Breastfeeding and poorly. What can I take?

[scarlipop]

As the title suggests, I ebf my 13wo baby. She refuses to accept a bottle so no rest for the wicked there. I have had a sore throat for a while now and it just isn't going away. I know it's because I'm tired out and run down. What can I take?

[alw1986]

I’m in the same boat as you with my nearly 10 week old, had a really sore throat & swollen gland for ages and told I can only take paracetamol & ibuprofen. The Dr suggested home remedies have you tried hot water & lemon? Try a little honey too & gargling warm water should help too

Get well soon xoxo

[scarlipop in reply to alw1986]

Oh dear, that's rubbish! I worried it'd be low key stuff we could take. I got awful sinusitis when I was pregnant and it laid me off work for a week 😳 that started with just an ordinary cold I couldn't really take anything for so I worry about it getting worse and worse! I'll keep up with the paracetamol and ibuprofen then 🙁 may give hot honey and lemon another shot now - when I was pregnant I couldn't keep it down!! Hope you feel better soon too ☺️ xx

[alw1986 in reply to scarlipop]

Just read one of your other replies! The house work can wait!! The key is for you & your little one, both my kids had reflux (which is the worst!) so I know exactly how the juggling act must be going for you! Like you said sleep is the key to feeling better so try and focus on that and the house work can wait. Make sure you’re eating enough as well as your body will struggle to fight it off if you aren’t eating enough ❤️

[roxannacar]

Realistically apart from the things mentioned by alw1986 there isn't much else. Also probably not much that will

Improve your sore throat anyways. Maybe see if you can get someone to help

You out for a few days, catch up

On sleep and get some nice long baths just to help you get back into spirits

[scarlipop in reply to roxannacar]

It's definitely the simple things like having time to take a nice hot shower that count!! I find that I'm running around all day long trying to keep baby happy (not at all an easy feat as she has awful reflux) and run a house. A little extra help would be great, I have to wait for Sundays for that though as family are busy with work 😕 I know it'll pass, I guess I'm just feeling exhausted atm xx

[roxannacar in reply to scarlipop]

It happens. Can ur partner take a few days off maybe? Also don't be too hard on yourself... If cleaning the house doesn't happen then it doesn't. My achievement when my first was v young used to be to have a shower! 😖

[misswinky34]

hi, you can't take flu stuff for two reasons, small amount passes through milk, and the active ingredient dries up the fluid in your body, stops the runny nose and mucus etc, but that affects your milk supply. I learnt this the hard way after taking lemsip for two days with my first pregnancy. Same reason you can't take anti histamine. I know its easier said than done but rest is key to getting better. Grab ten minutes any chance you can get ☺

[Dad101]

Firstly if its a virus there is nothing you can do except eat well, take paracetamol and rest as much as you can. If it's an infection you can take antibiotics with no fear of harm to the baby. As for your feelings of not doing it well. That's simply not true, breast feeding isn't easy and while it's a completely natural thing, that doesn't mean it comes naturally! A new baby is a real gear change in your life but if your consistent with routines it will soon be plain sailing!

[Mummydtobeagain]

Hi Hun I've been waiting beer the weather too with my 3 month nth old, but I've took boots own brand glycerin honey and lemon

Linctus which is fine during pregnancy and breastfeeding x hope

This helps x double check bottle it hasn't changed since I bought it

[Mummydtobeagain in reply to Mummydtobeagain]

Dunno where beer came from

But was holding baby while sending first msg haha

[emmab178]

Because they say only take paracetamol pregnant and I had a horrid cold where I was so bunged up that I just felt constant pressure like my head was in a vice.

I used tiger balm in some boiling hot water and head over that inhaling it in with a towel on the head. If you haven’t got that vicks is also a menthol product that would work.

I also tried to be propped up in bed at night a bit to try and let things drain away. Long hot showers aswell eases things up a bit.

Hope you feel better soon x

[claire16c]

You can take the ibuprofen and paracetomol and tbh there isn’t much else for a sore throat anyway. Throat sweets are fine.

There are many medications you can take when bf. Just google bfn drugs in breast milk factsheets. And also the drugs in breast milk Facebook page, you can message them for a reply.

They have a pharmacist who specialises in this. Many women will get told for example they can’t take anti histamines for hayfever but that’s not true. The fact sheets lists all the ones you can take. They have loads of information on the website about this subject x