Breastfeeding/Pumping and allergy medication...

Jennifer - posted on 11/02/2010

as anna said, the best way to produce more milk is to help your baby learn how to latch on. pumps don't effectively get the milk out as well as baby can so not only does it look like you're producing less milk than you actually are but it isn't stimulating your breasts enough to produce more. please get in contact with your local la leche league!

my best tip is to put your baby to breast a LOT. even if you don't think he's hungry, let him nurse,let him use you as a pacifier. if you can, walk around the house topless and do plenty of skin to skin contact...skin to skin will encourage him to nurse and it will also tell your body to produce more milk.

Neva - posted on 11/02/2010

Claritin (loratidine) is safe for breast feeding and is over the counter. Just one 10mg tablet at bedtime. It is non drowsy. Also make sure that you eat good lean protein at every meal, drink fluids every time you breast feed to increase your supply. The herb fenugreek also helps to stimulate milk production, but you need to check with your doctor to make sure you are not allergic to the herb.

Anna - posted on 11/02/2010

Are you nursing? Nursing will make the milk come better than pumping. Keep trying! The more you pump or nurse the more you should produce. Good luck!

Amber - posted on 11/02/2010

Thanks everybody! And so far I'm still not producing much. :( I've gotten an ounce, maybe, in 2 days. *sigh* I'll keep trying though, right now I have him on formula until I can, hopefully, produce more. Also thanks for the links Jennifer, I will be looking through them in just a bit. ^_^

Catherine - posted on 11/01/2010

Benadryl is safe; however, I was given different advice than Anna about Claritin. The pediatrician told me that Claritin was the medicine of choice for breastfeeding mothers, but you should avoid Claritin-D (it's the added ingredient in that which causes supply issues). Good luck; I hope breastfeeding works out for you this time.

Anna - posted on 11/01/2010

You can take benadryl, you don't want to take claritin because meds like that will dry your milk up. I have been advised to take benadryl. But if you have troubles staying awake have someone stay with you to help care for your baby. Congrats on the baby!

Kate CP - posted on 11/01/2010

Benadryl can also dry up your milk supply.

Jennifer - posted on 11/01/2010

check out this link...

http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/cold...



and fyi : your milk taking 5 days to come in is completely normal. usually it will take between 3 and 5 days. a baby is able to survive on the colostrum until the milk comes in, but you may be nursing around the clock to keep her satisfied. this is normal and safe. now that your milk has come in, get in contact with a lactation consultant to work out any possible latch issues because even though she's already had bottles, you don't have to give up on nursing straight from the breast it just may take a little more work.



and find your local la leche league and you can talk to a leader for any help you might need...

http://www.llli.org/



and check out the breastfeeding moms community here on CoM...the ladies there are wonderful and have tons of experience to help

http://www.circleofmoms.com/breastfeedin...



good luck!

Alison - posted on 11/01/2010

I really don't know the answer, but would suggest you speak to a pharmacist. You should be able to get advice over the phone and often a pharmacy can deliver in the case that the pharmacist suggests a different allergy medication.