Trying to Avoid Taking a Decongestant

Try using a Neti Pot- this allows you to clear your nose using sea salt & water- no side effects!

Make sure there is enough humidity in your home. Believe it or not it will keep dust motes etc. down and help dry up stuffiness. Vicks vapor rub applied to the soles of your feet and covered with a pair of socks at bedtime helps.

Hi J., So many of us deal with this - and many year-round. My husband and I have both come to love one of Shaklee's products and everyone I have shared it with loves it as well. It's Alfalfa and you can take more on worse days and all there will be are side-benefits - no side effects. Here's where you can order them online. http://changinglives.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku...
I think I've also heard Alfalfa helps with milk production. How great would that be? Best of luck in your quest. S.

Along the lines of a netti pot, but so much easier to use: Made by the same company Neil Meds - look for Nasal Rinse. Comes in a box with all you need and works great. Can even use it in the shower. Congrats on the new baby

I know too many people just like you! And sounds like many who've already responded are suffering, too. My mom was one of those (but not anymore, and hasn't for 6 years!)
I'll personal message you with my info, but you need to hear about something that is naturally helping people with their allergies and immune systems: safe for breastfeeding, pregnancy, and even for infants themselves to elderly (it's food-based).
Has money-back guarantee, too.
Good for you for BF, by the way!

Grab a Pediacare plug-in vaporizer. They're natural, approved for children 6-months and up (unlike Vicks, which is for adults). They only really work while you're in the room with them, but they helped me through the worst part of your cold. However, I am concerned that your cold seems to last all fall and winter. I have bad allergies, and as other people suggested, this may be your problem up here where it's dry. Try using a saline spray or a neti pot to help the symptoms. It won't really help if you do have a cold, but it relieves sinus problems.

sounds like you probably have allergies to something in that climate... if it never goes away (in ohio) it's probably not something contagious. sometimes people are allergic to decaying leaves in the fall, or pollen or mold or something like that.

my friend swears by quercitin, which is an herbal decongestant... you might look into that. there are also homeopathic medicines that are much less harmful than drugs and safer while breastfeeding. there is a good one for hayfever/pollen, and there are also good cold and sinus remedies. check out your local health food store-- they usually have somebody on staff who is knowledgeable and can help you figure out what you need.

Sounds like you have allergies which decongestant will not help. I'm not sure if your climate is like here in Illinois, but in Fall/Winter I'm allergic to mold. It's usually in basements and the leaves outside due to the constant moisture. We have to run a dehumidifier because the moisture gets on the windows and basically hangs in the air like someone just took a steamy shower. I got a cute little quiet one from Target (because I don't have a basement) that kills germs in the air, too. It's called the Mini Dehumidifier with UV Light & TiO2 SD-350Ti. It's awesome. It sits in the living room and does a fab job. I used to run the A/C in the evening before bed to clear the air before I got that thing.
I also would go on Weather.com and check the allergy levels in your area. It will tell you what is high for that week and if you are feeling particularly crappy check that day, it will tell you if tree pollen or mold or grass pollen or whatever, is the culprit. Try: http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/meter/USO...

Hot shower (lots of steam) and vics... Good luck & welcome back!

Welcome back to the midwest! And congrats on your new baby! He will have such a great advantage in fighting whatever comes his way since he is a breastfed baby - such a great thing you are doing for him!

You can take plain Actifed. Sudafed can reduce milk supply. Some moms don't notice a change, but many do, so it is better to be safe and avoid pseudoephedrine. My information comes from Medications and Mother's Milk by Dr. Thomas Hale - an expert and breastfeeding and medications. If you need any more info about specific meds, let me know and I'll let you know what his recommendations are. Also, another good website is www.kellymom.com. Here is her page on cold remedies and breastfeeding: http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/cold-remedy.html#meds. Good luck!

I have the same problem and am also currently breastfeeding. My doctor DOES NOT recommend a decongestant because it does dry up your milk supply. I know others have mentioned this, but I use the neti pot or a nasal rinse. It is the same concept but the nasal rinse is easier to use. You can do it once or twice daily. I use it every morning and then at night if it has been a particularly rough day. The first time I use it I always sound more nasally than I did prior to using it, but it makes me feel so much better quickly!
My husband uses it also and finds it to be incredibly helpful for him too.
Good luck!

Get a neti pot. Look it up online, its a natural way to clean out your sinues, you use lukewarm water mixed with the provided powdered saline solution...it all goes into a small plastic teapot looking thing that you pour in your nose. Wow, that sounds silly, look it up for more info! Hope it works!

I'm surprised no one mentioned it, but nasal strips work wonders. I used them during the first few months of pregnancy only at night, and they kept me relatively clear the rest of the day. They worked when nothing else did!

I have the same problem and Nasal Sprays really do help if you use them consistently. A plain saline spray is pretty inexpensive and works. And of course, steamy showers will help too- and your little one will probably love it if you take him into shower with you.

Try warm compresses on your face. It helps me a good bit.Spicey food like ceyanne pepper will help as well.Decongestants loosen the stuffyness, antihistimines dry it up but usually make you tired.You may need to get a warm air humidifier to help with your sinus problems.

Get a Netti Pot!! Walgreens has theirs on sale for $8.99 this week, I got one last night and am already breathing better :)

I've been trying to avoid decongestants becuase they raise my blood pressure.

The two things I've found that tend to work best: cool mist humidifiers, and saline spray for the nose.

I've worked with my allergist, and have discovered that what I thought was a plugged up nose due to congestion was really due to inflammation. SO, I've been taking Rhinocort, which has a cortico-steroid in it, which helps reduce inflammation. BUT I don't know if that's okay to take while breastfeeding or not.

The humidifier and saline ought to help lots though.

For what it's worth, and good luck!

Ocean or other saline spray helps temporarily when you have to have some relief. If it were allergies, I would recommend Chloraseptic's new allergy gel, but it won't help with colds.

My sympathies. I was in your same boat last week! (Oh, but congratulations on the baby! :) )

Supposedly you can take plain sudafed. Personally, that doesn't really help me at all, and with both kids I just kind of suffered, put my face over hot sinks full of steam, and whined a lot. Last week I actually took Sudafed a couple of times because I was so desperate and it helped just a little bit. I never wanted to take it through a whole cold, though, because it can dry your milk up a iittle. I assume it would come back, but I didn't want to mess with nature.

So my advice is steamy showers, humidifier, lots of kleenex. :(

We use saline spray, nasal strips that go across your nose at night, the "natural" Vicks rub (I think it's made with lavendar and some other things), cool mist humidifier, Motrin if we have a really horrible cold and absolutely can't breathe...it is an anti inflammatory so it opens you up a bit.

Janis
I know that Alfalfa works wonders. Do you take any supplements at all. I work with Shaklee and you can go to my web and do some research. It will not hurt your baby and it is a very natural way to help your issues. Take a look...livingwithsolutions.com
Hope all goes well and welcome back to Ohio. Just had my sons wedding in Akron.
Good Luck
S.

It sounds like allergies. If the congestion lasts more than a week, it is allergies.
See an allergist or talk to your doctor about allergy meds. You don't have to take one with a decongestant.

Also, I strongly suggest a Neti Pot or other saline (salt) nasal spray. I have extreme allergies. I used a neti pot daily for the first few weeks but then realized that it kept my sinuses clear enough that I don't need it often. Now I only need to use the neti pot a few times a month.
Good Luck.