Your baby is getting the antibodies for whatever you have from your milk, so the chances are extra slim that he'll get sick. Mother's milk is the best food for any baby that age. Keep up the great work! Good luck.
