is lemsip ok when breastfeeding?

[yummytummy]

hiya, not sure if this has been done before. have a rotten cold and am wanting to take lemsip but have had conflicting advice. they wouldnt sell it to me at the pharmacy due to the phenylephrine i think? but have tried to look it up and apparantly phenylephrine is ok but the older pseudoephrine isnt?

not sure what to do and if i should just stick to honey and lemon drinks. but feel really bunged up and need decongesting!

dd is 12 weeks and ebf.

thanks for any advice!

[maisiemackenzie]

No pretty sure it is not ok.. sadly! i love the stuff!

[MarknadNutidaPlats]

It is my understanding that the decongestant can slow milk production hence why not advised.

[LetThereBeCake]

the decongestant isn't good.

[yummytummy]

oh no! is there anything else i can take thats ok?

[RitaMorgan]

Phenylephrine possibly has an effect on supply, but they're not really sure! I decided to chance it but obviously it's a personal decision.

Boots own brand lemsip type drink doesn't have any decongestant in it.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are about all you can take iirc.

Tis the worst thing about bf'ing IMO.

[RitaMorgan]

This is the info on phenylephrine from the Lactmed database.

[LetThereBeCake]

I make myself a cup of hot lemon and honey and take some paracetamol. I think Boots may do a paracetamol-only hot drink, but you're better off having hot ribena or hot lemon and the tablets.

If you're really congested then taking a hot shower can help, as can vicks.

[bigbadbarry]

I've used it once I feel my supply is properly established. By 12 weeks, I reckon if your production dips a bit your baby will soon fix the problem. I tend towards just one at nighttime rather than staying dosed up all day - and spray decongestants such as Otrivine have little effect as they don't enter your circulation in the same wsy