Treatment of influenza while breastfeeding should be given special attention, because we are talking about the health of not only the young mother, but also her baby. Some people mistakenly believe that lactation should be stopped during this period, but this is not so, since with mother’s milk the child receives protective antibodies even in case of illness and, accordingly, he is protected from infection due to passive immunity.
What should be done? This is something that should be discussed separately.
Treatment of influenza while breastfeeding should be taken very seriously
Treatment Basics
Treatment for influenza while breastfeeding cannot be prescribed independently, since this is too serious an issue, and the disease - if treated incorrectly or started too late - is fraught with dangerous complications.
It is necessary to take into account the incompatibility of many combination medications with lactation. However, interferons, as a rule, are allowed - Grippferon and Viferon are considered the most popular among them. They are also taken for preventive purposes to protect a person from influenza infections.
Reducing high fever is possible with the help of Paracetamol and medications made on its basis. The doctor may also recommend Nurofen and some other drugs.
How to treat flu for a nursing mother if nasal breathing is difficult? First of all, it is recommended to moisturize the nasal mucosa - for this, special sprays can be used. Breathing itself is made easier by Navizin, Pinosol and some other drugs.
Why is treatment of influenza during lactation an important issue?
Treatment of influenza during lactation must be taken seriously, also taking into account the fact that the female body is quite weakened after experiencing such a shock as childbirth. Accordingly, the likelihood of respiratory infections increases significantly.
And it should be understood that influenza while breastfeeding should be treated differently than influenza infection in a patient who is not breastfeeding.
Remember that the mother’s body, even in case of infection, continues to produce immunoglobulins and they are passed on to the baby through mother’s milk. This process is called obtaining passive immunity. However, an infected mother must wear a protective mask (gauze bandage) while feeding so that the child does not become infected through airborne droplets.
Treatment of a severe form of influenza infection in a nursing mother is often carried out with the same drugs used to treat this disease in children under six years of age. For example, Aflubin is prescribed for starters. And if there is a severe fever, taking Nurofen helps. Before taking these and other medications, carefully read the instructions for them and, of course, consult your doctor.
If we talk about how to treat a nursing woman, we cannot fail to mention some folk remedies. But it is important that she and the baby do not have allergic reactions. In general, the following are most often used to combat the disease:
- tea, to which lemon and a little honey are added;
- breast collection;
- tea to which raspberries, currants and/or viburnum are added;
- milk, to which you can add a little honey.
We must not forget about such effective therapeutic agents as:
- steaming feet in heated water;
- compresses at night;
- wearing socks with dry mustard poured into them;
- inhalation over steaming potatoes;
- warming up under a blue lamp.
In general, it is better to prevent the flu while breastfeeding than to subsequently waste time and energy fighting it and worrying about the disease being passed on to the baby. That is, prevention plays a huge role.
Prevention of influenza during lactation is a very important issue: it is better to prevent than to suffer later
Among other things, we should not forget the importance of:
- good nutrition;
- normal sleep;
- walks in the fresh air;
- consumption of vitamins;
- regular wet cleaning.
We also recommend: Flu at 38 weeks of pregnancy
Even the psycho-emotional component is important, that is, a woman during lactation should try to be upset as little as possible and be in a positive mood more often.
Treatment options: medications and recommendations
How to treat flu during guarding? Typically, treatment involves not only physical therapy, but also some other techniques. In particular, homeopathy is permitted. Aromatherapy is also useful.
In general, during lactation, female representatives are quite prone to colds due to a weakened body.
But how to treat the flu when a nursing mother gets sick? Only those medications that are approved for use by women during the breastfeeding period. Paracetamol is considered one of these effective drugs, but even its use requires compliance with the dosage specified in the instructions. The same goes for Ibuprofen.
Paracetamol, in particular, is taken 4 tablets per day, while the total course is a maximum of three days (if taken for longer, there is a possibility of adverse effects on the liver).
How can you treat a cough? Herbal preparations are well suited for this, but medications containing bromhexine are not used. Complex means are also not used.
It must be taken into account that even before the initial signs of illness appear in the mother, the baby may already be infected. At the same time, it is mother’s milk that enriches the child’s body with the antibodies it needs to successfully fight infection attacks.
But a child weaned at such a difficult time will have a hard time, and he will be practically defenseless against the disease (since his own immunity has not yet formed).
The main symptoms of colds in nursing women turn out to be quite standard:
- fever;
- malaise;
- migraine;
- sore throat.
With the flu, the same thing can happen, but in more pronounced forms (despite the fact that a cough and runny nose, unlike a fever, do not begin immediately, but in the following days of illness).
The duration of acute respiratory infections can reach ten days. Influenza infection lasts slightly longer - up to two weeks.
What to do during guarding in such cases? Treat the health of the young mother with special attention to avoid complications of the disease. In addition, you should definitely consult a doctor to find out an accurate diagnosis: what you may mistake for signs of intoxication during a normal ARVI may turn out to be intestinal flu or something else dangerous that requires timely initiation of therapy. Moreover, the treatment should be appropriate, and not “anyhow”.
What can and should be done by a nursing mother who has the flu:
- do not wean your child from the breast, otherwise you will deprive him of the most effective protection against infectious attacks;
- do not strain milk, and do not boil it when carrying out natural feeding (otherwise the milk will be rid of beneficial microelements and protective substances).
What anti-flu medications can nursing mothers take? To combat high fever, you cannot use Aspirin: it has too many side effects. Antibiotics are also prohibited, because instead of destroying the virus, they will destroy beneficial antibodies, and this will only make the disease even more complicated.
However, sometimes doctors still prescribe antibiotics if the cause of the disease is pathogenic bacteria. However, such medications should be taken together with probiotics (for example, with homemade yogurt), otherwise there is a serious risk of disruption of the intestinal microflora and dysfunction of the digestive tract.
If a woman gets sick with the flu while breastfeeding, the main emphasis of the treatment process should be on strengthening the immune system and producing antibodies.
Ascorutin is recommended during breastfeeding for the treatment of influenza
Ascorutin also helps against the flu in this condition, due to which the level of permeability decreases and the capillary walls become less brittle. It also successfully relieves inflammation and has antioxidant properties. Thanks to this medicine, carbohydrate metabolism is activated, tissue restoration is improved, and connective tissue is synthesized. But it is not recommended to take this drug without medical permission. In addition, it is important to read the instructions before use.
We also recommend: Flu at 30 weeks of pregnancy
Non-drug methods
As for non-drug methods of treating influenza in a nursing mother, they often help fight the symptoms of the disease.
For example, a cough can be overcome with the help of:
- breast collection;
- licorice root;
- radishes with the addition of honey and so on.
It is important to maintain water-salt balance and, of course, drink plenty of fluids. Remember that due to dehydration, the patient’s blood circulation will worsen, and toxins will accumulate in the body (without being able to get out). Sometimes doctors even prescribe diuretics along with drinking plenty of fluids.
And a balanced diet is another issue whose importance cannot be underestimated. Both overeating and fasting should be avoided.
Bed rest is also indicated. Those who spend all their time on their feet will not see their body strengthened anytime soon.
We also shouldn’t forget about ventilating the room. Avoid using heating equipment that dries out the air.
Hold your baby to your chest more often - this promotes mutually beneficial energy exchange
It is advised to put the baby to the breast more often - this creates a very beneficial energy circulation for both.
If you are feeding an infant and you are tormented by a runny nose, you can use a solution of sea salt, propolis or onion juice (all this is dropped into the nose).
But women should not steam their legs during lactation, as this promotes excessive blood circulation in the chest area, as well as in the genitals (and the temperature in the chest area is elevated even in a healthy nursing mother).
Otherwise, abundant milk flows will lead to stagnation and the development of swelling. If this has already happened, swelling can be relieved through cold compresses applied to the chest. Cold temperatures will constrict blood vessels, making it easier to feed your baby.
A woman may have suspicions about the presence of some other serious pathology, as a result of which her chest hurts. In this case, you should compare temperature readings in different parts of the body - in the armpits, inguinal folds, in the elbow and under the knee. When the highest indicators are recorded in the armpit, this is a rather alarming sign.
Use of traditional medicine
What to do if a nursing mother has the flu? In this case, be sure to pay attention to folk recipes. There are a large number of treatment methods with folk remedies.
Let's look at the best options for treating flu while breastfeeding with recipes from grandmothers:
- If the patient has a sore throat, then warm milk with the addition of honey and butter will come to the rescue. Use this remedy before bed.
- Cranberry juice will help fight the infection. The composition contains a sufficient amount of ascorbic acid, which strengthens the immune system. This product is characterized by antibacterial properties.
- Rinsing the mouth with a solution of salt and soda. Add half a small spoon of soda and salt to a glass of warm water. Stir the solution thoroughly. Irrigate the throat every 3-4 hours. This method helps fight throat infections.
- To lower body temperature, drink tea with viburnum. Both fresh berries and jam are used. The drink quickly fights pathogens.
Such recipes not only help fight the flu while breastfeeding, but are also simply good for health.
Homeopathy
How to cure the flu for a nursing mother? Homeopathic treatment can also be successful. Moreover, there are no restrictions or contraindications to it.
On the other hand, it should be understood that this is not a fight against immediate symptoms, but strengthening the entire body. The immune system becomes stronger and begins to fight the infection on its own.
The positive effect after homeopathy was noticed within a few hours after administration. Moreover, homeopathy is allowed to be used even before an accurate diagnosis is established, which will allow you not to waste time and be treated at the first suspicion of influenza.
Some antibiotics of plant origin, such as onions or calendula, are especially useful in this case.
Treatment of influenza in a nursing mother should be under medical supervision
But treating a mother’s flu during the breastfeeding period is a mandatory rule ! – must be carried out under constant medical supervision. This does not mean hospitalization at all (except for a severe form of the disease), but it is necessary to be observed by a qualified medical specialist on a regular basis.
Flu prevention
In order not to wonder what a nursing mother can drink when she has the flu, she should adhere to banal preventive measures. These include:
- Be sure to ventilate the room 3-4 times a day every day;
- avoid visiting places where large numbers of people gather;
- strengthen the immune system through proper balanced nutrition;
- take a multivitamin complex;
- always dress according to weather conditions;
- walk in the fresh air as often as possible;
- upon arrival home, be sure to wash your hands;
- use antiviral ointments before leaving home;
- Wear a medical mask in crowded places.
By following these simple measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
