Most drugs are prohibited for use during lactation. Almost all drugs are able to pass into breast milk. If some do not bring any harm to the baby, then others can be very dangerous. When a nursing woman falls ill, she must see a doctor. Only a doctor can soberly assess all the risks for the baby and the expected benefits for the mother. In accordance with them, therapy is selected.
Runny nose and nasal congestion are a common symptom of many infectious diseases. A woman during lactation should not be ignored. After all, if you do not cure a runny nose, then it can cause complications: sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis. All these pathologies will require more serious medications, and a woman will have to minimize lactation. Do you want to know how to cure a runny nose during breastfeeding (with mom)? Then the doctor’s advice presented in the article will be useful to you.
Organize the right and comfortable conditions: doctor's advice
How should a cold run for breastfeeding? Komarovsky (a popular children's doctor) in his programs talks about the importance of creating a comfortable environment. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the room in which the mother and baby are. If weather permits, you need to walk as often as possible. A runny nose is not a contraindication to air procedures if a woman has no other unpleasant symptoms, such as temperature.
The doctor advises to regularly clean the nasal passages, but this must be done alternately. First, one nostril is clamped and the other is cleansed, after which the actions occur on the contrary. If mommy blows her nose incorrectly, then she may have otitis media. Doctors recommend nursing women to drink a lot. Treatment for the common cold during breastfeeding involves an increase in fluid intake. You can not eat, but you need to drink a lot. It is water that will help cleanse the body of toxins and pathogens.
Flush the nasal mucosa
If a woman suddenly has a runny nose (while breastfeeding), how to treat it? The safest are the following nasal preparations: Aquamaris, Rinostop, Physiomer, Dolphin, Rinostop and so on. They contain a sterile isotonic solution of sea or ocean water. These medicines do not cause a negative effect, even if swallowed. You can apply them an unlimited number of times a day.
Saline solutions are designed to cleanse the nasal passages, soften existing crusts, eliminate congestion and itching, and moisturize. If you purchase a product with a spray, then it will be convenient to use it: follow the instructions on the package. Also, a saline solution can be prepared independently by adding salt and a little soda to drinking water. It is permissible to use a solution of sodium chloride.
Use immunomodulators
If a runny nose has just begun during breastfeeding, than to treat it so as not to get sick more? For the first symptoms of a cold, use approved immunomodulators and antiviral agents. These include "Grippferon", "Genferon", "Nazoferon", "Derinat" and others. All of them contribute to increasing one's own immunity and strengthening the body's resistance. Drugs are not addictive. Even if they get to the baby, nothing bad will happen. All medicines are acceptable for use from the first days of life. Some doctors advise during the cold in the mother to carry out prophylaxis for the baby. For this purpose, these drugs are prescribed to the baby.
Treatment for the common cold during breastfeeding will be more effective the sooner you start using the medicine. Therefore, do not wait until it gets worse. Use antiviral medications that are allowed during lactation, at the first symptoms.
Impossible to breathe? Apply vasoconstrictor drugs
Often, a runny nose is accompanied by a stuffy nose. Edema occurs due to the expansion of blood vessels. Is there any way to help the patient in this case? Yes, there are vasoconstrictor drugs that are allowed during lactation. Doctors advise choosing medications that do not contain preservatives. Such drugs are not stored for long (usually up to three months after opening), but they are safer.
Vasoconstrictor drugs can be selected based on xylometazoline, oxymetazoline or naphazoline. Their trade names are “Nazivin”, “Otrivin”, “Nazol”, “Sanorin”, “Naftizin”. You can not combine several drugs at once. Please note that many medicines with vasoconstrictor action are available in children and adults. Give preference to the first. Most likely, drugs in low concentrations will help you no worse than adult drugs, but they will get into the baby’s body with breast milk in a smaller amount. Doctors advise against using such products for more than three days. Otherwise, addiction may develop.
When are antibiotics needed?
Treatment of the common cold during breastfeeding sometimes requires the use of antibacterial drugs. Most often they are necessary when it comes to sinusitis, bacterial sinusitis and rhinitis, as well as complications: bronchitis, tonsillitis, otitis media. Antibiotic drugs can be prescribed in various forms. The safest means are considered for topical application. Doctors prescribe lactating women Isofra, Polydex, tampons with Levomekol and other antimicrobial compounds.
Less commonly, antibiotics for colds are given orally: drugs based on amoxicillin or azithromycin. A nursing woman needs to know that they inevitably pass into breast milk. But doctors still do not recommend stopping lactation.
Allergic rhinitis
Is treatment for allergic rhinitis acceptable for breastfeeding? If a woman is tormented by congestion, excessive secretion of nasal mucus, sneezing, itching, lacrimation, then we are talking about an allergic reaction. It is impossible to be treated independently in this case. It is necessary to visit a doctor and follow his recommendations.
Most antihistamines are not recommended for use during breastfeeding. But if a woman’s condition worsens, then they can’t do without them. Steroid preparations and second-generation antihistamines are usually used. Among them, one can distinguish Zirtek, Tsetrin, Claritin. For nasal use, Avamys, Nazonex are prescribed. In mild cases, “Vibrocil” is prescribed, but it cannot be used for more than one week without a break.
Treatment of the common cold during breastfeeding with folk remedies
If the patient is afraid to use drugs, then she can do with grandmother's recipes. But this does not save her from going to the doctor. Acceptance of any alternative drugs should also be agreed with the doctor. If you suffer from a runny nose while breastfeeding, the treatment for your mother may be as follows:
- Chamomile and eucalyptus (nasal passages are washed with broths). Chamomile eliminates pathogens, and eucalyptus makes breathing easier.
- Onions and garlic are powerful natural antibiotics. Drops based on these components will not only eliminate the pathogenic flora, but also enhance immunity.
- Honey is a good way to relieve cold symptoms. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and increases resistance. Be aware of possible allergies.
- Aloe promotes rapid cleansing of the nasal passages and has an antimicrobial effect. Also an allergen.
If you think that treating a runny nose (while breastfeeding) with folk remedies will be safer, then you will have to disappoint. Many natural substances cause allergies. In babies, it often proceeds in a severe form (with edema). Therefore, think several times before self-medicating.
Should I Stop Lactation?
What should I do if mom starts to have a runny nose while breastfeeding? How not to infect a child? Should lactation be interrupted? What do doctors say about this?
The advice of doctors agree on one thing: you can not stop breastfeeding. The milk of a woman contains essential antibodies. During colds, the mother’s body fights infection, producing them in large volumes. Antibodies, getting to the child, protect him. Even if you have to use medicines, it's okay. Be sure to ensure that the baby feels well during treatment. Continue lactation as usual.
Finally
From the article you were able to find out how the treatment of the common cold is made. When breastfeeding, it is allowed to use far from all drugs. Therefore, put all the usual means away. Go to the doctor and find out what medicines are allowed to you. When appointing a doctor, he always takes into account the individual characteristics of the child you are feeding: age, weight, likelihood of allergies, a history of illness. Remember: self-medication is contraindicated for a nursing mother! I wish you good health!