BF with cold/flu?

[nicm]

hi

i have been ill for the last few days and it seems that yesterday and especially last night i am having problems feeding ds. can't seem to get a let down at all and he is getting really frustrated-he is 10 months and we normally don't have any problems.

is it normal that if i'm feeling yuk that this will affect my supply?

have been drinking water and trying to rest, as much as i can running after him, although my mum has taken him for a few days during the day.

have been taking cocodamol or ibuprofen for the pain.

please help as i don't want to stop just yet.

The cold shouldn't interfere with your supply, but I'm not sure about the meds - I always avoid anything other than paracetamol just in case. Have you taken anything containing decongestants, as these can dry up your supply?

no haven't taken anything else. have sore ears, throat and glands and feel all 'flu like'. feel bad for ds though. is there anyhting else that will boost my supply? am eating oatmeal cookie too as i heard that oatmeal boosts supply! that's my excuse anyway!

I don't think you should be taking cocodamol or ibuprofen. I think you can take paracetamol though. I'm not an expert, but am also bf a 10mo atm. I would think drinking water was a good thing.

Here's a list of what you can take for colds while bfing. I wouldn't have thought your supply would be majorly affected by a cold. Maybe he's feeling a bit off too and that's what's causing the fussiness?

I'm on Co-Dydramol for my back, I have been told "It's not pain relief, it's medication" ie I have to take it all the time, four times a day every day. I have had far more milk this time than I had with Tink so I'm sure the lesser dose of Co-Codamol will not affect your supply.

Ibuprofen:

Summary of Use during Lactation:
Because of its extremely low levels in breastmilk, short half-life and use in infants in doses much higher than those excreted in breastmilk, ibuprofen is a preferred choice as an analgesic or antiinflammatory agent in nursing mothers.

(from LactMed)

LactMed says codeine is compatible with breastfeeding.

Are you sure you don't have the flu or something more than a cold? Might be worth you getting checked out with the doctor as you sound really rough. Hope you feel better soon.

thank you. the list on the link also suggests that ds might be feeling a bit under the weather too. think he might have sore ears and sore throat. poor wee man. thanks for the replies.

thanks TinkerBellesMumandFiFi2 as well. didn't see your post until just now. hate running to the doctors-feel like i'm wasting their time as they always say just to take painkillers and there is nothing they can give you or don't like to give you as you're bfing! will maybe go on monday if i still don't feel better.

If you have to take painkillers for more than three days you should get it checked it out.

I've had a chest infection this last week and I found the best thing was to just take Fifi to bed and not get up. She could lie on my bear chest (maybe just next to you with a ten month old lol) which helped my supply and we could just sleep and feed when she needed to.

Good idea about the 2 of you taking to your bed! Probably the best place for both recovering, and for encouraging your supply.

will do. was wondering if this could be part of the problem. my mum, mil and dp have all taken ds so that i can rest but as he's away obviously he can't feed on demand which he and i are used to. we co-sleep though so this should help but i just found that last night i felt no let down which normally stings like mad. it happened this morning but last night after lots of freaking he just put his soother in and cuddled close.