I have a bad cold and I am miserable, but I have a seven week old that I am breastfeeding. The last thing I want to do is take something unsafe for her, but it is hard to be a great mother while feeling awful too. I was wondering if anyone knows of safe cold medicines. While I was not pregnant or nursing I liked tylenol cold. Does anyone know about that one? Any help would be great. Thanks.
I have taken Coricidin HBP for Cough and Cold and haven't had any problems with my son or my milk supply.
Feel better soon!
go to kellymom.com. It's a great website for nursing moms and they have a section where they tell you which medicine is safe.
My doctor and pediatrician said I could take any type of Benadryl.
One of the safest medications you can try is a homeopathic remedy. There are NO side effects and extremely safe for everyone. If you go to a health food store you can pick up a homeopathic cold remedy. Just ask in the store where do they keep the homeopathic remedies, and there are several brands that will help. Ask for a recommendation on the best one for your symptoms. If you cannot find someone to help you you can call me. I am a Certified Classical Homeopath.I will be happy to walk you through picking the right remedy at the health food store. My direct line is ###-###-####.
Most cold medications are safe while breastfeeding, but understand that antihistamines and decongestants will decrease your milk supply to some extent because they help dry up body fluids (like mucus). I'm a counselor with Nursing Mothers Counsel (a non-profit organization that gives FREE one-on-one peer counseling to breastfeeding moms), and we always recommend that you try to stay away from medications while sick. Hot shower to loosen mucus, lots of fluids to help your body fight infection, ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with body aches/pain, etc.
I know it's hard to "be a great mother" while you're sick, but bring your baby to bed with you to nurse when she needs. Don't worry about the risk of her getting sick. She was exposed to your illness long before you ever showed signs and symptoms!! In fact, your breastmilk right now has special antibodies specifically for the illness you're experiencing right now and will give her added protection against getting it herself (just like a vaccine). If she does get sick, it will be a lesser illness than you have now.
Hope you're feeling better soon!! And if you have any other breastfeeding questions, please feel free to call Nursing Mothers Counsel at 650-327-MILK or you can email me directly at ____@____.com can always visit our website at http://nursingmothers.org.
As Kristina said, anything you were able to take while pregnant is safe now, in fact it is even more safe to take while nursing than when you were pregnant! The breathe right nose strips have no medication & they were awesome in helping to open up the nasal pasages. I also swear by theraflu :) & my doctor said it was ok to take. It is very soothing in many ways. Good luck & feel better soon!
My doctor told me to take Musinex (not D) and that I could use nasal spray.
My doctor has told me Tylenol Cold is okay. I have a cold right now and am 39 weeks pregnant. That is what I am taking now too. Hope you feel better.
First try everything else.....If you're really stuffed up, trying taking a hot shower, steam up the bathroom, or use a humidifier even, to loosen up the mucus. Drink alot of water and hot liquids... like soup or broth.. it will help you flush the bad stuff out, luckily, there are antibodies in the milk to protect the little one.
If not, everything you were able to take while pregnant is considered safe. I had to use sudafed here and there, but know that can dry up certain womens breastmilk if taken too much.
