Allergies and breastfeeding...help!

Hello!
If medication is not allowed (or even if it were), the neti pot should help. It is very easy to rinse through the sinuses and helps a lot! Sprouts has them for $15 or so, last I looked. Tip: If one side is completly clogged up, do not use and wait until you can breathe on both sides clearly : ) Regular, non-iodized salt works fine, though the stores also have special salts, if you want to try those.
All the best!

Get some locally made honey (within 50 miles - the closer the better) and take a tablespoon a day. Use it in your tea, coffee, or just eat it off a spoon. Since my sister started doing this several years ago, her allergies are GONE!! She used to have horrible allergies/hayfever. Now all gone.

I also agree with the neti pot. No meds whatsoever, and it will help.

I *think* benedryl is okay, but ask your pharmacist first.

Try to stay away from using medications for as long as you can, try the netti pot. It is hard to get used to and seems gross, but it's all natural and can be very helpful to your nose/sinus area.

Peppermint oil can clear your sinuses, washing your pillow cases constantly, keeping shoes off in the house and pet hair down to a minimum can be helpful also.

If all else fails use claritin or loratadine - it is the only allergy medication that has been studied on breast feeding mothers for 20+ yrs. Everything else is too new to trust!

Good Luck!

I hope you find relief!

I have allergies and I'm pregnant . My OB said that Sudafed is okay during pregnancy. I cannot recall what I was allowed to take post partum as I will have to ask my doctor again since I cannot recall what I took after I had each baby. Ask your OB.

Saline spray or wash daily:)

Dear K.,

Good nutrition helps everything!

I am a wellness educator for a whole food supplement Juice Plus+ Have you heard of us?

Please view the 11 minute video on my website www.vineripejuiceplus.com (a picture is worth a thousand words).

AND, currently there is a clinical study under way on pregnant woman at the University of Missippi with phenonmal results ... so, it's perfectly safe!

if you would like more information let's talk.

For better health,
C.

Claritin is an L1 - SAFEST
Zyrtec and Benadryl are both L2 - also safe

I took all 3 during the 4 years I breastfed my child... no adverse reactions happened.

The information is from:
Medications and Mother's Milk by Dr Thomas Hale Ed 2008

My doctor prescribed me a nasal spray that is safe for breastfeeding, but I couldn't take it when I was pregnant. I believe it's the generic form of Flonase. I take it once a day and I don't have constant sinus infections! The reason Claritin isn't "safe" for breastfeeding is because it could dry up your milk. Any allergy medicine with antihistamines can potentially have that effect. Good luck!

Try a neti pot. It helps rinse the pollens and other irritants from your nasal passages. It's safe and you can use it as needed. You can find it at Walgreens and other drug stores. The words nasal rinse are usually more prominent than neti pot but it will say on the package that it contains a neti pot. Good luck!

Try to tough it out without the use of meds. A friend of mine told me to stop taking the meds and let your body build up the immunities. Taking allergy meds inhibits your own body from doing this, making you rely on the meds. Once I stopped taking them (Claritin was what I would normally take) I felt awefull the first allergy season. I too was breastfeeding at the time. Since then I've done really well off of them, in fact even better than before.
I still have occasional allergies, but as many have suggested, the neti pot helps. I also heard about taking local honey...since the local bees are using the same pollen that cause most peoples allergies, it helps build up that immune system. The Farm at South Mountain has a farmer's maket thing there every weekend where they sell honey they make there. It's really great!

Please check out this link for a list of medication options as well as some other natural remedies safe while breastfeeding. http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/cold-remedy.html The site is considered reputable by Lactation Consultants. Hope you get to feeling better soon! R., blessed nurse-midwife mom of 3

I have terrible allergy issues but about a year ago I started taking these amazing nutritional supplements and since have been able to stop taking Benadryl (I was taking it EVERY night). These are all natural supplements that I would think would be ok for a breastfeeding mom (I can call the manufacturer and find our for sure). There is also a prenatal version that may work for you as well. Drop me a line if you're interested and I'll send you more details.

Yes yes yes!! Get a NetiPot!