BF and Lemsip

[BettyStogs]

I am suffering with my second cold in as many weeks (damn nursery bugs!) and am feeling really bunged up & icky. I know you're not meant to have lemsip or suchlike when BF, but as 14 mo DS now only feeds morning, early evening & bedtime, would it be such a bad thing to have one now? I'm at work, he's at nursery so no chance of him needing a feed before 5.30pm when we get home. Would the 'drying up' effect wear off before that? I'm sure the effects don't last that long with actual cold symptoms...

[JeewizzJen]

I think it's the decongestant that's a problem - check out the BfN information here: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/dibm/Cough-and-Cold-Remedies-October-2011.pdf

It says in there that

"Sympathomimeticamines e.g. pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine,
phenylephrine. There is some new evidence that these decongestants may
dramatically reduce prolactin levels in breastfeeding mothers and therefore
reduce breastmilk supply, particularly in established breastfeeding of an older
baby. Until more is known about this it may be best avoided."

Hope you feel better soon, it's rubbish, I know!

[MousyMouse]

you can take paracetamol and a nose spray, though.
and make yourself a hot lemon+honey drink.

[BettyStogs]

Thanks, interesting that it is more likely to affect supply when feeding is well established, I assumed it would be worse when feeding a younger baby, due to more frequent feeds.

[Impatientwino]

Boots do an own brand paracetemol and vitamin c hot lemon drink that is safe whilst breast feeding

[Loislane78]

I think homemade hot toddy + a paracetamol is much nicer (and cheaper) than Lemsip:

Slice 3 lemons, chuck in a few cloves, add water and boil, serve with honey to taste (and a tiny tiny dram of whiskey if you want) - delicious and got me through my cold last week :)