Fevers and Breastfeeding

You are likely not taking in the vitamins and nutrients or getting the rest your body needs. Breastfeeding is the greatest gift to give your little one, but if you are not careful it will take a toll on your immune system. Eat your veggies, wash your hands often, and keep taking your prenatals. In other words act like you are still pregnant and you should be fine.
Also try not to take Ibuprofen or Tylenol for a low grad fever. That fever is your body fighting off your cold...that won't work if you are suppressing the fever. You are going to need that strong immunity when that little gets mobile, touching God knows what and interacting with other kids

First, have you been to the doctor to get a check up? Second, breast feeding really takes it out of you. You should still be eating and sleeping as if you were still pregnant. Are you still taking your prenatal vitamins? Do! Plenty of rest and plenty of healthy calories to replenish what your body needs to do it's job for the both of you. This is such a great experience for you and a great immune builder for your daughter, but it will take it's toll if you are not taking care of yourself. Good luck.

Hi S.,

Congrats on your new little one. I'm sure someone else can give you an informative answer. (Interesting question, btw.) I just wanted to make sure you're not suffering from mastitis, though I'm sure you'd know it if you were. (No other breast-related symptoms like engorgement, right?)

Does your daughter get a fever, too?

I hope you feel better soon, and that you find the answers you're looking for. Have fun breastfeeding. :-)

Hello S. M. I am a mother of a soon-to-be 5 month old son and I can truly say I relate to what you are going through. Our bodies have gone througha major hormone change and I too didn't get sick until after I had my son. Yes our bodies do go on a major attack against germs that are all around us but if you aren't getting enough rest your body will be more susceptible to germs. So to ease your mind you're not alone with this I am dealing with it now. I just got over having a strep throat and never once was I sick before having my son, no that I'm back working and not being able to get the same amount of sleep I once was getting I seem to get sick faster.
Best advice keep bottles of GermX around to sanitize your hands before /after touching items/people.

Mom in NC

Hi S.:
In addition to the other great advice already given - check with your doc as well if it's ok to use ibuprofen since you're passing it on to your baby - tylenol might be a better option. Best wishes!
M.

That happened to me I had mastitis, a breat infection. Your immune system is still a little weak when nursing.

You mentioned your daughter is five months old and everytime you get a cold you get a fever. How many colds have you got over the last five months. I would go to the doctor you may have some sort of reoccurring sinus infection or strep or something. I would just go to make sure.

call your obgyn asap! this sounds like some sort of infection or your body trying to protect its self. you want to make sure baby is getting what she needs and not your infection! good luck hope you feel better

It is important to drink extra fluids while you have a fever especially when you are breastfeeding. You are doing the best thing for your baby by breastfeeding through your sickness because your body is producing very specific antibodies that will protect her from your virus. I would talk to your doctor if you are getting sick more often than you did before the baby just to be safe.

hi S....
by any chance did you get sick during your pregnancy?
anyways, when women have babies-according to chinese medicine-they lose 'jing' or essence...it's kind of like vital energy of sorts. we also lose a little bit every month with our periods. so, when we have babies, alot of blood and energy are lost with the birth-so, it's quite important to nourish ourselves through nutrition, vitamins, etc. to replenish the essence we have lost through this process. perhaps, you've been running on "E" so to speak? (i am a mama of a 9 month old, so i definitely know how easy it is to run on E with a little one-especially that you are working) what kind of diet do you have?

i agree with one of the mother's who responded-try not to take any tylenol or ibuprofen...especially since it will be passed onto your baby through your breast milk. there are definitely more natural methods, which will not only treat the branch of your issue-but the root as well. if you would like to chat some more, or if you have any questions, i'm available at your leisure and will most definitely be able to help you sort through these health issues. in my practice, i really like to focus on mamas-because as matriarchs of the family-it is so important that we take care of ourselves....and get 'me' time....so the rest of our family can have 'their' time. :) good luck!!

check it out...
www.healingpointnc.com

I hope you're taking vitamins, & thru 'cold season', you might wanna boost your immune system w/ echinacea, vit C, zinc, etc (w/Dr's recommendation, of course) -- along w/plenty of nutricious fluids (not soda, etc) and plenty of healthy foods & lots of rest!. I nursed our 4 (our baby's 20!) for at least a year, each, and I held a little extra weight while nursing. When they quit, it fell right off. It also sounds as if you might be trying to do too much . . . Take care of MAMA!

Sometimes you can run a fever with a breast infection. The symptoms can feel like a cold or flu. You may want to get checked out by your doctor, just to be on the safe side.