BF moms- medicine

NatesLady1309 · December 2012

I feel like crap today. I think I'm coming down with something and DD is already sick (stuffy/runny nose and dry cough). My body is in that general achy state and I slept terribly last night. I want to take something so I can get some relief and sleep tonight. But I HATE taking any sort of medicine since I am BFing because I don't like to think about it being passed on to her when she doesn't need it and I don't know how it affects her. I have somehow managed to take zero medicines that I can remember since having her for this reason, but this time it's really kicking my butt. I definitely do not have enough pumped milk to use so that's not an option, pumping is no longer very productive for me at all. I remember my OB's office being very relaxed about what you could take while pregnant (and I assume it would be the same while BFing), I remember calling them about it once. It kind of freaked me out. Is something like Advil PM OK to take or should I just tough it out?

Sept07b2b · December 2012

I would stay away from a decongestant, since it can wreak havoc on your supply (dries up mucous, but dries up everything else too - including milk), and I'm pretty sure Advil and Tylenol are totally fine. Stay away from asprin or anything with asprin.

Benadryl is fine, and is actually what I would take at night when I had a really bad cold because it would help me sleep. The active ingredient in Benadryl is diphenhydramine, which is actually the same ingredient in Advil PM, so Advil PM is ok.

I would also stay away from Nyquil or anything that has alcohol in it.