I breastfed both my kids and my doctors always told me to go ahead with it even when sick(however if you do get put on medication you should check again with your doctor). I think they partly figure by the time you know you are sick you have already exposed them. As far as what to do, my personal doctor is very conservative and only gived anti-biotics when he absolutely has to, but he always suggest for a cold to do a sinus rinse. It's not a cure all but it can help rinse out any bacterial and/or virus from your sinus cavity to shorten the duration or prevent it from getting worse. I don't typically suffer from bronchitis so I don't know how it will help with that put should help with the cold. One note of caution if you can't breath through your nose at all you won't be able to use it. But look for NeilMeds Sinus rinse, it's similar to a netty pot but much easier to use. Good luck and get lots of sleep when you can!
Yes, you can continue to breastfeed. In fact, they say it helps build up their immune systems. Who knows if that is true or not. Just do things like wash your hands really well and don't sneeze on the baby, etc. As for what you can take, I think you are pretty limited. I used to take Tylenol products. I figured if youcan take it while pregnant, you can take it while breastfeeding. If you get really sick, your OB or pediatrician might be able to recommend something that is safe to take while breastfeeding. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!!! Suzanne M.
Yes, continue to breastfeed as all other posts mentioned. But a word of caution: some of the medications that doctors consider "safe" to use during breastfeeding (meaning that unharmful levels get passed through the milk to the baby) can really mess with supply. I took 1 Sudafed in a desperate attempt to get my nose to stop running on a plane flight alone with baby. It took AT LEAST a week to get my supply back to where it had been.
I was having the same problem when i breast fed my twins...I got sick more often and would hesitate to breast feed them..When i asked my pediatrian she said its always good to feed the babies when you have cold such such except of dangerous flu's...When they drink milk from us when we are sick they will get more immunity...Thats what she said..so, always make sure you are not running in any flu or else you should be good to go to feed your baby..Talk to your pediatrian about it...
All the best hope you feel better soon..:)
Hi Kari ~
I'm an OB nurse. Yes, continue nursing. Increase your fluids (this will also help thin out the drainage). Do Not take sudafed! Any medication that helps to "dry you up" will also dry up your milk. Use a cool mist vaporizor at night. You can always try some saline nose drops or baby strength nose drops - especially when you go to bed will help clear you some to at least fall asleep. Antibiotics (if your doctor decides you need them) are fine while breast feeding. Pharmacists will always say not to take most meds while breast feeding, but alot of them are safe. But like I said, stay away from meds that dry you up.
Hope you fell better soon!
donna
Hi Kari---You have lots of great advice. Best of all is not to worry as both you and your baby are very resilient and will get through this nicely.
I would like to suggest that you consider looking at the foods that you eat helping you to recover from this cold, as well as helping to prevent the next one. We all know that we need to eat to fuel our bodies, but what I have learned in studying nutrition the past few years, is that our food also is very important in how our immune system functions. Our diet and lifestyle also have a huge impact on how our body can protect our DNA and protect us from diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
I am a Wellness Educator and I would be happy to share any information about how to build and balance your immune system so that you are less likely to get colds and the flu. Not only will food help your immune system, with the right foods (mostly fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, while minimizing animal protein and cows milk; see www.strongbones.org) you should start to notice more energy every day as well.
Your body is going through amazing demands right now, and you really need to eat optimally to help it work most efficiently. If you need help getting more fruits and vegetables, I can also recommend a great nutritional supplement which is 17 fresh, raw fruits and veggies that have been juiced, dehydrated and put into capsule, chewable or gummie form. There are independent studies done at major universities all over the world that show that this wonderful fruit and veggie supplement really works. It's called Juice Plus+. Feel free to contact me if you have any concerns about your family's health and we can see how I can help.
Looking forward to talking to you. In health, Diane McCall
It is completely okay to breastfeed while you are sick. As far as medication.....I think you can only take tylonel, IB, and maybe benadryl. I would call the ped to find out for sure what you can take. I remeber that was the hardest part of breatfeeding was fighting through those sicknesses without any medicine. I do beleive that i it is bactirial that you would be able take penicillin. The DRS will know for sure.
Yes, breastfeed.
I've had great luck with Zicam. I have staved off 3 colds that way - they are the melt in your mouth tablets and boy do they work if you get it before the cold gets bad. But they are supposed to shorten the duration of your cold too, if you already have one. They are homeopathic so have no negative effects, but on the bottle it does say to check with your doctor if breastfeeding. But everything has to say that. If it doesn't work when you have a cold, please try it when you notice one coming on. They work so well! I'm surprised they haven't been on Oprah or something. (Hee hee) Also, airborne is great and that extra vitamin C will be great for the baby. Someone mentioned Garlic and that, too, is awesome...just stinky. But it works!
You should breastfeed when you are sick- it is actually good for your baby since your body has antibodies that are given off when you are ill and it is passed to the baby to build up her resistance...you should probably only use a warm air vaporizer if it is a cold and if you need antibiotics later your doc can prescribe something safe for breastfeeding...I breastfed for over a year with my daughter- way too long if you ask me but she went directly to a cup and refused bottles- anyway I fed her through bronchitis several times and she did beautiful- feel better:)
ABSOLUTELY continue breastfeeding. Your breastmilk contains microphages and antibodies to keep your little girl healthy. There are all kinds of antibiotics that are safe to go on while breastfeeding. The human body is amazing and there are very few drugs that are harmful while breastfeeding. As for getting over the cold Cold-eeze are awesome. They are a zinc tablet and will make you feel worlds better. You might want to consider taking an antihistamine like Claritin or Zyrtec. They help minimize congestion and can be taken daily. (As a former first grade teacher I've had my fair share of fighting illness). Best of luck
Absolutely continue to breastfeed for the same reasons that have been given in all the responses before me.
If you have any doubt about what you can/can't take (ever, not just now) ASK A PHARMACIST. They know more about drugs and drug interactions and special situations (such as breastfeeding-safe drugs) than most doctors do. Also, if they don't know about a specific drug, they know where to find the information needed to give you the advice/recommendation you need.
Hi Kari! I breastfed my son for the first 12 months and know that you can nurse through a cold. The literature says that way your baby gets the immunities you have built against the cold. Does that help? Hope you feel better soon! Dana
Greetings Kari,
Yes, you can still breastfeed. I'd come down with food poisoning and was told by a breastfeeding expert that my son wouldn't get sick and he didn't!! Yay! The milk is protected some kind of a way and God totally knew what He was doing when He made us. So, rest assure that your daughter will be just fine. Be blessed!
Everyone has been great at encourage you to keep breast feeding and I agree. I will suggest something for your cold a Vaporizer with the Vicks inhalant should be safe and help you to feel better and I swear by Zicam and I am pretty sure it is safe will nursing but check just to be sure. I can always tell when I have a cold if I take the Zicam I feel better 3 to 5 dayas sooner then when I cheap out and don't take it.
When you're breastfeeding, you actually pass on antibodies to the baby via breastmilk. Sooo, that means that you're helping the baby fight off your cold by breastfeeding. When my youngest was about 5 months old, we had the stomach flu go through the entire family. I was laying in bed all day, and I would get up to vomit, then breasfeed, then have diarrhea, then go to sleep, and start all over again!!! So keep on breastfeeding!!! As far as medication is concerned, I would stick to drinking lots of fluids, take vitamin c, eat healthy, and get adjusted (we're a chiropractic family). You want to do whatever you can to boost your immune system to fight it off naturally. Good luck, hope you feel better soon :) Angie
I use vick's vapor rub at night - obviously, not where your daughter will rub in it... ask hubby to put it on your back... (free back massage too??) ;-)
I just had the same thing happen I had a sinus infection and I am breastfeeding my 3 mos old son. I had to take an antibiotic and was worried if it was safe. I also wanted to take something to dry up my drainage. Breastmilk is considered a secretion just like mucous so you have to be careful what you take to decrease the secretions because it can also dry up your milk or decrease your supply. I was told by the breastfeeding support at the hospital that I delivered that you want to avoid anything with pseudoephedrine. I took Tylenol Cold and Sinus and it was fine. Hope you feel better.
You are better off continuing to breastfeed, because the baby will get your antibodies and she has already been exposed to your germs, so you should continue to breastfeed.
For question #2 there is not much you can take, I would call my dr and see what is ok to take, you could take a small dose of sudafed, but be careful Sudafed can reduce your supply. And DON'T ask a pharmacist, they will just tell you that the only thing you can take is regular Claratin and that does nothing for a cold. They do not know what is safe for a breastfeeding mom to take, so they will tell you that you can't take anything. My Dad is a pharmacist and there are so many drugs, interactions, and special contitions that unless the information says specifically that it is safe to use when breastfeeding they will not recommend it to you. Where as your dr or a lactation consultant (check with the hospital where you devliered) can tell you what is safe to use.
breastfeed away your daughter will get the anti bodies you produce and she is less likely to get sick i dont know of anything to help with the cold i just dealt with being sick. congrats on breastfeeding and good luck
Yes - DO continue to breastfeed!! The breastmilk will actually give your baby immunity and protection from getting your sickness!