Cough when breastfeeding
Coughing while breastfeeding is one of the alarming symptoms that signal the development of a disease in the mother's body. The most common causes of cough are acute respiratory viral infections.
When choosing a treatment method, you must be aware that a cough is only a symptom of a disease. Eliminating only the cough and not taking proper measures to treat the underlying disease, a nursing mother puts her baby in greater danger. What can nursing mothers take for a cough? How to treat a cough during lactation? Should a baby be weaned during illness?
Cough while breastfeeding: risks of infection of the baby, natural immunization
Cough is one of the first symptoms of colds caused mainly by viruses that affect the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and provoke general intoxication of the body. Various respiratory infections are easily treatable. However, pregnancy and lactation are special periods in the life of every woman, inextricably linked with her child. The main problem in the treatment of cough while breastfeeding is that most drugs are included in the group of prohibited ones, since they penetrate into breast milk and, being passed on to the child, can significantly harm his health.
Should we wean a baby when mom coughs? To do this, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of the development of infection in the body and the appearance of the first symptoms. A woman during lactation is especially susceptible to various respiratory infections, since the respiratory system of a nursing mother works in a mode of special stress (a lot of oxygen is required to produce a sufficient amount of milk). From the moment the virus enters the mother's body until the first symptoms appear, it takes from a day to three. During this period, even before the visual manifestation of symptoms, the child with the mother's milk had already received the causative agent of the disease, antibodies to the pathogen, and special enzymes of the pathogen to produce its own antibodies. With breast milk, the baby also receives full immune protection against possible complications of the disease.
Breastfeeding is the process of natural immunization of the baby's body. Its interruption not only contributes to the weakening of the child's immunity, but also breaks the invisible bond between mother and child. So, the child's body does not receive enough basic substances for the full formation and development of all its systems. Also, abrupt weaning during the mother's illness can provoke the strongest psychological shock to the child.
The main recommendations for coughing while breastfeeding are reduced to the following points:
- You should not wean either a healthy child or a sick baby, as this will instantly affect the course of the disease and lower its immunity. Breastfeeding for any disease must be continued in the same mode and in the same quantities as before the onset of the disease, focusing on the baby's appetite and condition;
- Coughing while breastfeeding is not a reason to express milk. Breastfeeding is a chain of complex psychophysiological interactions between mother and child, and pumping and bottle feeding break this invisible connection;
- You should not boil breast milk for colds and coughs. During heat treatment, the most important components of milk are destroyed, and milk is deprived of its nutritional and immunological properties;
- Milk is a natural medicine for babies when they are sick.
It should be remembered that infection of the baby during the mother's illness occurs not only during breastfeeding, but also when communicating with the baby, caring for him, during games. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to some rules that will make it easier to endure a cough while breastfeeding and not infect a child:
- Wash hands before each contact with the child;
- A new or clean gauze bandage with each subsequent contact with the child;
- Contact a pediatrician to identify the causes of cough and prescribe the optimal safe course of treatment.
What can a nursing cough suppressor: how to determine a treatment method?
The treatment of cough while breastfeeding is complicated by the fact that not all drugs that a woman can take in everyday life to treat such a debilitating symptom are allowed during lactation. What can nursing coughs do? First of all, a nursing mother should take care of the safety of her baby. Any self-medication can significantly affect the mother's condition, her ability to continue breastfeeding, as well as the health of the baby himself. First of all, if a cough occurs while breastfeeding, you should consult a doctor to identify the true causes of the cough, which will help to avoid complications. Only a doctor, based on anamnesis, can prescribe medications that are effective for the mother and safe for the baby. Many women rely on drug descriptions when trying to determine what a cough breastfeeding can do. But the general safety of this or that drug for pregnant and lactating women does not mean that the child will not develop an allergic reaction to the drug. Before going to a doctor, you can do:
- Hot, heavy drink to relieve sore throat and expectoration;
- Inhalation with herbs.
For the treatment of cough while breastfeeding, the following are acceptable:
- Expectorants (Ambroxol, Lazolvan);
- Herbal preparations based on thyme, plantain root, licorice, anise;
- Local antimicrobial agents.
When treating cough while breastfeeding, in no case should you:
- Taking medications thoughtlessly, relying on instructions and descriptions;
- Exceed the dosage indicated by the attending physician, even in the event of a significant deterioration in the condition.
How to treat a cough for a nursing mother: folk remedies
The main principle of cough treatment during breastfeeding is the safety of the baby. When deciding how to treat a cough for a nursing mother, do not forget about the effectiveness of folk remedies. Traditional methods of cough treatment are based on the use of hot milk, honey, mustard, herbs.
Basically, for the treatment of cough while breastfeeding, inhalations with tea tree oil, an infusion of chamomile and calendula are used.
How to treat a cough for a nursing mother from folk remedies? The most popular and effective is hot milk with diluted honey and butter. An effective remedy for relieving sore throat and treating cough is a light solution of iodine in boiled water (up to 5 drops per 1 glass of warm water). Before going to bed, nursing mothers with a cough are advised to use a mixture of honey and garlic, made in a 1: 1 ratio. Lime tea with honey and lemon is also a quick and effective method of dealing with cough while breastfeeding.
With any type of treatment, it is necessary to closely monitor the condition of the baby and his reaction to the drugs taken by the mother. Honey, citrus fruits, herbs can cause allergic reactions. When taking medications, the mother should ensure that the concentration of the drug in her body reaches a minimum by the time of feeding.
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