HELP - B/F AND ALLERGY

[conni]

Probably due to pollen or dustmites, nose been totally blocked for weeks now, what can I take - fully b/f?

How old is your LO?

she is 14 wks

Hmmm. I doubt there's anything officially ok, your proper choices are probably things like olbas oil etc (unless you're asthmatic?). (Which means, if you ask a pharmacist, "can I take this while bf?" he will say "no".) Let me have a dig.

Wait, found this from the ABM:

1. What antihistamine can I take whilst breastfeeding as I have hay fever?

Most of the newer antihistamine drugs, which do not cause drowsiness, are not licensed but loratadine and cetirizine area available as formulations for children. If you are concerned you could try to use eye drops and nasal sprays initially. However no adverse reports of using oral drugs have been located. Chlorpheniramine (Piriton) is safe if you are not affected by drowsiness. Watch that your baby doesn't get drowsy and miss feeds, particularly overnight.

See information sheet on drugs and hayfever.

The basic assumption there is, if a drug is safe for children, then your baby getting some in the breastmilk isn't a big deal.

And \link{http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/Treatment%20of%20hayfever%20during%20breastfeeding.pdf\here} is the mentioned fact sheet. Hope this helps.

They're keeping an eye there on a) is this drug safe for children and b) how much of it goes into the milk. Of course that's often not known.

I've taken piriton when required (skin/food allergies) while breastfeeding. My GP said that it was the safest as it's been around the longest and nothing really bad has been reported about its use in breastfeeding. He did recommend taking it as little as possible though.

thanks - I am already using an Olbas nasal inhaler, it nowhere mentioned not to use it when b/f but from your mssgs I understand that my assumption that it was safe is wrong. However, I am now so blocked up that it no longer works anyway, ditto for steaming, it is awful when trying to sleep especially

Olbas oil etc aren't good for asthmatics, but I'd say they're among the safest options. It does sound like piriton is the safest actual drug. You have my sympathy, blocked noses really suck.

If the blocked nose is stopping you sleeping, and really making you miserable, I'd take Piriton or similar.

As your child gets older, you need to be less and less careful about OTC drugs, as they become things you would be able to give your child directly, anyway, iyswim. The whole "drugs while bf" is a bit of a minefield, anyway, as drugs companies have no real incentive to test drugs on bf mothers, so don't bother (mostly), and it's always just easier for them to opt out of the issue by saying "not safe" or "check with your GP".

Actually, thinking about it, I think Olbas is probably entirely safe. At least it was only that sort of thing that a pharmacist was willing to give me, when I asked for something for nasal congestion while bf. (Until I said I was asthmatic, at least.)

This may sound crazy, but try cranial osteopathy, or even Indian head massage. Sometimes a bunged nose can be wonderfully relieved by a good massage of the scalp, or even just pressing the right pressure points.

thanks for all the advise