Getting a cold or flu sucks no matter how you look at it. But, getting a cold or flu while you’re breastfeeding sucks even more. I wrote this flu rememdies while breastfeeding post years ago and I’ve decided to update it because I’ve got a lot more to add to the post especially as I am sick now again and breastfeeding. I have written a general post over here about my go-to flu hot toddy but when you’re breastfeeding, especially in the first few months, you usually can’t have ginger as it causes cramps for babies. And, we don’t want that! We want sleep and all that promotes sleep.
What flu rememedies can you use while breastfeeding?
So what can you do? Well, I am sick now and I have made a pretty good hot toddy without the ginger. Let’s face it, you can’t just lie in bed and be sick all day because you have a baby to look after and quite possibly other kids in the mix too. My older kids are extremely understanding when I’m sicj and they would easily let me lie on the couch under a blanket all day, but no baby understands that and they have needs too that are more important.
You’ll need a medical face mask to prevent your baby from catching you flu
Remember if you do get a cold or flu you need to be extra cautious because you don’t want to make your baby or your other kiddies (if you have any) sick. I always wear a medical face mask around my baby when I’m brestfeeding her, changing her nappy or any other time where I might be getting up close and personal.
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Medical face mask
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Keep those hands clean
Make sure you wash your hands a lot. Germs spread through touch so keeping those feelers nice and clean is important. I keep hand sanitizer on me at all times. Hand sanitizer is great to spray after blowing your nose or sneezing and coughing. I love water based spray bottle hand sanitizers because I hate the sticky feeling a gel leaves on my hands and the smell of alcohol based sanitizers is extremely strong. I also prefer using an organic product with natural ingredients as I use the sanitizer so much on myself and my kids so I need it to be safe for them to use too.
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Dr Bronner’s organic hand sanitizer spray
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Always keep tissues and wetwipes on hand
I don’t think I need to go into detail as to why you need these. You just do. You will use them. Wipe. Wipe. Wipe.
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Kleenex
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Antibacterial wipes
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Now onto the meds, this is what you’ve been waiting for.
*Disclaimer: Just a reminder, I am not a doctor. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication. Most normal cold & flu medication cannot be taken while breastfeeding. The safest medicine is always no medicine.
But, sometimes you gotta take something to feel semi-human. So, if I have to take meds I try to stick to; Paracetamol (Panado), a saline nose spray, and throat lozenges.
Flu remedies while breastfeeding to help you feel semi-human.
*Again, remember to always consult your doctor before taking any medication.
The minute I feel any cold or flu symptoms coming on I make myself Jungle Juice. Say what? That sounds like some exotic cocktail I should be sipping on a coastline somewhere. If only. We can pretend though can’t we? I do!
https://amzn.to/2HhQ7dw schlehen
rescue https://amzn.to/2Z9vnzG
comomile tea https://amzn.to/31Qbydu
rooibos tea https://amzn.to/2KM7d5p
I also drink paracetamal if I am experiencing any pain or fever and then I drink my favourite hot toddy to help me sleep. I grab my saline nose spray and my vicks inhaler and I keep them close until I’m all better.
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Saline nose spray
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Vicks vapo inhaler
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eucalyptus oil
Megg’s breastfeeding friendly hot toddy
1 x bag rooibos/chamomile tea
1 x whole fresh lemon
2 tsp raw honey
I’d love to hear from you. What do you do when you’re sick? Do you have any cold or flu remedies to share?
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