April Showers, Bring May Flowers, and Allergies.
- Laura-Ann Broggin
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 7
It's that time of year! April showers bring May flowers, May flowers bring pollen, and what does pollen bring?
Sneezing, watery itching eyes, stuffy nose, scratching throat, to sum it up...allergies...they bring allergies.
As mothers, we have things to do, houses to clean, dinners to cook, kids to care for, and jobs to do, so we can't be worn down by seasonal allergies. So over-the-counter medications to the RESCUE!!!!
But what if we are breastfeeding!? It makes sense that as breastfeeding mothers we hesitate to take anything unless first making sure it is safe for our babies and our milk supply.
So, what is safe, and what do I recommend to my breastfeeding clients?
Common Allergy Meds:
Cetrizine (Zyrtec)- Preferred antihistamine when breastfeeding only because it has more thoroughly been researched. Small amounts pass into breast milk. Unlikely to cause drowsiness in infants. May lower breastmilk production. especially if combined with pseudoephedrine. Overall thought to be safe.
Loratadine (Claritin)- An antihistamine. Small amounts pass into breast milk. Unlikely to cause drowsiness in infants. May lower breastmilk production, especially if combined with pseudoephedrine. Overall thought to be safe.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)- An antihistamine. Passes into breastmilk. Likely to cause drowsiness in infants. Known to cause issues in milk production.
My Recommendations:
1. Never hesitate to contact your family doctor or pediatrician to discuss their recommendations. While many medicines are breastfeeding-approved, your doctor will know your infant's health history and can recommend medications based on your infant's overall health.
2. If you have an infant who gains weight slowly, was born underweight, or if you have a milk supply issue, avoid antihistamines which can cause drowsiness in your infant consequently negatively affecting breastfeeding, supply, and weight gain. If an antihistamine is necessary, consider the more thoroughly studied Zyrtec.
3. Check out this website to compare (over-the-counter, prescribed, and Supplemental) medications for safety while nursing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/?report=classic
4. Consider other trustworthy sites as well, like:
5. Trust your own instincts. The saying, "Mother knows best," has its truths! If you aren't comfortable taking a particular item or feel it negatively affects you, your infant, or your breastfeeding journey, avoid it, even if it is "approved" as safe! Each mother, baby, and journey is different!
6. I personally highly recommend honey immunotherapy. This is the process of ingesting small amounts of raw local honey, frequently, to enable the body to build a natural immune response to the allergens around you. Ingesting honey is perfectly safe while breastfeeding.
Other Safe Alternatives include:
Ketotifen (Zatador) eye drops for itchy watery eyes
Saline Nasal Rinse to flush out allergens from the nasal passages
Oxynetazoline (Afrin) nasal spray is a nasal decongestant that is safe to use whil breastfeeding. However, it is not recommended to use it more than three days in a row.
Tylenol or Motrin for allergy headaches.
Stinging Nettles are considered nutritive, tonic, and diurectic. May increase milk production, decrease allergies, and more. Compatible with breastfeeding.
Fenugreek Tea for headaches and chest congestion. May increase supply. Known as safe while breastfeeding.
Ultimately, when breastfeeding and deciding what is acceptable to take and what isn't, it is each mother's decision. What works for some may not for others. What is perfectly safe for some may cause an unexpected reaction in others. Researching medications and supplements before usage is key, followed by minimum dosing, and close monitoring. The majority of mothers will see no ill side effects for their supply or their infants, but monitoring is certainly wise.
References:
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