What can you drink while breastfeeding?

What can you drink nursing mom, so as not to harm the child? This question should be the number one question for any mother who wants to see her baby healthy. It is very important to understand what products can be beneficial for, and what can cause allergic reactions and digestive disorders. It is necessary to understand the classification of such groups of products.

What can you drink during lactation?

A woman’s lifestyle, including diet and other behaviors, can affect her breast milk and therefore her baby. It is important for all nursing mothers to take care of themselves so that they can provide the best care for their children. This includes getting enough rest and proper nutrition so that you have enough energy to take care of your child and avoid illness.

Nursing mothers, who usually have good diets, produce healthy breast milk for their babies, even if they have some inaccuracies. But chronically malnourished women who have a very low content of vitamins and minerals, and low reserves in their bodies can produce milk that contains less than usual vitamins A, D, B6 or B12. These mothers can help increase the level of vitamins in their milk by improving their diet or taking vitamin supplements. It is recommended that nursing mothers consume about 2,700 calories each day (about 500 calories more than a non-pregnant, non-nursing woman). It is also necessary to drink enough, because it is a condition of a sufficient amount of milk.

What can you drink nursing mother in the first month? If the pregnancy was healthy, and the delivery went well, then in principle the best drink is water. Water makes up a greater amount of fluid in the cells, so it helps restore the balance better than any fluid. Water helps to enhance the process of milk formation itself, by increasing the volume and amount of milk synthesized by the cells.

How much water should my mother drink during lactation? The answer to this question varies from person to person, because we have different weights. It also depends on how active you are, as well as the weather; for example, you drink more water on really hot days or when you work. The general rule is that a person who does not need breastfeeding requires about 8 cups of water per day (1.8 liters), so a nursing mother needs about 12 cups of water per day (2.8 liters). This is what you should strive for. However, the most important thing you can do is listen to your body. You can do this very easily by drinking a glass of water each time you feed. Most babies are fed 8 to 12 times a day, so you will get at least 8 cups of water this way. There is another way to replenish the fluid in your body if you do not like the taste of water. See also: Is it possible for nursing mom juices and which ones?

Often moms use fruit flavoring water, it is very easy to prepare and it gives it a pleasant aroma. You can make many combinations of fruits to give water different tastes.

What liquids should I avoid? There are fluids that you should avoid or at least reduce their amount in the early stages of lactation. These include sweet and fruity drinks. It is true that when you are breastfeeding, you need to take extra calories to support milk production, but these calories must come from foods and drinks that are dense in nutrients.

A cup of green tea can be a very good and even a good start to the day and an alternative for a mother who does not like water. It is really safe to drink green tea when consumed in moderation, as it will not have side effects for the child. [1]About two cups a day, each cup is about 237 ml, safe. Green tea is rich in several antioxidants, but also contains caffeine. One cup (237 ml) contains about 29 mg of caffeine, while the daily consumption of caffeine (from all drinks) during lactation should not exceed 300 mg per day.

Apple juice is one of the few that is possible during lactation. It is a good source of calcium, iron, folic acid, and vitamins A and C. When breastfeeding, you need a good supply of all these nutrients. During pregnancy, your iron levels decrease. During lactation, you need to strengthen your body with products rich in iron. Lack of calcium leads to weak bones and low milk productivity, since it is the main part of breast milk. Apple juice is also a good source of fiber, potassium and phosphorus. As a nursing mom, you can safely drink apple juice on a regular basis.

Apple juice is definitely a better option than citrus juices, which can make milk sour. The acidity in milk can irritate the delicate digestive organs of babies. Excess vitamin C in breast milk can also cause a rash in babies. Keep drinking apple juice if it doesn’t cause discomfort to your child. If your baby is fussy or sick after feeding, check your diet to see if apples can cause a problem. Although apple is a safe food that can be eaten during pregnancy and breastfeeding, some babies may show an adverse reaction to it.

The best way to drink apple juice is to make it fresh at home, not to add artificial sweeteners to it and consume it at room temperature.

In any case, there are those products that a mother can drink, but you need to take into account the individual characteristics of each child, and if there is a reaction to something, then this drink should be excluded.

What should a nursing mother drink so that the child does not have colic? Colic in children is characterized by excessive crying and periods of fussiness caused mainly by gas, which leads to pain. Some foods or drinks eaten by a nursing mother contribute to colic, but there are many possible causes of colic.

It was believed that cow's milk causes irritation of the intestines during the first few weeks of the baby’s life, and the mother should avoid using anything that contains it: lactoglobulin, casein, lactalbumin, sodium casinate and whey. Therefore, in the first three months, this product is excluded.

The amount of caffeine released into breast milk is usually less than 1% of the amount consumed by the mother, and moderate consumption of caffeine does not adversely affect children. [2]Since no caffeine was detected in the baby’s urine when the mother consumed up to three cups of coffee a day, babies are unlikely to be affected by the comparable effects of caffeine. However, if the mother consumes more caffeine in one day than is contained in 5 cups of coffee (750 ml), caffeine can begin to accumulate in the child’s system, causing symptoms of caffeine stimulation.[3]

If you exclude these drinks, then the rest you can try to drink and at the same time monitor the reaction of the baby. If all is well, the baby will be calm. What exactly you can drink with a child's colic is water, the safest and most familiar drink. Therefore, moms can definitely drink water, but not carbonated.

What to drink nursing mother that was milk? Need to drink more water. Breast milk consists of 88% water, so if you do not drink with each feeding, your body will soon become dehydrated. Lactation tea is a special pharmacy tool that you can drink instead of regular tea and it will still be very useful for your child. Tea ingredients such as fennel and coriander promote healthy lactation.

What can you drink to nursing mom from alcohol and can you drink it at all? Toxic by-product of alcohol metabolism, a compound called acetaldehyde, does not pass into breast milk at all. But this does not mean that drinking and breastfeeding can not be risky. Of course, it is important to distinguish between a few random drinks, such as a beer or a glass of wine at dinner, from a drink. If this is a random reception of a few grams of wine, then it does not seriously affect the child. But you should know that each subsequent such use of alcohol can cause negative consequences for the child.[4], [5], [6]

Medications for lactation

What medications can you drink while breastfeeding? This is a very important issue, because medicines can not only cure, but can also do much harm. Although many medications are safe when you are breastfeeding, most medications get into your milk, and to some extent can even affect your milk. To be safe, consult with your physician before taking prescription or over-the-counter medication. The amount of medication that gets into breast milk, and how it affects the baby, depends on factors such as the type of medication, the dose, and how you use it.

What medications can be taken safely during breastfeeding? [7]  While traces of drugs can pass into breast milk, the amounts are so small that they are usually considered harmless. However, some medications, no matter what dosage, may have an adverse effect on your child, and should be avoided.

If you are feeling very bad, there is no need to go through it without medicinal help - you probably lost enough during pregnancy. But it is worth thinking before plunging into taking any medication.

If you cannot see a doctor or pharmacist, a good rule of thumb is that if the medicine is available in a form suitable for children, or if it is usually prescribed for babies, it is usually considered safe when breastfeeding.

• What is the best way to take breastfeeding medication?

If you take the medicine inevitably, and you find a medicine that is safe to use, you can go for it - but there are still ways to minimize the consequences for your child. If possible, take any medication immediately after feeding your baby. This will allow more time for drug metabolism before the next meal. If there is a choice, go for the drops and sprays to use, because such local forms have less systemic influence. Avoid "combination" drugs. Choose products with a single ingredient, rather than those that contain several active ingredients. Check if the medicine can reduce your milk intake so that you can be prepared for this.

Is it better to stop breastfeeding while taking medication? No - the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the risks associated with low levels of medication in breast milk. In addition, a sudden cessation of breastfeeding, without weaning your baby, will cause unnecessary frustration for both of you. You may have a bruised breast, which can lead to mastitis and blocked channels. And changing the type of milk can sometimes upset the stomach and disrupt the digestion of your baby if you go on the mixture, even for a while.

• What medications are safe when breastfeeding?

Many forms of painkillers and other treatments that could not be safely taken during pregnancy are allowed when you are breastfeeding.

Here are some common medications you can take, even if you are breastfeeding:

• paracetamol and ibuprofen (but not aspirin)
• antacids for indigestion
• laxatives
• inhalers for asthma.
• anticoagulants (to prevent blood clots). Warfarin and heparin are bound to proteins in the blood and therefore less likely to penetrate into breast milk. If you need to take these drugs, check if your baby has a vitamin K injection at birth. If any of the anticoagulants actually goes to your child, vitamin K as a coagulant can help counteract any potential effects.
• corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) injections
• vaccinations. This includes flu and tetanus. In fact, immunity from things like seasonal flu can be passed on to your child and can help prevent the flu.

What medications are not safe while breastfeeding?

1. Aspirin. It is associated with Reye's syndrome in infants, [8]and should be completely avoided when breastfeeding (unless prescribed by your doctor as an anti-platelet medication for something like heart disease). [9]  While Reya's syndrome is rare, it can be dangerous and can be fatal. Symptoms may include vomiting, drowsiness, irritability, and seizures.
2. Codeine is an anesthetic drug. Codeine is commonly found in over-the-counter combination products such as Nurofen Plus, Solpadeine Plus, and Syndol. This was previously considered safe for nursing mothers, but codeine now has proven toxicity in breastfed babies]. [10]
3. Decongestants often contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine and phenylpropanolamine.
4. Guayfenezin. It is an expectorant that helps to clear sputum and is often found in cough syrups. It can not be used during lactation, as it can cause increased heart rate in a child.

[11], [12], [13]

How to treat the disease in mothers who are breastfeeding

There are many questions as to exactly which drugs can be used for different diseases of the mother.

What can you drink to nursing mom with colds, flu, and ARVI? In the first place, you can use different alternative means that do not harm. Drink plenty of water and take warm baths. Take extra vitamin C from foods, juices, or in the form of a vitamin. It is commonly believed that echinacea is safe for nursing mothers.

Often a viral infection is accompanied by nasal congestion, which creates many problems. How to handle this? Instead of a vasoconstrictor, try a saline nasal spray. One of the most gentle and safe ways to relieve nasal / head congestion is saline nasal spray. You can purchase a pre-filled bottle, such as Humer, or even better - mix at home and save money.

Steam treatment: boil a pot of water, then remove it from the stove and add a few drops of essential oil if you want, such as lavender or lemon. Apply a bath towel to your head and take a deep breath for 5 minutes. Repeat several times a day.

What can drink antiviral nursing mom? One of the few such drugs is Orebro. This is a herbal antiviral drug that is developed on the basis of sea buckthorn, so it can be harmless.

What can a nursing mother drink for cough and sore throat? Drink hot lemonade with honey. Or make a mixture of one part of lemon juice and two parts of honey. Drink fenugreek tea to relieve a sore throat and cough.

Salt rinses also relieve cough and sore throat. To do this, mix 1 tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse with the mixture (do not swallow) several times a day.

Mix 1-6 teaspoons (1/3 - 2 tablespoons) of vinegar in a glass of water; You can mix it as much as you can stand it. Rinse with one sip and repeat it twice. Do this every hour or as needed.

Also, most cough syrups do not pose a serious risk to you or your baby during breastfeeding. However, according to the recommendations, you should always talk to your doctor before you take cough syrup or take medicines while nursing. Cough syrup chemicals can pass into your breast milk.

Cough syrup is designed to soothe itching, sore throat, and also for a mild analgesic effect. You can buy most forms of cough syrup without a prescription. As a rule, cough syrups are classified as antitussives. They weaken mucus and phlegm in the throat and lungs. The active ingredients may include codeine, benzonate, pseudoephedrine, or carbetapentane. Ingredients vary by brand.

Codeine easily passes into breast milk. Therefore, cough syrups with such a composition cannot be taken. If you decide to take cough medicine during breastfeeding, the dosage is very important. By taking more than what is indicated on the package or recommended by your doctor, you can increase the concentration of medicines in your milk. This increases the chance of harming your child. In addition, do not mix medicines at the same time, as this may increase their effect.

What can you drink from the temperature of nursing mom? These drugs include paracetamol [14]and ibuprofen. [15] 

What can you drink nursing mom with pain? Paracetamol and ibuprofen are also recommended here. More pronounced properties as a painkiller has ibuprofen.

Antacids can be taken from the pain in the stomach of a nursing mother - Almagel, Fosfolyugel. These drugs simply envelop the stomach, are not absorbed, and therefore do not penetrate into breast milk.

What can you drink from the pressure of lactating mothers? Most high blood pressure drugs pass into breast milk in very small amounts. Many drugs used to treat high blood pressure during pregnancy are considered safe when breastfeeding, but they are not all the same. For example, some beta blockers are found in large quantities in breast milk and may not be ideal for breastfeeding. In addition, diuretic drugs used to treat high blood pressure are considered safe for a baby while breastfeeding, but they can affect the amount of milk. Therefore, it is necessary to correct high-pressure treatment after delivery directly with the participation of your doctor.

What can you drink soothing nursing mom? Here we need a very differentiated approach. [16]If a woman has anxiety, then simple chamomile tea with mint and melissa can help. But there are cases when there are postpartum depressions, then drugs are prescribed by a doctor. Not all antidepressants are safe for breastfeeding,  [17]but there are several factors. Commonly prescribed antidepressants, such as paroxetine, sertraline or amitriptyline, are among those that are considered safe when breastfeeding. [18]Fluoxetine is not considered a safe option because it has a long half-life in breast milk and can lead to an accumulation of the drug in the body of an infant.

What can you drink with cystitis nursing mom? Here the answer can be unequivocal, since only one drug can be pregnant and lactating - this is Monural. The drug is in powder form for a single dose. One dose allows you to create a concentration of antiseptic in the bladder, which helps to solve the problem of cystitis.

What can you drink nursing mom with diarrhea and poisoning? Here you need to first adjust the diet, restore the volume of fluid lost, and then start taking medication. Do not take anything for 24 hours to give your body a chance to get rid of everything that causes the problem. Drink plenty of clear liquids (avoid apple and pear juice, as they can worsen the symptoms). Gradually add low-fiber semi-solid foods to your diet, such as dried toast, eggs, and rice, and avoid using dairy products, fatty foods, and high-fiber foods until diarrhea returns to normal.

What can you drink from constipation nursing mom? The chair can be softened with yogurt or probiotics. You can use different probiotics, because their use can even be beneficial. [19]Domperidone is considered safe among drugs, as only very low levels are released into breast milk. In fact, large doses are sometimes used to treat reflux in babies. It is also sometimes known as Motilium.

What can you drink from allergies nursing mom? There are allergy medications that can be taken safely during breastfeeding. Just be careful, because some allergy drugs are often combined with other drugs in a single liquid or tablet. To limit your child’s exposure, it’s best to avoid foods that resolve several symptoms at once or have more than one active ingredient.

Antihistamines that relieve allergies are usually considered safe. But keep in mind that so-called first-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine, can potentially cause a sedative effect on your child (as you may have), while second-and third-generation drugs such as loratadine (Claritin) and fexofenadine (Allegra) are less harmful.[20]

What can you drink for immunity nursing mom? Elderberry infusion has been used for centuries in Europe to relieve flu symptoms, including muscle pain, cough and fever. The best studied standard extract of black elderberry is Sambucol. According to studies, it increases the production of inflammatory cytokines, chemicals that stimulate the immune system and strengthen its ability to fight off invaders. As a prophylactic agent, take two teaspoons of elderberry syrup or two tablets per day. But the specific means for raising immunity is a vaccination that protects not only the mother, but also the child.

The use of any medication during breastfeeding, as well as during pregnancy, should be discussed with the doctor. If a young mother has a headache or a pain of another location, then in such cases you can take children's painkillers. In other situations, before taking the medication you need to read the instructions and make sure that the drug does not harm the child.

[21], [22], [23], [24]