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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

BF and hayfever - is there anything I can take?

16 replies

crochetdiva · 22/05/2008 17:40

I'm suffering with the worst hayfever I've had for years, but am bf (dd is nearly 8 months, and doesn't have any ff). I know I can't take my usual antihistamines as they'll dry up my milk, but is there anything I can take to make me feel less miserable?

All suggestions (even silly ones!) gratefully received!

Thanks

OP posts:
isaidno · 22/05/2008 18:16

There are some antihistamines you can take - ask the pharmacist.

There is also a balm here which creates a barrier. Not sure if you could get the same effect by putting vaseline or similar up your nose!

My FIL swears by eating local honey to help his hayfever.

PortAndLemon · 22/05/2008 18:19

See the Breastfeeding Network factsheet (one of their generally fab series on various drugs and breastfeeding).

mellyonion · 22/05/2008 18:21

i was prescribed opticrom for my eyes. and a nasal spray...beconase (or something!!)
had to visit the doc though...no one would sell me anything over the counter....

good luck!

crochetdiva · 22/05/2008 18:24

Thank you for that info - I am now armed with the factsheet, and shall go in search ... and will try the balm ... (or maybe some vaseline )

How local does local honey have to be, do you think?

OP posts:
PortAndLemon · 22/05/2008 18:27

I think I've had good results with just English -- more local the better, I suppose, though. I think for full effect you need to start earlier in the year, though.

TinkerbellesMum · 22/05/2008 19:35

I've just been told local honey is good for hayfever. Health food shop type stuff, has to be as local as possible. Just seen that's already come up. Yes it has to be as local as possible.

According to my trainer most drugs are safe for BF'ing, it's mainly to cover themselves to say not to take them.

beautifuldays · 22/05/2008 19:38

i am breastfeeding and i take benadryl (acrivistine), get it on prescription from gp, it's fine

mrsleroyjethrogibbs · 22/05/2008 19:45

can i just second that haymax stuff. it works a treat.
i also saw my homeopath who advised me that because I had taken the pill from an early age - one of the side effects of the pill is and increased suseptbility to hayfever- that she could help my symptoms.
this year touch wood, i have not had any symptoms at all. wherease before I was totally reliant on beconase to see me through from about april

katiemc · 22/05/2008 19:52

beconase spray fine when bf. I was told by GP and a bf advisor I really trust that because it is so local the amount that gets through to milk is miniscule and it doesn't harm baby anyway. I would never have survived visits to BIL's house with many cats without it!

callmeovercautious · 22/05/2008 19:56

Gp prescribed me beconase. Pharmasist was a bit iffy about reccommending anything - told me to see GP.

crochetdiva · 22/05/2008 20:08

This is all really helpful, thanks!

I already take beconase for asthma (as well as the rest of a potent cocktail) - but am finding it's not really helping the hayfever ... I shall try to track down the haymax stuff - do any shops sell it, or is it mail order only?

Need to find a local honey producer now - I live near Cardiff - does anybody know how I can find a local one?

OP posts:
foxythesnowfox · 22/05/2008 20:11

I asked the pharmacist the very same question only yesterday. She suggested a saline nasal spray, and perhaps a smear of vaseline under your nose.

There is one you can try, begins with L, but I can't remember the name. Helpful of me, huh?

andiem · 22/05/2008 20:14

loratidine is ok I found this link here

barking · 22/05/2008 20:26

I've pasted my recommendations from another thread I posted on last week
medinose has completely cured me, it works using red light waves to densitise the nasal membranes. You are supposed to use it twice a day, but after a couple of weeks last summer I used it once every two days. it may be worth shopping around - they do have a money back guarantee or look at the Lloyds pharmacy version.
Other things that may help:

buy a plant spray from the garden centre/diy shop, fill with water, put onto a fine mist setting and spray over yourself, his clothes, the furniture, around the windows, pets etc.
you don't get hayfever when it rains, it helps to make the air as damp as possible.

Another thought is have you heard of neti pots?
Its washing the nose out with very warm water and a little salt. This washes out the pollen.
nasopure is the most poweful one.

If you don't like the look of these you could go to your local chemist and ask for sterimar

Coat inside of nostrils and eyelashes with vasaline or balm as this helps trap the pollen

failing all of the above have a shower including hair wash and change clothes

I'm a bit of a hayfever bore having suffered for nearly 25 years, my ds2 has got it now so I'm really into doing this naturally and find all of the above work better than any conventional medicine including all the tablets, sprays, steriod injections. I've also tried acupuncture which worked for one year and not the next, homeopathy and very local honey (both used before the season started) both were a waste of money.
Best of luck, I know how debilitating it is, I even wore a dust mask one year as I couldn't sneeze and drive at the same time!

crochetdiva · 22/05/2008 20:29

Thank you for that advice - much appreciated!

OP posts:
barking · 22/05/2008 21:01

that's ok
I've been pregnant or bf for the last 9 years so I ended up trying every natural thing going

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