Dealing with a cold

laoch101

So yeah I'm sick! Stupid cold. Not only to colds suck when your not breastfeeding, it's even worse when you are.

I know I can't take decongestants but is there anything else I can take? Ive got the normal sore throat, stuffy nose and headache.

My DD has just a little runny nose and so far seems fine.

I have noticed a difference in my supply though. Shes  showing more of the I'm fussy cause I'm hungry signs. She 10 wks so I've know when she's hungry.  

ncbelle

Pound the water - that's good for kicking the cold and for your supply.

There are some other ideas here:  https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/cold-remedy/ 

jennyelf

I've got a cold too and I agree it sucks more when breastfeeding, especially since you can't just sleep for 12 hours straight to kill it off as you have to wake every 3-4 hours to pump or feed regardless. 

 

Anyway, sudafed is ok, but may reduce your milk supply according to my doctor and most research I've done. My doctor also recommended a neti pot which I tried for the first time last night. It felt really weird, but it did help with the congestion and I slept without feeling stuffy. Tylenol is also ok for the headache and such. Salt water gargle for the sore throat might help. 

 

Good luck. This cold sucks! LO already got sick and is better now, took him only a few days to recover and he never really seemed that sick. It's taking me so much longer than I'm used to to recover from this cold. 

Jenny952

I have a cold right now too, the 3rd one I've had since DD was born.  Ugh, it sucks but I have noticed that my cold gets better a lot more quickly.  I'm not sure if it's the BF.  You can take Suda.fed but you have to take the real stuff, like the stuff you get at the pharmacy counter and sign for, I think it's pseudoepedrine.  I do take that at night right after I nurse DD down for the night.  That way I can take all night to make milk for her morning waking.  And last time I was sick, I got a bottle ready so DH could feed her in the middle of the night. 

Drink tons of liquids, take a long steamy shower.  If you need help at night, use breathe-rights and a put a little bit of vapo-rub under your nose.  I also did a saline nose rinse using one of those blue syringe bulbs from the hospital.  Put 1/2 tsp of salt into 1 cup of warm water and squirt it up your nose.  Totallly gross but it really helps.  You can take tylenol during the day if you have a headache or sinus aches. 

Oh and make sure you keep nursing the baby.  You'll give her lots of antibodies that will help her fight off the cold virus so hopefully you won't pass it to her.