Boobs and decongestants

[boyandgirl]

I've got an 11mo dd and a hideous cold (which she also has, obviously ) and I've also got an evening out planned with dh and some friends on Saturday. My question is, can I take some decongestant, Sudafed for preference, on Satruday so that I won't be disgustingly snotty and grotty in the evening? Will it do anything to my milk supply, and will it harm dd?

Please help???

I was advised not to take decongestant while bf, don't really know why, but I don't just to be on the safe side. You can take paracetamol and sniff olbas oil/vicks though. I think there might be one variety of Lemsip that's ok to take - check with a pharmacist to be sure.

I'm sure I took Sudafed whilst bfeeding ds. Your gp surgery and I think probably pharmacies too should have a big directory of drugs listing contraindications including bfeeding and pregnancy.

I was told not to as well. (I even begged a couple of weeks ago- "but my ds is almost 2 are you sure" the pharmacist was adamant. I managed to get rid of it miraculously using homeopathy, but if that's not your thing you can buy a good steamer thing from boots- more comfortable than the bowl and safer wth children around. Eucalyptus oil or something like vicks in it makes it fairly powerful

Babies can be given decongestants such as Tixylix from the age of one year, so I wouldn't have thought one dose via bm would do any damage. I'm not sure about the supply question but you could always use a nasal spray. I hope you feel better soon - colds may be minor but they can't half make you feel rotten.

I was told to take the vicks inhalent stuff (which does work) rather than sudafed which would make the baby speedy (oh my god). I hope you feel better soon - god I hate colds.

I generally avoid decongestants but I'm prone to getting earache and sinus trouble if I have a really bad cold, which is why I (used to) take Sudafed if necessary. I've never taken it while bfing because I assumed that, if it stops mucus being produced in your head, then it will do the same in your boobs. It never occurred to me that the baby would get speedy! But I do know one or two people who can't take Sudafed because it makes them feel edgy and as if they are having palpitations, so I suppose it could well do that to the baby...but would enough get across to her? I'll have to ask at a pharmacy.

I wonder whether I could take Tixylix instead? If it's safe for a 1yo, then it must be ok for an almost-1yo to getit via the bm. Might even help her feel a bit better too! I don't think an inhaled decongestant would work, because I'm so bunged up that I can't inhale! And in any case, my ears are already affected. Argh - I hate colds.

I could just give her formula for a couple of feeds instead, but I'm reluctant to because she had only just got over a bout of gastroenteritis before she caught the family cold. Poor little lovey.

Bron, how many doses did you take?

Here is a good link on the effects of different drugs and BF here .

Thanks, Bron, Florenceuk.

That website is excellent (haven't yet checked back to her sources, but so far looks good).
I've had a chat with the pharmacist, and what I think I'll do is considering take one dose of Sudafed after the bedtime feed, and one before the morning feed, and at the same time take fenugreek to try and help keep the milk supply up. Hopefully the two 'treatments' won't counteract in any other way!

*** but my ears ache! You really know you're a mum when you can't take time off sick.

I have been suffering with dreadful congestion and sinusitis too. My doctor suggested taking a hot shower just before bed, to loosen the congestion. It seems to be working, but maybe I'm just finally getting over the cold. Worth a try anyway?

What a relief...one Sudafed and two paracetamol last night and the pain eased. Thanks for the 'confirmation', Bron, it really helps to hear that sort of thing.

I've been stewing myself in the bath every day and getting the children to play in the bathroom while I'm in the bath so that they get a dose of steam too. It does help a lot, but once my ears get bunged up I don't like having a hot bath because I get dizzy afterwards.

BTW if your ears are bunged or sore a good tip is to blow your nose one nostril at a time. For some reason this puts less pressure on your eadrums.

I had hoped to get away with only taking Sudafed on Saturday, but the way things have progressed I have no choice - otherwise I'll be asking dh to take time off work to nurse me! As it is, I feel like I've got Mumsnet nursing me instead .