Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding has some features, in contrast to the common cold, which manifests itself in ordinary women. The lactation process is considered to be very universal and rather complex in relation to its formation mechanism. The difficulty in treating acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding is the need for careful selection of medications that will not adversely affect the baby's body. You can learn about the specifics of therapy, as well as the features of the course of the disease, methods of protecting the baby from infection, from our article.
Should I refuse breastfeeding?
Many mothers are wondering if it is necessary to refuse to breastfeed if they have a cold. It should be noted that babies under the age of six months very rarely suffer from SARS. This is because in the womb they received special antibodies that protect them from the virus. They also continue to enter the child's body during feeding. Therefore, if the mother refuses to breastfeed, then this will deprive her baby of natural protection.
How does the disease progress?
The increased load on the respiratory system of a nursing mother causes a high vulnerability to a viral infection that is transmitted by airborne droplets. As for the SARS itself, this ailment does not pose a particular danger to a nursing woman, but significant harm can be inflicted on the baby’s body. The course of acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding, the treatment of which we will examine below, is usually divided into three periods, which include:
- The virus enters the body of the mother. From the moment it enters the body, as well as until the appearance of the first signs, an average of about three days pass. Further symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, and a runny nose.
- The immune response. As a rule, this period begins three days after the manifestation of the characteristic symptoms of the disease. The immune response is characterized by increased production of interferons, which are responsible for the elimination of the virus.
- Full recovery. The recovery period for all people will be individual. On average, it takes about 10 days since the first symptoms of SARS appeared. In the absence of an improvement in well-being, we can safely talk about the appearance of complications of this viral infection.
Treatment of acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding
The technique for treating this disease in women during breastfeeding should be selected individually by a strictly treating specialist. The reason for seeking medical advice is a persistent increase in temperature, which does not subside for more than 3 days, as well as a general deterioration. After this, the specialist will tell you how to treat acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding. However, therapy should be comprehensive. To achieve a speedy recovery, it will not be enough to use only the prescribed drugs for acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding. A woman should adhere to other expert advice, which are as follows:
- Bed rest. Permanent rest is considered a prerequisite for the successful treatment of a viral disease, regardless of the severity of the course. If you do not observe bed rest with ARVI in the mother during breastfeeding, then this will only aggravate the general condition, and also significantly extend the period of the disease.
- Drinking regimen. The intake of fluid will stimulate the process of cleansing the sick body from the virus. In addition, drinking regimen will contribute to lowering body temperature, as well as improving overall well-being. In addition to the medicines for ARVI for breastfeeding prescribed by the doctor, you should also use warm tea, berry fruit juice, fruit compote, which contain vitamin C.
- Diet. Please note that eating with this disease should not be forced. If a woman has an ARVI during breastfeeding, then it is necessary to eat food when it wants to. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is recommended to eat light foods, for example, chicken stock.
Medicines
And now let's look at drugs for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding. Please note that all these medications should be used only after consulting with your doctor, otherwise unpleasant consequences can occur not only in the mother, but also in the baby, since all the substances that are contained in the tablets come to him into the body through milk.
Antiviral agent
How to be treated for acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding with antiviral drugs? Many people are faced with a difficult choice, since currently there are a huge number of antiviral drugs available on the shelves of pharmacies. During breastfeeding, it is forbidden to categorically use the following funds: "Arbidol", "Remantadin", "Ribavirin".
The use of such drugs as Aflubin and Anaferon will not give the necessary result, because these drugs are considered homeopathic and have increased allergic activity.
The best option for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in nursing mothers will be those products that are made on the basis of recombinant human alpha interferon. To this group of substances it is customary to attribute the preparations "Grippferon", "Viferon". The multiplicity and dosage of taking these medications should be determined only by your doctor.
Rhinitis treatment
To relieve swelling of the mucous membrane in the nasal passages, as well as normalize nasal breathing, special sprays and drops are used, which in their composition have a vasoconstrictor component. The use of such drops is considered harmless to both the mother and the baby. Among the most common means of this action are:
- "Naftizin", "Sanorin." The active ingredient in these drugs is the substance naphazoline, which has a very short duration of action.
- Galazolin, Otrivin, Xymelin. The main active ingredient in these drugs is xylometazoline, which has an average duration of decongestant exposure.
- "Knoxpray", "Nazol". The active ingredient in these drugs is oxymetazoline. This substance is characterized by a long period of active exposure, and is also able to maintain it for about 12 hours.
Antipyretic drugs
The use of antipyretic drugs is advisable in case of an increase in body temperature above 38 degrees. The lowest rates are considered an adequate response of the human body to a cold virus, therefore, they do not require any medical intervention. Women while feeding the baby are recommended to use those antipyretic drugs, which include paracetamol or ibuprofen.
The use of these funds is considered safe if the condition of admission is met. Medications of combined action, for example, Teraflu or Flukold, in their composition have additional components that can affect the children's body very unpredictably.
The use of antipyretic drugs is allowed only at the dosage recommended by the attending physician.
Sore throat
To cure signs of inflammation of the oropharynx, it is recommended to use drugs for local use. For nursing women, the most safe options are rinse solutions, which in their composition contain antiseptic components. Solutions "Hexoral", "Chlorhexidine", as well as "Iodinol" have the most pronounced effect.
At home, you can also make a gargle yourself. To do this, dissolve one teaspoon of table or sea salt in one glass of boiled warm water, add three drops of iodine there. Ready solution to gargle 4 times a day.
To relieve pain, experts recommend dissolving special lozenges, for example, Strepsils or Sebidin. Another very safe method of treating sore throat is irrigation of the oropharynx with special antiseptic sprays, for example, such as "Cameton", "Chlorophyllipt", "Camphomen".
Before using any drug, be sure to consult your doctor. The fact is that self-medication can cause the development of the most unpredictable complications for the health of the child and mother.
Traditional medicine recipes
Many mothers who breastfeed their babies do not want to use pharmacy drugs for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections, but a viral disease provokes poor health. How to relieve symptoms in this case? For this, you can use therapy with folk remedies. As inhalations, decoctions made on the basis of chamomile and calendula can be used. But pay attention to the fact that in no case should inhalation be carried out if the nursing mother has a fever.
The use of herbal teas and decoctions allows you to not interrupt breastfeeding. Specialists give the following recommendations for the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections in nursing mothers at home using alternative methods:
- Be sure to use herbal decoctions. Licorice, sage, St. John's wort are able to thin out sputum, soften the throat, and also have an excellent expectorant effect.
- A universal antibacterial agent is natural honey. Before using it for therapy, you should make sure that there is no allergic reaction to beekeeping products. Butter, boiled milk, a teaspoon of natural honey and a pinch of soda will be an effective remedy for sore throat and dry cough.
- Use essential oils for inhalation. It will be especially useful to breathe steam, where there are notes of juniper and eucalyptus.
- A good general strengthening effect is distinguished by garlic.
- To bring down the heat, you can use raspberry jam.
- Cough is a very effective tea with the addition of viburnum.
Before choosing traditional medicine recipes for ARVI therapy, be sure to ask your doctor for recommendations, as there may be contraindications to the use of such methods.
Prevention of the baby from the common cold virus
SARS is a common condition characterized by the entry of pathogens into the human body, that is, adenoviruses, as a result of which swelling of the nasal mucosa begins to develop, a sore throat, general weakness, malaise, and body temperature also rise.
SARS during breastfeeding in a woman is considered a significant problem, which is explained by a high risk of infecting a baby. In this case, there is no single panacea to protect the baby, but any nursing mother can use a number of measures for this purpose that can reduce the risk of possible infection. Such precautions for a baby from SARS during breastfeeding should include:
- In no case should you stop breast-feeding. This condition is mandatory, because together with breast milk, immunoglobulins enter the baby's body, which form the immune system, and also are a barrier to infection.
- Regular hand washing. The fact is that the spread of infection can occur not only by airborne droplets, but also by contact. Particles of nasal mucus can pass into the hands of a nursing mother through a handkerchief. These secretions contain a huge number of pathogens ARVI. An important condition for the prevention of infection with this disease is the obligatory washing of hands before contacting a child.
- The use of a protective mask. Using a protective cellulose or gauze dressing will not give a one hundred percent chance of protecting your baby from infection, but this method can significantly help reduce the concentration of the virus in the surrounding air.
- With the development of acute respiratory viral infections in mother with breastfeeding, the general condition can worsen significantly. As a rule, this is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, weakness, increased drowsiness. In such situations, women should involve their loved ones as well as relatives in the process of caring for the child, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
Conclusion
So, we have examined the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory viral infections during breastfeeding. Quite often, the fair sex, sick with SARS, are afraid that their children will become infected if they are breast-fed. However, you should pay attention to the fact that the chance to infect a baby is extremely small, on the contrary, milk only increases the immune forces of the child's body. In conclusion, it is worth noting once again that the use of any medications should be carried out only after the appointment of a doctor.