OTC drugs ?

I am getting sick... I am not sure what I can take while breastfeeding. I think I heard that benadryl is ok? I have been sneezing and congested.

I woke up 2 mornings ago with a really soar throat and about a half our later it was gone. Figured it was from breathing through my mouth while sleeping. Now my nose is completly stuffed.

What is safe to take?  

[tiredbuthappy]

Sore throat was probably due to sinus drainage while you were laying down.
Most meds are safe, although they may temporarily affect your supply. Benadryl is ok, but because it dries your congestion, it may have the same impact on your milk. Sudafed is also OK, but may have similar impacts.
Don't buy an all around cold med, as it may have ingredients you don't need. For example, most have tylenol in them, but if you don't have a fever or aches, you wouldn't need that component. My advise is to go to the pharmacy and have the pharmacist help you pick the best one based on your specific symptoms at the time.
I tried to avoid meds, but sometimes I couldn't because I was gross and had to function. If I recall correctly, Afrin gave me a lot of relief, but you can only use that up to 3 days. I also used many non-med things for relief. Hot beverages like tea helped. Saline spray did as well. Homemade chicken soup does actually help as well- not just an old wive's tale! It has anti-inflammatory properties that helps reduce swelling in the sinus cavities. It is also a hot fluid, which helps in general. Humidifier, hot showers, and sleeping inclined also helped.

Hope you feel better soon! Whenever these bugs went around the house, everyone except the breastfeeding baby got sick. And the few times she did get it, it was minimal compared to the rest of us.

[Heatherm4]

Ya I would always ask a pharmacist too! They know what's good to take and mine is really great...she will look things up if she's not sure about it.
Try sleeping with a humidifier and a sinus rinse is always good! What I do when I have a sore throat or feel a cold coming on is swishing a lot with mouthwash..it helps get rid of the bad bacteria that's growing in your throat and mouth and it helps with the sore throat!

[Brittny27]

I turned on the humidifier it help quite a bit. I'm afraid to take benadryl because it might dry my milk up. When I was pregnant I got a head cold twice and only used my neti pot and a warm mist inhaler. I think I will dig that out. K-Bug has a cough she's had for a few weeks but yesterday it got worse. I feel so bad for her.

[30something13]

Precious Arrows MIdwifery web site ahs natural products for the whole family! They have cold ease the little one and yourself can use as well as a immune thing! GOsh you name it they ahve a tincure for it and no matter about BF or how little they are!! I swaer by the quiet time and calm a tummy, the calm a tummy is the same as colic ease but it has ginger added in it. They ahve things for fever as well for little ones!

I have had allergies from the winter months my whole life and took the allergy thing and I ahve been fine since! Never has even chiropractic care done that for me! But I do use chiropractic care when I start to get sick or baby gets sick, even having rouble sleeping, Mine all 4 have gotten it since birth and every time after an adjustment they sllep forever!

I would try that as well as the humidifier and sinus sprays, like you said they are great as well!!! OH and there is a sinus spray with menthol in it too that is natural and safe during pregnancy and BF.