Hayfever while breastfeeding

[mrsmartin1984]

My DD is 4 months and EBF. I've started suffering from hayfever and went to the docs today for it.

The doctor asked me how long I wanted to BF for and I said until DD is at least two. He said there was nothing I could be given and I'd just have to cope with the hayfever.

Is he right? I thought there were some treatments that are ok with bf though I understand allot are not

I think your doc is being a bit of a prat - there are lots of things you can take for your hayfever while breastfeeding! I used my beclometasone nasal spray while I was feeding (with my doctor's approval). It is very effective and the steroid dose is very low. Also, as it is metabolised quickly and affects only the tissues very close to site of application (i.e. your sinuses!) it will not harm baby. If you don't want to take any medications at all there are various other natural remedies which can help, for example if you smear a thin layer of vaseline in your nostrils before going out it acts as a barrier/trap for pollen and reduces exposure. You can prepare for/reduce your hayfever symptoms by eating a tablespoon of locally produced honey daily before and during the summer. I also made sure I wore sunglasses whenever I was out - don't know why this helps, but it does. Hopefully other people will give you more tips.

My friend bf 4 to 2 years whilst having horrendous hay fever, of course there are things you can do

The thing that worked best for her wasn't drugs though, it was one of those nasal light things that she got from the chemist.

I spoke to pharmacist who said the beclametasone nasal spray mentioned above was fine. Also eye drops were suggested.

I'm using Prevalin from Boots that specifically says its safe in pregnancy and BF.

Eye drops and nasal spray are definitely fine, tablets (loratadine is what I use) are not proven to be safe but no evidence of harm either so just depends how careful you want to be. The older DS got the less worried I was about traces of things in my milk

Your doctor is being an eejit. I have hay fever and my doctor prescribed a steroid nasal spray (Avamys, I think the non-prescription version is Flixonase, works really well) and said that both Clarityn and Zirtek are fine if I'm really suffering.

Piation is fine and eye drops and nasal spray but they dont work for me so I just suck it up and wear big sunglasses, dont itch, cold teabags on eyes if really bad and keep windows closed.

If I know im going out to park then I take eye drops and tisues.

Go back to dr and ask him to check in medical book what is safe in bf or write it down and ask him to check and write a perscripe out.

Breastfeeding Network has a drug info sheet on antisitamines, there are lots of treatment options. I suggest you request your GP accesses some training, the knobber.

I asked my local BF advice service about this this morning.
Apparently drugs are positioned on a scale (1-5) to show how safe they are to use when BF, 1 safest - 5 hazardous.
Citirizine = 1
Loratadine = 2
FWIW I was told you can still donate milk if you take citirizine.

I don't want to give out medical advice as I am not qualified, this is just what I was told.
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk.html

decent information about breastfeeding and antihistamines