Breastfeeding & Robitussin

Breastfeeding is almost always the healthiest option for mothers and their babies. However, breastfeeding requires mothers to take caution with medication because anything they consume passes through to the milk that feeds their babies. Fortunately the majority of cold medicines are safe for nursing mothers, but there are ways to further minimize the risks.

Robitussin

Robitussin is an over the counter cold medicine that is used most commonly as a cough suppressant. Robitussin comes in several varieties with multiple ingredient formulations. The various types of Robitussin treat chest congestion, coughs and flu.

Medication Transfer

All medications transfer into breast milk, including cold medications. Researchers study the amount of medication that transfers into milk in some cases and evaluate the effect of the medication on the nursing infant. According to the book Medications and Mothers Milk by Dr. Thomas Hale, one of the standard books detailing safe medications during breastfeeding, Robitussin is considered low risk.

American Academy of Pediatrics

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) considers the results of studies performed on medication transfer into breastfeeding and makes recommendations for the safety of use in nursing mothers. However, the AAP has not reviewed the safety of Robitussin in particular for nursing mothers. The government agency Indian Health Service does recommend Robitussin as an acceptable cold medicine for use while breastfeeding.

Caution

While Robitussin is believed safe for nursing mothers, caution is still needed. Robitussin decreases milk production and mothers who are taking the medication for several days in a row should watch their babies to make sure the infants are adequately nourished and not getting dehydrated.

Minimizing Risk

Although taking Robitussin while breastfeeding is considered safe, there are ways to minimize the risk even further. Nursing mothers taking Robitussin should drink more water and nurse more often than usual to ensure that milk production stays high enough. Take the lowest effective dose of the drug and avoid multiple-ingredient medications when possible.

How to Maintain Breast Size After Pregnancy

Most women experience increased breast size during pregnancy. In fact, it's common for breasts to increase one to two full cup sizes throughout a pregnancy. Generally, the breasts begin to grow around the eighth week and continue to grow throughout the entire pregnancy. After you give birth, your breasts will decrease in size significantly. While it can be challenging, there are certain things you can do to try to maintain your breast size after pregnancy.

Instructions

1

Choose to breastfeed your baby. Because your breasts will often be full of milk, you'll be able to successfully maintain your bigger breasts as long as you breastfeed. You'll also be providing your baby with solid nourishment.

2

Gain weight. If you gain weight, some of that fat will go to your breasts. Because breasts are made up primarily of fatty tissue, the extra pounds in the area will make your breasts fuller and larger. Unfortunately, you can't choose where you put on weight, so you may find other areas of your body getting larger before your breasts.

3

Massage your breasts daily. Massage increases blood flow, helping nutrients reach your breasts more easily. The additional blood flow also helps areas appear fuller and plumper. As a result, your breasts may appear larger, closer to how they did when you were pregnant. Use firm, circular motions to rub your breasts daily for two to three minutes.

4

Talk to your doctor about hormonal medications. During pregnancy, your breasts became larger as a result of the hormones your body was producing. Various medications available can have similar effects on your body. Most often, you should not take hormonal medications while you are breastfeeding. Your doctor will be able to assess your particular situation and advise you accordingly.

5

Try herbal products. Various herbal creams, lotions and ointments contain phytoestrogens, which help to gradually increase breast size. Phytoestrogens are nature's equivalent of the hormone estrogen. With regular use, you may be able to maintain your larger breast size via such products. Discuss herbal medications with your doctor before beginning treatment.

6

Consider cosmetic surgery. Breast enhancements and lifts can help your breasts to look like they did while you were pregnant. Generally, saline implants are placed in your breast area to create larger, fuller breasts. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of such operations before making a decision.

Breast Pumping Techniques

Breastfeeding mothers often experience difficulty using a breast pump. Pumping milk into a machine is very different from breastfeeding a newborn baby, and often mothers find it impossible to express milk at all. With a little patience and the right environment, pumping milk can become a quick and easy routine, rather than an arduous and stressful event.

Choosing the Right Setting

Milk production is highest in the early morning (usually between 6 and 8 a.m.). Try to take advantage of your breasts' "rush hour" and pump during this time. It is best to pump in a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. If you must pump in the workplace, be sure to find a quiet, private place. Set aside about half an hour for pumping. Although pumping the milk only takes about 10 to 15 minutes, it is best to have a bit of time for preparation.

Before You Pump

Before you begin pumping, take some deep breaths and try to relax. Pumping milk is nothing to worry about, and it shouldn't be a cause of stress. Steady, deep breathing will help to activate the letdown reflex, which causes milk release. If possible, take a hot shower or apply hot pads to your breasts. This will also encourage letdown. It may help to massage your breasts before beginning, or to lean over and let your breasts hang down, to encourage the milk to begin flowing.

Massage

While you are pumping, massage the breasts gently. You can either rub in a circular motion or stroke very lightly. Breast massage will encourage milk flow and help you relax. Another technique is to rub with three fingers from the edge of the breast to the nipple. Be gentle and experiment to see what works for you.

Basic Pumping Techniques

Do not pump each breast for longer than 15 minutes. If you are unable to express any milk, don't worry. Sometimes it takes time to pump successfully. To help increase your milk production, be consistent. Set aside a certain time every day to pump, and follow the tips presented above. Be sure that your breast pump is not set too high, and experiment with various settings to figure out what works and is most comfortable.

Think About Baby

Many mothers find it helpful to think about their baby while they are pumping. Thinking about breastfeeding your baby will often aid in milk letdown. If you are in the workplace, perhaps it would be helpful to bring a picture. If baby is sleeping and the noise of the breast pump will not wake him, then pump in the same room. It is natural that the body responds to a baby, not a machine, so reminding yourself of your baby and her need for nourishment may help in the pumping process.

Tri-Vi-Sol vs. D-Vi-Sol

Breastfeeding is a healthy and natural alternative to feeding your baby infant formula. In a study published in the journal "Pediatrics" in 2010, however, researchers concluded that breastfed or not, most U.S. infants needed to take supplemental vitamin D. If the mother's diet is nutritionally deficient, the breastfed infant may need to take other vitamins as well. Tri-Vi-Sol and D-Vi-Sol are two vitamin supplements designed to make up for deficiencies in mother's breast milk. Consult your pediatrician before giving your baby Tri-Vi-Sol or D-Vi-Sol as nutritional supplements.

Infant Vitamin Requirements

According to the USDA, the adequate intake (AI) of vitamin D for an infant aged 0 to 12 months is 200 International Units per day. The UL or Upper Limit for vitamin D is 1000 IUs. Some infants may need vitamin A and vitamin C as well. Infants up to 6 months old need 40 milligrams of vitamin C per day while those 7 to 12 months old need 50 milligrams. For infants up to 6 months of age, the AI for vitamin A is 400 micrograms. Infants 7 to 12 months old need 500 micrograms per day. The upper limit of vitamin A for infants up to 12 months old is 600 micro grams vitamin A per day.

D-Vi-Sol

D-Vi-Sol is a vitamin D supplement for breastfeeding infants. According to Enfamil the manufacturer of D-Vi-Sol the supplement contains 400 IUs of vitamin D. The type of vitamin D in D-Vi-Sol is D3 or cholecalciferol. D3 is the form of vitamin D found in milk and naturally produced in human skin. According to Enfamil, D-Vi-Sol provides 100 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin D for infants and children under four years of age.

Tri-Vi-Sol

Like D-Vi-Sol, Tri-Vi-Sol is used to supplement the diet of breastfeeding infants. Tri-Vi-Sol contains 1500 IU of vitamin A palmitate, 35 milligrams of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin D. According to Enfamil, Tri-Vi-Sol provides 100 percent of the daily vitamin A, C and D requirements for infants. Tri-Vi-Sol contributes 60 percent of the vitamin A, 88 percent of their vitamin C and 100 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin D for children under four years of age.

Inactive Ingredients

Both Tri-Vi-Sol and D-Vi-Sol contain ingredients which have no nutritional value. Instead, these ingredients are added to preserve, color and flavor the supplements. Tri-Vi-Sol and D-Vi-Sol both contain glycerin, water, Polysorbate 80, natural and artificial flavor and caramel color as inactive ingredients. Di-Vi-Sol also contains sodium citrate and sodium hydroxide to balance its acidity. Neither Tri-Vi-Sol nor D-Vi-Sol contains any sugar.

How to Use Lanolin

Lanolin is an ingredient found in products used to provide relief to nursing mothers. When you breastfeed, your nipples can become sore and the skin around them dry or cracked. Lanolin is safe for both the woman as well as the nursing baby. Lanolin is available as both a cream and lotion from many manufacturers of breastfeeding accessories.

Instructions

1

Buy lanolin to use for the duration that you are breastfeeding. Some of the most popular brands of lanolin products include Lansinoh, Evenflo and Medela. Find lanolin through online retailers such as Amazon.com.

2

Place a small amount of lanolin on your fingers. Massage the lotion or cream onto your nipples. Apply a generous amount to ensure that the product has completely covered the area.

3

Feed your baby as normal. Lanolin does not pose a threat to the baby. You can even feed your baby immediately after applying the cream since it does not contain any additives or preservatives.

4

Repeat as needed. Continue to use lanolin throughout nursing in order to relieve sore nipples. There are no dosage restrictions.

5

Use lanolin on other parts of the body that you wish to moisturize. Although it is most often used for nursing support, you can apply lanolin to soften dry and rough skin. Condition your hands, nails, elbows, knees and other areas of your body.

How to Treat Mononucleosis With Alternative Remedies

Mononucleosis, caused primarily by the Epstein-Barr virus, is an infectious viral disease that is also known as "mono" or "the kissing disease" It has a negative effect on your lymphatic system, liver and respiratory system. Common symptoms associated with "mono" are headache, sore muscles, swollen lymph glands, liver enlargement, jaundice, fatigue, sore throat, fever, enlarged spleen and depressed appetite. You can catch this disease by means of direct contact, such as sharing utensils or kissing an infected individual. You can also catch mononucleosis when you are around an infected person who sneezes or coughs. Your doctor can diagnose "mono" by administering a mononucleosis spot test. He may then recommend giving you antibiotics or he may prescribe prednisone, a corticosteroid to help ease your symptoms. You may similarly find alternative remedies that may help reduce discomfort and symptoms.

Instructions

1

Switch to a mostly raw food diet over the course of the illness, to help build up your immune system. At least 50% of the foods you eat should be comprised of uncooked, unprocessed plant foods. Eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, seeds, whole grains and the like. Totally avoid white flour, sugar. fried foods, processed foods, sodas and coffee.

2

Try spirulina, a blue-green algae discovered by ancient Mayans. Spirulina aids in enhancing immunity. It is relatively safe to take and has been found to have no drug interactions. You should, however, speak with your doctor before taking spirulina, if you have phenylketonuria or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

3

Take goldenseal, as it helps to combat infection. Goldenseal, which contains a bacteria-killing compound known berberine, comes from a hairy-stemmed plant that is a member of the buttercup family. You can get goldenseal in capsule or tea form. Take, as directed by the individual product you get, but it should not be taken for more than a week. There are possible side-effects, including digestive problems, light-sensitivity and skin irritation. Should you begin experiencing any of these side-effects, stop taking goldenseal. You should not take goldenseal if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Anyone taking prescription medications should talk to a doctor before using goldenseal, to prevent the danger of drug interactions.

4

Rest. It is imperative to get enough rest to help rebuild your strength when you are suffering from mononucleosis. It can take several weeks for you to recover. You should limit contact with others, as much as it is possible to do so, to keep from passing on your infection. If you must have someone present to assist you, they should remember to wash their hands thoroughly at all times and should avoid kissing you or sharing personal items, such as a toothbrush and utensils.

5

Fight infection with olive leaf extract. It is believed to have antiviral and antioxidant properties. Use as directed by the individual product you have chosen. There are no known interactions with prescription medications. If you are diabetic, pregnant or breastfeeding, however, you should not take olive leaf extract before consulting your doctor.

6

Take milk thistle, which contains the liver-protecting ingredient known as silymarin. You can get it in extract, capsule or tea form and should take it, according to the directions of the individual protect you are using. If you are allergic to plants that come from the Asteraceae family, using the herb milk thistle is inadvisable and you should not take it. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medications or being treated for a serious medical condition, you should speak to your doctor before taking milk thistle.

Side Effects of Fenugreek in a Baby

In a world with increasing concerns about big pharmaceutical companies, expensive medications, unknown long-term effects of medicine and the quality of the food we consume, many people have turned to natural alternative remedies.

In recent years, fenugreek has become an increasingly popular herb among women struggling with breastfeeding and milk production. While there exists a lack of clinical research to support fenugreek as an aid in breast milk production, the Mayo Clinic acknowledges it as an herbal supplement that may facilitate lactation.

Moms using fenugreek for breastfeeding purposes commonly take three or more capsules a day of supplements, which is a large amount of an herb that one might otherwise have in small amounts very infrequently. While this may get the milk flowing, it can also have adverse effects on a baby.

The Maple Syrup Effect

Fenugreek may cause both baby and mother to produce urine that smells like maple syrup. This can falsely cause worry that the baby has maple syrup urine disease, which is the sign of major metabolic problems.

Allergies

Fenugreek is closely related to peanuts, which are a common allergen. Babies of moms taking fenugreek while nursing have been reported symptoms such as upset stomach and colic.

Loose Stools

Fenugreek is known for creating loose stools, which in babies may lead to diarrhea.