is it safe for me to breastfeed??

[zannyanny]

So today I decided to go a lovely walk with some friends + my 18 day old DS

Walked for about 2 1/2 hrs then got back and realised I'm in a lot of pain, back pain etc so went for a bath and now I have found myself with a temperature (39.2 degrees) :(

Obviously did too much too soon after giving birth or got too much sun anyway I get through to my local or national breastfeeding support

I realise there perhaps won't be many people medically qualified but has anyone ever experienced this whilst bf?will DS contract my temperature or should I formula feed? Really worried please help

Please carry on bf if you can
If you are ill, and medication allows, then I think it is almost always preferable to bf. Even if you have raging D&V you are passing the immunity on.
Hope you are better soon

Of course it's safe Even better, you'll pass some antibodies to your DS and make it less likely he'll get it/ he'll have a mild version.

What I meant is that he will not catch anything through bf- he might catch it through regular contact with you (sneezing etc) but the fact that you'll bf will be good for him.

It's only if you take meds that are incompatible with bf that you can't bf.

Paracetamol is fine, btw.

Ibuprofen is fine while BF too. Agree with others, no need to stop just because you are feverish.

Agree with the others, just wanted to add that you need to make sure you drink plenty of water so you don't get dehydrated. Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks for everyones input!
I have taken co-codamol and ibuprofen but just feel completely floored! As if it's the beginning of the flu :( so glad it's safe, was going to ff whilst still expressing til I'm better so milk doesn't dry up but that saves the faff!
Can sleep easy now :) thanks again

If you feel a bit fluey then it's also worth just checking there are no hard lumps or hot, red patches on your boobs because mastitis feels a lot like flu. Some good advice on mastitis here.

Could it be sunstroke/heatstroke?

None of the things you describe pose a problem for breastfeeding. It's great that you felt energetic enough to go out and enjoy the lovely weather, what a pity that you're suffering now!

I was going to say I had these symptoms when DD was about three weeks old - think it was the beginning of mastitis. I got as much rest as was possible with a young baby and drank loads of water - it passed.

As the others say, just keep BF. And hope you feel better soon.

eaurouge - didnt think it was at all related but sounds like thats what it could be! my right breast is really quite painful-assumed it was engorgement

the oldestcat - thanks, il google how to resolve mastitis incase thats what it is, i hope it doesnt last long :(

hopefully expressing will help

I'd get to the doctors first thing. Insist on an emergency appointment.

In the meantime, inuprofen and paracetamol will help and feed as much as the LO will take! Pump if at all engorged and LO won't feed.

Ibuprofen even

Definitely get to the doctors, as well as massaging the sore boob Iin a bath or in the shower helps). Googling good too.

If you think it is mastitis, take some paracetamol, and have a warm shower, while showering massage your boob towards the nipple. sort of like kneeding ifyswim ? Then try and get some sleep. I had this once, felt like flu all afternoon by early evening I was good for nothing, did as I said above and also expressed as much as I could and DP bottle fed it to DD so I could get some rest by mid morning the next day I was fine. If you can carry on breast feeding that is better as the baby feeding will help. Good luck, it will pass.

hope you feel better soon :)
i breastfed my then 3 month old through flu and she ended up being the onlu one in the house that didnt get ill!