What can you take for allergies while breastfeeding?

Managing Allergies While Breastfeeding
Navigating allergies while breastfeeding can be a challenging experience for new mothers. The good news is that there are safe options available to help manage symptoms without compromising the health of both mother and baby.
Understanding Allergies and Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method of infant feeding, providing numerous health benefits for both mother and child. However, mothers may worry about the potential for their diet to affect their breastfeeding infant, particularly if there are concerns about food allergies. While human breast milk is generally safe and does not typically cause allergic reactions in infants, some mothers may need to be cautious about certain foods they consume.
Common allergens include dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soy. If a breastfeeding mother has been informed that her infant has food allergies, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare provider to determine which foods to avoid.
Allergy Medications and Safety
When it comes to treating seasonal allergies, many mothers wonder about the safety of medications during breastfeeding. It is crucial to consult a healthcare provider before taking any medication. Generally, some allergy medications are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers. For instance, nasal sprays like Afrin (oxymetazoline) are often recommended because they are not significantly absorbed into the bloodstream and therefore have minimal impact on milk supply.
For mild symptoms, healthcare providers may suggest non-pharmacological options such as saline nasal drops or eye drops to alleviate stuffiness and irritation. These alternatives can provide relief without the risks associated with systemic medications.
Lifestyle Adjustments
In addition to medication, lifestyle adjustments can also help manage allergy symptoms. Keeping windows closed during high pollen seasons, using air purifiers, and regularly cleaning living spaces can reduce exposure to allergens. Staying hydrated and maintaining a balanced diet can also support overall health and potentially mitigate allergy symptoms.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding mothers dealing with allergies have various options to manage their symptoms safely. By consulting healthcare professionals and considering both medication and lifestyle changes, mothers can find relief while ensuring their breastfeeding journey remains healthy for both them and their infants. As always, individual circumstances vary, so personalized advice from a healthcare provider is essential.

Can Zyrtec decrease milk supply?

Remember, there are also many medications that can reduce your milk supply. For example, antihistamines like Benadryl, Zyrtec, Allegra, etc, or decongestants like Sudafed, can decrease your milk supply.

Can I breastfeed if I have seasonal allergies?

Yes. A parent can still breastfeed/chestfeed when suffering from seasonal allergies. You may not be feeling well because you are sneezing and your eyes are puffy, but it is still safe to breastfeed/chestfeed. However, prescription or over-the-counter allergy medication may affect your milk production.

Which antihistamine is safe in breastfeeding?

Loratadine or cetirizine are usually OK to take while breastfeeding. Always check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if it’s safe for you before taking it or giving it to your child.

What can I take for allergies while breastfeeding?

Non-sedating antihistamines are the preferred choice for a breastfeeding mother:

• Loratadine (Clarityn®) (Powell 2007, Hilbert 1997),
• Cetirizine (Zirtek®, BecoAllergy®, Piriteze®, Benadryl®) reaches low levels in breastmilk and is recommended by the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Powell 2007)

Can I take Flonase while breastfeeding?

It’s usually OK to use your fluticasone nasal spray or drops as normal while you’re breastfeeding. It’s not known how much fluticasone gets into breast milk, but it’s likely to be a tiny amount. Your baby will not absorb a lot of fluticasone into their body from the breast milk.

Will Claritin dry up my milk supply?

Is It Safe to Take Claritin While Breastfeeding? While regular Claritin is completely fine, taking Claritin-D while breastfeeding may reduce milk supply. Claritin-D contains both loratadine, an antihistamine, and pseudoephedrine sulfate, a nasal decongestant,2 which may reduce milk supply, says Silverman.

Which works better, Claritin or zyrtec?

Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Claritin (loratadine) are two popular brands. They contain different compounds but appear to be equally effective. Antihistamines can reduce allergy symptoms, such as watering eyes, itchy skin, hives, and swelling.

Should I take Claritin or zyrtec while breastfeeding?

Cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin) are the recommended antihistamines when breastfeeding. Other antihistamines are also considered safe but do not have as much research to support this. These include Allegra and Xyzal. Antihistamines such as Zatador are available as eye drops, which help itchy, watery eyes.

Which works better, Claritin or Zyrtec?

Zyrtec (cetirizine) and Claritin (loratadine) are two popular brands. They contain different compounds but appear to be equally effective. Antihistamines can reduce allergy symptoms, such as watering eyes, itchy skin, hives, and swelling.

Is Zyrtec or Claritin better for babies?

In order of preference, I recommend: Zyrtec (cetirizine) – Zyrtec can be given to children as young as 6-months and has a quick onset of action (1 hour). It’s more likely to cause drowsiness than Claritin, but more effective than Allegra. Xyzal has the same active ingredient as Zyrtec, save your money.