Safe Cold Medicine

Gabrielle - posted on 04/07/2009

When in doubt, ask your OB-GYN and your pharmacist!

Brooke - posted on 04/06/2009

Do not take Tylenol, it contains Acetaminophen which you should not take while breastfeeding.

Acetaminphen is for when you are pregnant.

Ibuprofren is ok if you need a painkiller, but the safest methods are natural.

ie. a nice hot shower or bath with lots of steam, which is good for your sinuses and aches and pains. If you are stuffy, try a netipot as suggested or try "Olbus", its an eucalyptus oil which you put into a pot of boiling water and inhale the vapors. It burns your nose like heck but it works and no effects on milk or baby, just keep your eyes closed.

Best thing for a sore throat and in general is ginger, lemon and honey tea. the ginger needs to be boiled for 1/2 hour in order to release the effective ingredients as it has a thick cellular structure. The lemon will cut dowm on mucus production (it's great to start your day with a glass of water and a tablespoon on lemon juice). Honey has incredible healing properties which was used even by the egyptians, and now modern science is discovering it's great on open wounds and all sorts of things. If you like the taste of it, try sucking on a spoonful of granular honey, it does wonders for the throat.

echinacea is containdicted while pregnant or breastfeeding so avoid any "Natural healing products that contain it - ie. check any immune boosting vitamins and medications.

Best of all...Vitamin C! and lots of it! Orange juice!

also cayenne peper will kick you immune system into overdrive as long as your baby doesn't react to you eating spicy foods. (you can get it in pill form)

and last but not least, Keep up your liquids (2 liters per day) and...

Sleep! Your body can't repair itself unless you are resting so sleep whenever your little one does and if you can get some help, take a nap while they play!

best of all, it will end...eventually!

Wendy - posted on 04/06/2009

As a pharmacist, there are several questions I would also ask to determine what is safe (allergies, health conditions, other medications). As the previous poster mentioned saline nasal sprays and nasal decongestants (for a max of 3 to 5 days of use) are safe. Sinucleanse and other similar nasal irrigation products help with congestion as well and are safe. Throat lozenges are safe. Tylenol and ibuprofen are unlikely to affect the milk supply or harm the infant and can help with aches, fever, and sore throat. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine (oral decongestants) may decrease the milk supply so I would avoid them. Also, I generally do not recommend guaifenesin (to loosen congestion) or dextromethorphan (cough suppressant) because there is very little data to support their effectiveness. Again, it is a good idea to double check with your health care provider because all medications have contraindications and drug interactions that should be reviewed.

Kelly - posted on 04/06/2009

I would ask your doc before any cold meds (or a midwife or community nurse). I tried a nasal spray for a nasty sinus cold I had this winter and it dried up my milk. It did not effect the baby medically but I spent a week getting my milk supply back up to normal. It was hell for my baby. Anything with a seditive to help you sleep will affect baby so be careful - they hide in many things. Also tell the pharmacist your breastfeeding to double check what you're getting is safe.

Rose - posted on 04/06/2009

I breast fed all three of my boys.  Tylenol Cold is a good one. 

Nicole - posted on 04/06/2009

You can use a saline nasal wash or netipot, they work really well and no danger of any drugs getting to baby.  You can also use afrin nasal spray, regular strength but I would only use it following feedings and for a maxiumum of 3 days or it will cause rebound congestion.