Unbearable Sinus Headache and Nursing--Drying Milk Out!

If I were you I would treat each individual symptom. Tylenol for headache, Cepacol (oral anesthetic) for throat, and nasal spray or netti pot for nasal passages. The Cepacol was given to me in the hospital when I was pregnant so it is safe. And the netti pot works amazingly well. Another idea is one of those plug in vaporizers from the drugstore. They really work well for babies.

Meds may help but the vast majority of the time, but alignment is a HUGE factor here. I see it ALL THE TIME! I have a few exercises I do to realign the spine and it almost immediately alleviates the pressure and pain. In one of the exercises, I even give them a Kleenex because it opens them up that quickly.

ESPECIALLY since you are nursing, you want to stay away from the meds as much as you can. Go to the EGOSCUE website and see if you can pull of a couple of e-cises for sinus headaches.

Get some eucalyptus oil and use it in some hot, steaming water. Put a towel over your head and breathe this. you can put drops on your pillow on either side of where you head lies and it will help w/ breathing.

In addition.....sleep w/ NO pillow. If you HAVE to, make sure it's a small, thin one. Stop & think about it.....it you sleep on a pillow, your head is forward of the rest of your spine. Your sinuses can't drain properly when your spine and head are out of alignement. This is why re-aligning WORKS!

There are also herbs that help to increase lactation. Talk to someone at a local health food store.

I am so sorry about your headaches, I am sure it is making your day insane. So what I propose is try acupressure. I do not know of any medications. But I can tell you, as a very successful nurserer, the only way to maintain or increase milk supply when your body refuses (either due to medication, stress, etc.) is to trick your body by pumping in the middle of the night or when you can. I am sure this is the last thing you want to do while in pain and already lacking sleep (I have a 3 month old, 2 1/2 yr old & 5 yr old), but if you are really set on nursing, try the extra pumping, just 1x a day to get out at least 3 ounces. good luck!

Oh, I am going through the same thing from allergies. I use saline in my nose to keep it draining and avoid the headache. If you don't keep it draining (running) it can turn into a sinus infection, ouch, then you need antibiotics. I would rather blow my nose all day than have a sinus infection. For the headache try a cup of coffee and 2 Tylenol. It's almost like Excedrine. One cup of coffee isn't alot of caffeine but do this in the morning or your baby might stay up all night! For the actual allergies, I use bee pollen. Not the capsules, the actual grains of bee pollen. I take about 4 or 5 grains with breakfast in the morning and it builds up your immune system against the airborne pollen. I know, it sounds weird but it works for me. Of course, if you have bee allergies, I would avoid any bee products. Good luck, feel better, and Mooooooo!

Switch to the reg.one the lactation consultant said to use since your using the other one that is drying out your milk simple fix don't supplement keep baby on breast this will encourage your milk supply drink lot's of water for your headache take Tylenol get plenty of rest.I know i've had my sinus troubles now for a week and having to take a generic form of Benadryl at nite my milk supply is decreasing some but at the same time my 13 month old is starting to wean off.You can do this your baby is so young yet

You could try using Tylenol for the headache and use Breathe Right Strips for you stuffy nose, which should eventually relieve your headache. If you have air conditioning it would be better than leaving the windows open for right now. Also some nose sprays can be used during breastfeeding that are a wonderful source for relieving sinus pressure. For sore throat use natural lozenges or throat sprays which will also help relieve the nose stuffiness. If you can handle vicks/mentholatum rubs you can put that in your nose or edge of nose with a q-tip, I would also recommend it for your chest above your breasts on your sternum - this bone starts at your clavicle meeting point and extends down through your breast area but this might annoy your baby while breastfeeding so it would be best to probably only use it on your nose so it is not to strong while the baby eats.
You could also go to a Natures Pharm Store in your area and they may have some great things to help you out with this problem if these things do not help. If you do not have a Natures Pharm store you could probably google natural items available at CVS or Walmart or Walgreens. The Breathe Right Strips may be your only answer at this time because I was reading about natural nose sprays and they all have a warning to talk to your doctor when pregnant or breast feeding but they may not be as strong as the Alvaret because the nose sprays are not completely intenal they should only be going into the sinus cavity. Ask you doctor and have him/her compare it to the Alvaret. Also maybe ask to speak to a ear, nose and throat specialist - otorhinolarygnologist. Sometimes your general or specific OB will not know as well as the sinus specialist doctor. I will pray that God will bring you the answer.
God Bless

I agree with the others. It's either not a sinus headache, and is allergies, which is why the alavert is working (and there is another kind that doesn't have the D in the name that is safe for BFing, I've been taking Claritin (non-D) off and on the whole time I've been BFing, which is 11 months now), or it's a sinus infection and you should be on antibiotics and not allergy meds. My guess is allergies - they can cause crushing sinus type headaches and if the alavert is working, given that this is the height of seasonal allergy time, that's probably what it is. Switch to Claritin or Alavert that does not have the D in the name. That is safe for BF and doesn't tank your supply.

I also 2nd the rec. for a neti pot, which you can get at any drugstore. Done twice a day, this can be very helpful.

Regular Alavert is ok - just not the Alavert D-12. You will need to make the medication switch, and then start rebuilding your supply. Be sure to nurse very frequently, and you can try fenugreek (available at GNC stores). Take 3 tablets 3 times per day for 3-5 days along with frequent nursings, and some moms find that very helpful in rebuilding supply. You can take Tylenol, Motrin for the pain as well. The main reference book for breastfeeding moms and medicines is written by Thomas Hale, PhD, and is called Medications and Mothers' Milk - it is the source lactation consultant use as a reference. I have one if you have any other medicines you are concerned about, I can pass the info on to you. Good luck, and great job! You are doing your best for you and your baby!!

If your head hurts that much you should see your doctor. Try using a nettie pot (not sure on the spelling) or a saline mist. Sudaphed is drying so drink plenty of fluids. I had one that was so bad with my fist son that I got the doc to perscibe a perscription pain reliever.

I think your Lactation Consultant may have really advised you poorly.

At this point, I'd call your primary care physician (as it sounds like you have a sinus infection that needs an antibiotic vs. the antihistamine/pseudoephedrine in Alavert-D), and your pediatrician to see what's appropriate for you to take while nursing.

The pollen counts have been really bad plus the variations in temperature over the past few weeks, and sinus infections are increasing vs. other recent springs.

Kind of disappointed that the Lactation Consultant for not referring you to another health care professional for a proper diagnosis.

Good luck! Hope you get to feeling better.

Congratulations! I swear by the nettie pot, I get severe migraines and sinus stuff and this has been a life saver...especially when preggers and nursing! Good luck!

Talk to your doctor!!! If you have a sinus infection, antibiotics will clear it up quickly. Your doctor should be able to tell you what is safe for you to take. Even if you were not nursing, cold medicines WILL NOT take care of a sinus infection.

I had a nasty one recently and here is what my doctor had me do...
-take antibiotics.
-drink hot water mixed with honey and lemon juice.
-use a heat pack on my face a few times a day.
-use a saline spray in my nose to help loosen mucus and get it out.

Try a neti-pot and go see a chiropractor. Have you told the lactation specialist that you are drying up over the meds she recommended?

Hello,

sorry to be coming in late, and sorry for the pain of headaches etc. PLEASE try not to stop nursing! there are systems where you give the baby formula thru a tube and the end of the tube is taped to your breast so the baby sucks just like nursing (and may get some breastmilk as well). This will keep stimulating your breasts to make milk. You will not have the haeadcahe forever, and when it is gone you want to have at least a little supply still going so you can then increase it. People have re-lactated, but mush easier not to let it dry up altogether.

This type of supplementer also helps with bonding, because you are holding baby close, baby has skin-to-skin contact with breast etc.

A La Leche League (LLL) leader can advise you about this, and can also give you list of meds that are ok to take while nursing, they have done many studies on this and maybe your doc doesn't know about them (the studies; or maybe doc doesn't know about LLL either, who knows?). I am sure there are groups in Cleveland (I am in Ashtabula) there used to be a nice one in Mentor also, it may still be there. Call 1-800-LA LECHE for a referral, or PM me at ____@____.com, I can possibly put you in touch with a friend who is a leader.

I agree you should see your doc to find out what the problem is. Also some good advice about consuming plenty of fluids (true even if you are healthy and nursing).

Try tylenol for pain, I remember they said that was OK while nursing.

Also, did you start eating anything different recently? Maybe consuming more dairy to increase your calcium? If so this may be causing your headaches, sinus issues etc. Yes, it could take several weeks to show symptoms. I remember having horrible gas when, after my first son was born I was being "good" and drinking milk. the gas stopped after I stopped the milk. Baby was fine.

Regardless of how you feed your baby you will bond, and baby already has a good start from the time you have been nursing. But I sense that you are not ready to give up breastfeeding, and I don't think you should have to.

Please let me/us know how things go.

Congrats on the little one! Yes, you are in my prayers!

Hugs to you

K. Z.

First of all --- Did you have an Epidural? How long have you had the Headache? My thoughts are that if you have had the headache since giving birth and you had an Epidural --- you might have an Epidural Headache. If so, please contact your OB/GYN and tell them.
Otherwise, contact your Dr. and ask them what you can take that is safe while nursing. Also, Just because there are side effects listed, it doesn't necessarily mean that you will experience the side effects.
C.