Pity the Sick Mother
I don’t know if La Leche League gives out a “breastfeeding mother of the month award,” but if they did, I wouldn’t be in the running.
In my search for cold remedies, I didn’t find anything that I could be completely certain wouldn’t be absorbed into my milk. I decided I would just drink plenty of liquids, get more rest (yeah, that didn’t happen), and try to ride this little illness out.
While the kids are getting better and better every day, I am much, much worse. Yesterday, a strange pain in my sinuses started very suddenly. I felt faint and thought that for everyone’s safety I shouldn’t drive to pick up my son at kindergarten. I called my husband home and, after he picked up our son, it was off to the doctor.
There is nothing, the doctor told me, that won’t be absorbed in breast milk. Some substances are absorbed less than other substances and some substances are less potentially harmful than others. Remember when I mentioned the possibility of herb allergies? An unknown allergy to prescription drugs could trigger a more severe reaction. Still, my doctor believed it was better for me to take something than to suffer and let my parenting suffer as a result.
Here are the steps my doctor took to ensure that the medication would affect my breast milk least:
1. Instead of taking a cough supressant syrup, I take a cough suppressant that is diluted in water. It still works, but it helps to ensure that I am taking the minimum therapeutic dose (the least amount that can still be effective). This is taken only at night to help me sleep.
2. Gargle, gargle, gargle. I have two different herbal preparations (one is primarily thyme extract, the other peppermint and menthol) to help loosen mucous. The term “herbal” is a bit of a misnomer. While both are primarily composed of herbs, they also contain mild muscle relaxers and pain killers. Still, these are safer than other preparations because they aren’t swallowed.
3. For pain and fever relief, paracetamol (better known as acetominophen or Tylenol in North America), is less absorbed in breast milk if it’s taken as a suppository rather than in tablet or liquid form.
I still feel guilty for giving my baby milk that’s come into contact with my medication, but I do know I need to get better and fast. Sick mother’s make mistakes. I have already left a pot on the stove to burn, forgotten to bring an important document to an appointment, and, I am sure, a bunch of other things I haven’t even remembered that I have forgotten.
Not to mention the mistake that IS that last sentence.
Tags: cold-medicine-and-breast-feeding, cold-remedies-for-nursing-mothersRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Breastfeeding
7 opinions for Pity the Sick Mother
Jill (far_gone)
Apr 11, 2006 at 8:20 am
I used to have this wonderful stuff - it was a honey infused with eucalyptus. I don’t mean a little, it was strong. I would boil water and add a Tbsp or two of this honey to a cup and it felt so good everywhere.
Unfortunately, I bought it in a market in Italy and I’ve never seen it anywhere else…
sarah
Apr 11, 2006 at 9:13 am
My lord - take stuff and get better! When you think of all the things they give you in the hospital - I am sure that some motrin or tylenol(by mouth - you poor thing having to take a suppository!) or even a little codeine in the cough syrup is the same as the mildest pain reliever you take in the hospital too pregnant or just delivered!
You will be a better Mom healthy and rested!
kbaggott
Apr 11, 2006 at 9:57 am
Jill, what is the Italian name of that stuff? I will search for it online.
And Sarah, of course you are right. I think one of the gargle preps has codiene in it and I really enjoy the pain relief!
Jill (far_gone)
Apr 11, 2006 at 10:25 am
I don’t have a name, it was some kind of home remedy from a honey salesman! I bet you could find something like it in one of those funky german pharmacies.
What about homeopathics?
kbaggott
Apr 11, 2006 at 10:54 am
I am sure there is some kind of honey cold remedy concoction for sale at the weekly farmer’s market here.
Twocatmommy
Apr 11, 2006 at 2:29 pm
While I agree it’s best to avoid whatever medication we can while breastfeeding, the reality is that there are many medications that are safe to take while breastfeeding. I rely on four sources for information on medications while breastfeeding:
La Leche League
http://www.kellymom.com
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/breastfeeding.cfm (American Academy of Pediatrics - scroll down to “Transfer of Drugs and Other Chemicals into Human Milk)
http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/ (Go to the Breastfeeding and Medications Forums, which can be accessed as a guest - this is the website of Thomas Hale, Ph.D., author of Medications and Mother’s Milk).
Even if a medication can only be deemed “safer” rather than “safe”, it is often better for the mother to take the drug than wean the baby. One example that comes to mind is the anti-depressant Zoloft. Of course we have to pay attention to dosage and consult our doctors etc., but many believe that taking the drug and breastfeeding is better than (a) not taking the drug and continuing to be depressed, or (b) weaning. Just an example.
I needed to take anti-thyroid medication for many months, and while my endocrinologist recommended weaning, I researched the issue with my LLL leader and “Medications and Mother’s Milk” and decided I was comfortable with the decision to continue breastfeeding. Doctors often get so little training in breastfeeding, and they frequently do not know which sources to check to see which medications are safe. Women need to do their homework, as you did, and make an informed decision.
kbaggott
Apr 12, 2006 at 1:25 am
I never would have considered weaning my baby over a cold. I also take thyroid hormone every day, but my oncologist told me when she prescribed it that it wouldn’t present a problem when pregnent or breast feeding and I was only 21 at the time.
Why don’t doctors get more education on breast feeding? There is certainly enough interest and study on the topic.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: