Flu medication and BFIng

[fifitot]

I am desperately googling all the over the counter stuff I can think of to try and find something to take....I have a horrendous cold with aching sinuses. I have been using paracetamol but need a decongestant I think.

Can't find anything that says it's OK in BFing. Any ideas? Am desperate!

I dont think there are any decongestants you can take as they dry up bodily fluids, which include bm. Have you tried sticking your head over a bowl of hot water and clearing them that way?

huge sympathies though :(

How old is your baby? How is your supply? How is breastfeeding going?

Steam and inhalants are safe (Vicks etc), no matter what your baby's age.

This page gives a good summary of your options. Nasal decongestant sprays can work. And the drowsy-making antihistamines are maybe ok.

You will not find any product that says on it that it is ok for BFing, though - once, when I was miserable with a cold, I asked MrNQC to buy me some cough syrup (god knows why, as they generally do nothing anyway). He ended up with something that had active ingredients of molasses (to sooth the throat) and eucalyptis or something (to make it taste bad and mediciney :hmm: ). It said 'do not take in BFing.

They just say 'consult your doctor if BFing' on everything, to protect themselves from being sued. Even paracetamol and iboprofen say this.

Good old Kellymom on decongestants

Check the ingredients on the pack, there seem to be two alternatives for the decongestant agent.

"pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are generally considered to be safe for the breastfed baby, but pseudoephedrine may reduce milk supply....Many meds have been reformulated so they no longer contain pseudoephedrine -- they're using phenylephrine instead. Per Hale, "Because of pseudoephedrine's effect on milk production, many have concerns that phenylephrine may suppress milk production as well. There is no evidence that this occurs at all." "

HTH

Thanks for all your help. Will check out Kellymom - never thought of that.

I am really suffering!

Baby is 7 month and milk supply well established!

glad to see I may be wrong! hopefully you can find something that will help :)