Conference moira::parenting

    	The midwives have told me that I could take (if necessary):

    	Sudafed for colds and congestion
    	Tylenol for pain
    	Ventolin (RX) for asthma as needed

    	I recently dislocated my jaw and was on Percoset for a week (then
    it popped back in thank God). Although no one was all too pleased that
    I was on narcotics while nursing, it was literally the only way I could
    function. I tried to time it so that I took the medication right after
    I nursed hoping the amount of medication would be decreased by the next
    nursing. 

    	A lot depends on the needs of the mother in comparison to the needs
    of the baby.

    	By the way, what looked like emergency surgery last week has turned
    into elective surgery this week. I'm still waiting for some tests to
    come back but it looks like I can wait until after I finish nursing to
    even consider surgery (that is of course assuming that the jaw does not
    dislocate again).

    	Think 18 (years) is to old to be nursing a child? ;-)

    			Wendy

    Hi,
    
    I get the feeling that some of these drug names might be different 
    in the UK/USA.
    
    I know of Ventolin but Sudafed and Tylenol I've never heard of
    - but then I'm not a pharmacist. 
    
    We do have 'baby paracetamol' so this would indicate that it is not
    intrinsically harmful.
    
    Malcolm
    
    
    
    
    

I am still feeding Rebecca (she is nearly 15 months), but have had a couple of
minor illnesses since she was born.

Paracetamol is fine  - I was given these in hospital after my c-section and went
on taking them for a week afterwards. I still take them from time to time for
aches and the 'flu.

Cold remedies are OK if they are paracetamol based, but be careful about 
decongestants as they can get into the milk glands and more the milk more
watery. They can also interfer with the "security" of the mini-pill as they thin
down all mucous. I know of two "Night Nurse" mums :-)

Simple "tummy bug" mixtures (like those at Boots) are OK. But as with all drugs,
tell the chemist that it is for a nursing mum and they will double check before 
selling any over the counter drugs.

Cough mixture - I have a phenol mixture from my doctor - he also double checked
it before writing the prescription.

I was warned not to take anything with asprin in (as no child should have asprin
in any form until they are about 6) and to only use fruit and veggies if I was
constipated (no problem with my veggie diet). 

Anti-biotics should only be taken with strict supervision from a doctor. Mine 
refused to give me some for a throat infection - I just suffered for a couple
of weeks and used a lot of lemon and honey to ease the pain.

I am still taking ordinary multi-vits with iron as I did while pregnant.

Hope this helps - call your dr before taking anything if you are unsure.

              Celia

re: .2

Tylenol is a brand name.  The chemical name is acetominophen.  I'm sure any 
pharmacist would be familiar with it.  Sudafed is also a brand name, but I 
don't know what the chemical name is.

Clay

    I took Sudafed (brand name) when I had cold symptoms while nursing.
    My doctor did mention not to take anything with antihistamine as it
    could dry you up.
    

   I just stopped nursing when Kristen was 3 months
    old.  My doctor told me that I could take the
   same medications I could take when I was pregnant.
    Basically sudafed and tylenol.  I took tylenol
    a few times for headaches.

   Hope you feel better soon,
   Karen T. :)

    Hi,
    
    Thanks for the advice. Everyone is well now. 
    
    Malcolm