Does Lemsip dry your boobs up too!?

[minko]

I have a rotten cold and streaming nose and have had a couple of Lemsips. I don't know if the cold or the Lemsip has affected supply but my right boob seems to have packed up. DS (5 and a half months) gets very frustrated on it and has to be swapped to the left which is still fine. I'm also having a rather disasterous time weaning at the mo as he is completely constipated and miserable and I want to give him more milk to sort it out!

[shonaspurtle]

Off the top of my head it is pseudoephenephrine (totally guessed at spelling and drug name but it sounds a bit like that!) which is a decongestant that can cause a problem with supply. Check out your lemsip packet as I think plain ol lemsip (as opposed to cold & flu etc) doesn't have a decongestant added.

If so, it might be worth stopping it since the Kellymom site said your supply should improve after stopping the drug.

I'm sure someone else will be along with better info or a link.

[CorrieDale]

If lemsip has menthol in it, then I should imagine it can dry up supply. Have a look at this link for a guide to what you canfand can't take. FWIW, a cold never affected my supply, but I followed the guidelines in the bfn link religiously for what I could and (mostly) couldn't take. BTW, If DS is constipated, I'd hold off on the weaning, too, at the moment! Sounds as if you have more than enough to cope with!

[Olihan]

Thr kellymom site has loads of info about the safety od drugs and bf. Was on there last night, also checking Lemsip and there was an ingredient that reduces supply but it WASN'T the one in normal Lemsip.

[hunkeydorey]

Doesn't it say on the packet of lemsip, not to take whilst breast feeding? I just put up with a runny nose when I had a cold, ds was nearly 2 before I took anything with a decongestant in it.

[Bugsy2]

More likely to be dehydration tbh. If you have a streaming cold, you need to up your liquid intake considerably.

[shonaspurtle]

not epinephrine lol - I've obviously been watching too much ER - apparently that's the stuff they dramatically inject people with to help kickstart the heart... Probably best to stop taking that if it's in your lemsip

Pseudoephedrine is the one to avoid (although apparently it doesn't affect everyone and the effect is reversible when you stop taking it).

[minko]

Hello again. OK, cold is still streaming, I stopped the Lemsip this morning but my right boob is still not performing. They are noticeably different sizes (much to DPs amusement) and the right one actually hurts a bit. I've been drinking gallons of water and trying to feed DS from it but he is just frustrated with it. Is this the end of my BFing or is there hope of it re-establishing???

[shonaspurtle]

Minko - can't guess what's happening (surely both breasts would be affected if it had been the Lemsip?). I'm sure it's fixable though.

Have you the contact details of a bf counsellor? Or try one of the helplines?

I've seen posts on here before where people reported their dc having a preference for left or right so it could be something like that, or being more comfortable in one position rather than another, not necessarily your supply dropping?

Have you looked at the suggestions on the Breastfeeding Network site for cold remedies you can take safely? It can't be helping your morale to feel so rotten!

[determination]

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/supporterline/drugline.php

BFN Drugs and BFing Info

Check this out, this should give you some clear info on what is and isn't safe during breastfeeding

[FrannyandZooey]

Minko it sounds to me as if you may have a blocked duct which is causing pain and swelling on the right hand side. You need to clear the blockage by encouraging ds to feed on that side as much as possible, running warm water over it in the shower, massaging the painful area towards the nipple quite firmly, or even running a comb over your breast (sounds odd but can work).

I think the Lemsip is a red herring as regards the supply, but you are definitely not meant to take it while breastfeeding. If you are not sure what you can take while breastfeeding, don't take it! Generally, paracetamol is ok, and with medical advice, ibuprofen can be all right, but other than that when you have a cold and are breastfeeding you just have to lump it!

[minko]

Just to report back. I gave up the Lemsip and just took Paracetamol, persevered with feeding first from the right problem boob and drank lots of water and things are back to normal again now. Hurrah - thanks for the advice!