This is kind of embarrassing but I've been a little sick and I don't know what to do. I had a fever for two nights, followed by diarrhea for the past two days. I am breastfeeding my 8 1/2 month old daughter as well as having all this going on. I don't have the money to go to the doctor so I was wondering if anyone has had this problem and what they took that was ok to take while breastfeeding. I've looked everywhere and I can't find an answer. I know that if it lasts longer I will have to go to the doctor but I'm trying to hold off on having to do that. Thanks in advance!
Thank you all for your advice. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to try some of them. Last night I started having blood when I went to the bathroom so first thing this morning I HAD to go to the doctor. I found out that I have salmonella poisoning. The doctor said that it starts with fever then diarrhea then blood in the diarrhea. He prescribed some antibiotics that should knock it out within the next couple of days. He said to do the BRAT diet and absolutely no dairy! Not even yogurt. The plus side is I can still breast feed! =) Again thanks for all the advice and concern.
Nothing can take the place of medical advice from a doctor or pharmacist...that said: www.kellymom.com and www.safefetus.com are excellent references for breastfeeding The latter being a search engine for medications both prescription and over the counter. It then classifies them for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hope this helps :)
Go to your pharmacy and ask your pharmacist what you can take that won't cross over into your breast milk. Continue to breastfeed...your little one is getting natural immunities from your breast milk!!!
Good luck..hope you get to feeling better soon
Hi M., First, so sorry you feel the way you do. and good for you for bfeeding in spite of it. OK. Some thoughts from when I had a tummy virus while bfeeding:
1. Drink lots of water or whatever you can hold down. I drank Sprite (not diet). I let it go flat. I usually don't drink soda while bfeeding, but it was more important to me to get the sugar and fluid in my system, and fite the bug so I can be well for my little one.
2. Sleep as much as you can. Can someone watch the baby so you can nap or even close your eyes on the sofa.
3. try toast with some cinamon and sugar and a pat of butter if you can eat something. You need energy, and something tasty that your system can hold down.
4. for the fever -- take a lukewarm bath to bring down the fever (letting the water slowly cool around you). My pedi said I can take ONE TYLENOL every 4 hours to bring down the fever -- but no more than 6 per day. (PLEASE ASK YOUR DR OR PHARMICIST).
Most importantly, be good and gentle with yourself while you are sick. Housework and cooking can wait.
Hope this helps. Feel better.
Jilly
BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) should help with the diarrhea. Some yogurt should help establish some healthy bacteria in your intestines again. Keep up your fluids with water, Gatorade or Pedialyte Some chicken broth always helps me feel better if I'm feeling off.
Hi, M.. Well, first of all, if you've got fever and diarrhea, you need to make sure you don't dehydrate -- that's under any circumstances, but particularly when you're breastfeeding. The whole problem might be one of dehydration if the fever wasn't caused by another illness. Get some Gatorade or Powerade into you; don't drink a whole bunch at one time because it will just run right through you.
Another good thing to drink when you have persistent diarrhea is regular black tea. Don't put a lot of sugar in it. It's best to flavor it with lemon rather than cream because cream can make diarrhea worse. Drink plenty of tea, warm if possible, with just a tiny bit of sugar and lemon.
I hav heard that Kaopectate is OK because it doesn't contain any of the drugs and chemicals that the other diarrhea remedies have. It's just kaolin and pectin, which are both food-type substances. However, Kaopectate never worked for me, not when I was a kid and that was all we had, nor when I became an adult. It works for some ppl, though, so give it a try.
I have also heard that eating bananas helps to slow down the diarrhea. I'm not sure about that, either, because I have irritable bowel syndrome and not much actually works when I'm having an attack, but I have been told by very reputable ppl that bananas slow down diarrhea.
Yogurt is very, very good at restoring balance to the intestines, and I highly recommend it. It's possible you ate something that wrecked the friendly bacteria in your colon, and you need to replace that friendly bacteria so that it can grow back quickly. Eat as much as you want as long as you are not allergic to milk. You can also eat cheese, a hard cheese like cheddar. Eat the real stuff, not process cheese food stuff. Cheese is notorious for constipating ppl who eat too much of it. Apples and apple sauce are also very good for getting the colon back to normal. Unfiltered apple juice is one of my favorite things; don't drink filtered (golden in color) apple juice because it's basically sugary water, which will make diarrhea worse. Drink the dirty-looking stuff that's unfiltered.
What works for me to stop the worst of my diarrhea outbreaks is this wafer / cookie that Metamucil makes. It's got fiber that gets into your system and soaks up all -- I mean ALL -- the excess water in your colon, and it won't LET you have diarrhea. I suggest eating one cookie at a time, although two come in a little foil package. You may experience some cramping and gas because it is MEGA fiber, and it will clean out your colon like a pot scrubber, but if nothing else works, this stuff will definitely slow down the diarrhea. While you're eating these, definitely eat yogurt.
Well, I hope this helps. If the diarrhea persists more than a couple more days, definitely go to a doctor. I understand your concerns about not wanting to pay for an office visit, but your body is under extra stress by breastfeeding a new baby, and you've got to take care of yourself or you won't be any good for the baby.
Peace,
S.
I always ask the pharmacist in whatever store I am in. You don't need insurance, and their advice is free. They don't always know, or have answers for everything, but it should help you in terms of what medication.
Hi Dear, try your local Public Medical Health Department/Clinic. At least you get to speak with a doctor and/or Nurse and it's free.
Best to you, S.
Let it run it's course while staying hydrated. The toxins need to come out of you not get trapped inside you.
Not sure but a cheap alternative to a dr is te cvs and Walgreens clinics. They charge about $65-70
Try asking the pharmacist at your local pharmacy. They can tell you what you can and cannot take. But if the fever continues you need to be seen. That is a sign of something going on. Hope and pray you are feeling better soon!!!!!
Go to health department sometimes if ur income is low enough they will wave the cost.
I can't help you more than what the other moms say but I wanted to stress all the gov't programs out there. You are in Florida so please sign up for Floida KidCare. It is insurance for the baby and you might get Medicaid yourself. Don't be afraid to ask- it is there to help. I used a bit and am now back on my feet but it was a huge lifesaver.
M.,
There really isnt anything you should take while BF'ing. You kinda just have to wait it out. Unless of course it gets really bad. Continue nursing your baby. Be sure to stay hydrated. Drink lots of water, as much as you can.
H.
Keep breast feeding... http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey... your baby gets antibodies from your milk.
Drink lots of water, tea, gatorade, just not caffeine. The meds for diarrhea could pass into your milk so you should check with the pharmacist.
Hope you feel better.
Most definitely continue breastfeeding. If you have a virus, that will protect your daughter.
I would stay hydrated, eat the Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast in addition to regular, mild food. Yogurt is wonderful, but avoid lots of other dairy. Also, caffeine is a diarrhetic, so stay away from that. Try not to eat a lot of sugar either.
If this keeps up too long, you will have to see someone. The ladies on here have some great ideas how to do that. I hope you feel better soon!
Rest and fresh fruit and veggie juices should help you get better... if you have an infection that isn't resolving itself then maybe a low dose of MMS would help... MMS (miracle mineral solution) is a liquid mineral solution that generates an oxidation effect that wipes out pathogens. It's not FDA recognized since it's not a pharmaceutical drug, it's sold online as water purification drops for about $20/bottle. It would likely be safer than antibiotics for someone who's nursing but I don't know if anyone's researched if it has any effect on breastmilk. The FDA recently issued a warning about it since people have experienced rapid detox reactions from using higher doses (nausea and drop in blood pressure are signs that it's killing off pathogens faster than the body is ready to eliminate/excrete them - so it's working TOO quickly sometimes). You can use Google and do some research on it. Another idea is bentonite clay, which helps with things that have upset the gastrointestinal system. You can find that at health food stores.
you dont want to take anything for the diarrhea if you can help it. you want to get out of your system what is causing it. sounds like a mild stomach bug. stay hydrated...you should talk to your pediatrician and see what you can take for the fever
The last time I had diarrhea (for several days), as soon as I started eating yogurt with the digestive health stuff I immediately started feeling better. Love Yoplait YoPlus.
Mariou D.
Please call a nurse hotline, or @ the very least your pharmacists, I strongly discourage you to continue breastfeeding if you have an infeccion. I had one when my son was born and the first thing my doctor had me do was stop breastfeeding. unfortunately fever and diarrhea are symptoms for a huge variety of things. Like others have posted drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated. Also look for cash clinics that charge very little or go to your medicaid office or wic clinic, they'll tell you where you can get assistance.
Hope you feel better,
Good Luck
