Can I breastfeed if I catch a cold during confinement? Can I take medicine if I catch a cold during confinement?

The confinement period is a recovery period for women and also the most important time for the healthy growth of babies. So the question is, if you catch a cold during the confinement period, can you still breastfeed? What medicine should you take for a cold? Let's introduce it together!

Can I breastfeed if I have a cold during confinement?

You can continue breastfeeding if you have a common cold.

Because colds are mainly spread through droplets (such as coughing, sneezing) or close contact, they will not be transmitted to babies through breast milk. It is recommended that mothers wear masks when breastfeeding to reduce the chance of the baby being exposed to germs, and be careful not to kiss or touch the child.

Stop breastfeeding if you have a cold or fever during confinement

If you catch a cold during confinement and have a fever, you should seek medical attention immediately and stop breastfeeding.

Because when the mother has a fever, the milk will be affected, the nutritional quality will decrease, and the milk may be concentrated, which can easily induce discomfort such as indigestion or diarrhea in the baby. Of course, during the period of suspending breastfeeding, the mother should squeeze out the milk to ensure continuous secretion of milk.

Taking medicine for cold during confinement period and suspending breastfeeding

If you have a severe cold during confinement, or if you have taken cold medicine, antibiotics, or antipyretics, you should stop breastfeeding.

Because drugs can be absorbed by the baby through breast milk through blood circulation, affecting the baby's health and development. It should be noted that if the mother is suffering from influenza, it is highly contagious, so it is best not to breastfeed or contact the baby.

How to breastfeed if you have a cold during confinement

1. Wash your hands and wear a mask before feeding. Do not cough or sneeze at your baby to avoid infecting your baby with a cold.

2. Except for necessary feeding, try to keep a distance from the baby and avoid close contact with the baby, including touching and kissing.

3. During a cold, drink more boiled water and keep the indoor air circulating. Vinegar steam can be used to fumigate the room, which has a certain effect in preventing colds.

Should I take medicine for a cold? This is what the doctor said

【Cold】Colds caused by viruses can be cleared by antibodies in the human immune system within 3-5 days. During the clearing process, inflammatory substances will be produced in the body, which will form nasal mucus and phlegm, and manifest as symptoms such as nasal congestion and cough. These are all normal reactions of the body. Generally, after 2-3 weeks, all symptoms disappear and the disease is cured.

● If you have a cold and fever, and your body temperature is above 38°C and you feel very uncomfortable, you can choose acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Acetaminophen: The regular dose for adults is 500 mg or 650 mg once, taken every 4-6 hours, up to 4000 mg a day, once every 6 hours, and the maximum daily dose is 2400 mg.

● Nasal congestion and runny nose: You can use a physiological seawater nasal spray to care for your nose, or inhale hot water steam to relieve nasal congestion.

● Cough with phlegm: Expectorant drugs are recommended, and cough suppressants are not recommended. Forcible cough suppressants not only fail to produce phlegm, but also cause new infections.

● Sore throat: You can choose to use light salt water to soothe your throat. If it still does not relieve the pain, you can use throat lozenges (occasionally during breastfeeding). For severe cases, you can use acetaminophen to relieve the pain.

Tips for preventing colds

Rub your hands frequently

There are many meridians and acupoints on the hands. Rubbing hands frequently can promote blood circulation in the hands, thereby dredging the meridians, enhancing immunity, and improving the ability to fight cold viruses.

Foot Warmth

If the feet are cold, it will reflexively cause the nasal mucosal blood vessels to contract, making people more susceptible to cold viruses. New mothers should pay attention to keeping their feet warm, and it is best to wear socks at all times.

Insulation and ventilation

The bedroom temperature of a new mother should be kept at 20-24℃. However, attention should be paid to ventilation while keeping warm. The window should be opened for ventilation 2-3 times a day, each time for 20-30 minutes. When the air is dry, a humidifier or a basin of water can be placed in the room, which can also prevent colds.

The confinement nanny reminds: when ventilating, the new mother and baby should be temporarily moved to another room to avoid being blown directly by the convection wind and catching a cold.

Skin cleansing

New mothers sweat a lot, and their clothes and bedding are often soaked with sweat, which can easily cause bacteria to multiply and grow. Therefore, new mothers' clothes and bedding must be changed and exposed to the sun frequently, which can not only keep them clean, but also kill bacteria with the help of ultraviolet rays in the sun.