Breastfeeding Question:
Breastfeeding Question:Help! I have a terrible cold. I’m congested, my throat hurts, and I’m miserable. I don’t want to take cold medicines while breastfeeding. Is there anything I can safely take while breastfeeding to help me feel better?
Answers:
Anjanette says…
A soothing way to begin your day when you have a cold is to drink warm water with lemon & honey. The honey will coat your throat and the vitamin c will give you an immune boost. It’s common in many cultures to drink lemon water in the morning to aid digestion, as well.
For congestion, use a humidifier, take a hot shower, or inhale some steam from a pot of boiling water. Watch out for mint teas and other mint remedies you’d usually use: they may reduce supply.
Kristen says…
I’ve found raw garlic to be one of the best “medicines” during sickness. It can be hard to get down at first, but I think that mincing it up and eating it on buttered toast makes it not so bad. I’ve actually learned to like it a bit and try to put on as much as I can stand.
I also use a Neti pot to do saline nasal irrigation when I have a cold about twice a day. It really helps with the congestion and I love that it is drug-free. Make sure to use safe water (distilled or boiled and cooled). It’s very easy to do and actually feels good since it relieves some pressure. You can also use a nasal aspirator if you don’t have a Neti pot.
Leah says…
The absolute best natural (breastfeeding/pregnancy-safe) way to knock out a cold is a combination of raw garlic, raw local honey, raw apple cider vinegar, and vitamin C. Morning and evening take 2-3 raw cloves of garlic, mix 2 tsp. of apple cider vinegar in water (I mix mine with Emergen-C to get the vitamin C), and a tablespoon of raw local honey.
Do this until your symptoms subside. You should feel better very quickly!
If you’re congested, get some eucalyptus essential oil and mix with coconut oil and rub into the bottoms of your feet and cover with socks (this is also safe to do for babies if they get congested). You can also do a eucalyptus steam bath by putting a few drops on the floor of a steaming hot shower or placing a towel over your head and a bowl of steaming water with some eucalyptus oil.
The good news: your body will produce natural antibodies against the strain and will adjust your breastmilk to protect your baby! 🙂
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Eucalyptus straight (not In a blend) isn’t recommended for babies under 2. Even diluted in a carrier oil. It’s also listed as ‘consult doctor before use’ for nursing mamas.