Can a Nursing Mother Take Aspirin?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a policy statement recommending that nursing mothers should take the safest possible drugs when there are alternatives. As an example, AAP lists acetaminophen (Tylenol) as a better option that aspirin.

Identification

Aspirin is a salicylate drug that is used for pain relief and as a blood thinner. According to the Drug Safety Site, it is excreted into breast milk in low concentrations.

History

Sodium salicylate, a drug closely related to aspirin, was first detected in human breast milk in 1935.

Time Frame

When a nursing mother takes aspirin, either in a single dose or in repeated doses, the concentration of the drug in her breast milk peaks nine hours later.

Potential

Aspirin in human milk could potentially impact platelet function in the nursing infant. This can cause blood thinning, rashes, and bleeding.

Expert Insight

AAP includes aspirin in its list of "drugs that have been associated with some significant effects in some nursing infants and should be given to nursing mothers with caution."

Breast Infection in Non Nursing Women

Mastitis, or breast infection, occurs when bacteria invade the fatty tissue of one of your breasts. Breast infections are most common in nursing women, but also occur in women who are not breastfeeding.

Causes

Breast infections develop when Staphylococcus aureus bacteria enter the breast tissue through a crack in your nipple. In non-nursing women, cracks sometimes result from dry skin or eczema.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a breast infection in non-nursing women include breast tenderness, warm breast tissues, malaise, swelling, skin redness and a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius) or higher.

Treatment

Treatment usually requires oral antibiotics. Applying warm compresses to your breasts also eases the swelling, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Time Frame

With treatment, breast infections in non-nursing women usually clear in 10 to 14 days, though your symptoms could subside in as little as 24-48 hours, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Warning

A rare and rapidly-spreading cancer known as inflammatory breast disease mimics the symptoms of breast infections. Because inflammatory breast disease progresses quickly and often is fatal, consult a doctor if you are not nursing and you develop symptoms of a breast infection.

How to Buy Fenugreek

Fenugreek is derived from the Greek word "foenum-graecum," meaning "Greek hay." Fenugreek seeds are used in curry and other recipes as a spice. Fenugreek is also used to increase milk production in breastfeeding women and as a natural expectorant to help clear mucous from the body. Fenugreek is available at most grocery stores as a spice and at most health food stores as an herbal supplement.

Instructions

1

Determine how you are going to use fenugreek. If you are using fenugreek for flavor in recipes, purchase it as a spice, which will be in seed form. If you are purchasing it to help or heal an ailment, purchase fenugreek in a capsule form, which can be taken with water during meals.

2

Purchase fenugreek seeds at the grocery store. Most grocery stores that have a large spice section will carry fenugreek seeds.

3

Purchase fenugreek supplements and seeds at your local health food store. Most health food stores with a large vitamin section will carry fenugreek supplements and often carry fenugreek seeds in the spice section.

4

Purchase fenugreek supplements at your local vitamin store. Most vitamin stores like GNC and the Vitamin Shop will carry fenugreek supplements.

Smothering During Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can trigger anxieties, especially for first-time mothers. Concerns may arise about latching, weight gain and the mother's own breast pain. Some mothers may also wonder whether they can accidentally smother their infants while nursing. The good news is, infants are not at risk for suffocation during breastfeeding as long as parents take proper precautions during feedings.

Breastfeeding in Bed

Many mothers breastfeed in the side-lying position in bed. This position may be most comfortable for a sore, tired mother who needs to relax. It can also help a new baby fall asleep more easily. Despite these benefits, the side-lying position can become dangerous if mothers fall asleep themselves. According to the March of Dimes article "Co-sleeping," co-sleeping can put your infant at risk for sudden infant death syndrome. An adult can easily roll over onto the infant, smothering her. If she falls asleep on her side, the infant can roll onto her stomach with her face pressed into the mattress. Blankets and pillows in the bed can also cover the infant's face and block her airway. For all of these reasons, mothers should be cautious when breastfeeding in bed. Always be sure loose bedding is far from your infant's head, and avoid dozing off.

Finding a Good Position

Breasts come in many shapes and sizes, and women with larger breasts may worry that they will cover their infants' noses while nursing. If your infant has latched properly, only the tip of the nose will touch the breast, leaving room around the nostrils for breathing. If you do happen to notice your her face buried too deeply into your breast, you can lightly press on the breast with your finger to make space near the nostrils. Supporting your breast while nursing will help the infant latch correctly so that she can breathe easily. Women can try different positions until they find the best position for their own bodies and their new babies. In the Parents article "The Best Breastfeeding Positions for Mom and Baby," Tricia O'Brien describes multiple positions mothers can try -- the cradle, in which the mom lies baby lengthwise across her abdomen and supports baby's head with her elbow and her breast with her hand; side-lying, in which the mom lies baby on his side facing her, and the football hold, in which the mom holds baby perpendicular to her side, face up, supported by pillows.

Nursing a Congested Baby

If your baby is congested, she may have more difficulty breathing during breastfeeding. Talk to the pediatrician about your baby's congestion to see if she needs to be treated. You can also try different positions to help her breathe more easily. Try sitting your baby on your lap facing you to help drain congestion. Support your breast with your hand. Do not stop nursing just because your baby is sick. In fact, the KellyMom breastfeeding support website suggests that this is one of the most important times to keep nursing. Breastfeeding will calm your baby, and the milk contains antibodies to fight infection.

Clothing Complications

In the middle of the night, sleepy mothers may not be as alert while breastfeeding. It is important to pay attention while your baby feeds at any time of day or night. Make sure your own clothing does not get in the way. Try wearing a nursing bra or shirt with detachable straps for easy access. Do not let a shirt or sweater fall around your baby's nose and mouth while she is feeding. Some mothers may choose not to wear any shirt at all while breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact with an infant has many benefits. According to experts at the GroupHealth website, "Babies held skin to skin cry less, are calmer, and stay warmer."

How to Help the Letdown for Lactation

Whether you are pumping your breast milk or letting your baby latch onto your breasts, the letdown reflex is essential during both of these processes. During the letdown of breast milk, the hormone oxytocin stimulates milk-making cells to contract and eject milk from the breasts. Some women have an overactive letdown of breast milk, which may result in their baby gagging or pulling away due to the abundance of milk. When the letdown is slow, babies may become fussy and impatient and it may affect the mother's self-esteem. To avoid this, incorporate methods to stimulate the letdown of breast milk.

Instructions

1

Avoid alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs because these may adversely affect the letdown of your breast milk.

2

Get in a relaxed state of mind. Take a warm bath or shower and take acetaminophen if your breasts are painful, because pain can distract you while nursing your baby and affect the breast milk letdown.

3

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position in a quiet room. If you are uncomfortable, it may interfere with breastfeeding and the letdown of your breast milk. Sit in a rocking chair that has sufficient arm and back support or lay down on a bed. Nurse your baby in the same room every time, because simply walking toward the room may stimulate breast milk letdown.

4

Massage your breasts lightly to stimulate the letdown of breast milk. Gently roll your nipples between your fingers and lightly pull on them. Have your partner massage your back or shoulders while you breast feed, because this may also stimulate the letdown.

5

Stimulate your senses because they directly influence the letdown of your breast milk. Listen to soft music while breastfeeding and drink water or herbal tea. Visualize your milk flowing or think of relaxing thoughts to take your mind of the task at hand. Some women prefer to think of their babies or look at photos of their babies, while others prefer to think about tropical beaches. Experiment with different types visuals and thoughts to see which best stimulate your letdown reflex.

6

Read a book, watch television or talk on the phone while breastfeeding your baby. By taking your focus off nursing, the letdown of your breast milk may naturally occur.

7

Wear a nursing bra so your breasts are comfortable in between feedings. Nursing bras offer support and stretch as your breasts fluctuate in size during your breastfeeding stage. Improper breast support may result in painful breasts, which may inhibit the letdown of your breast milk.

Natural Ways to Fight a Cold During Breastfeeding

Not only is keeping up with the demands of a baby hard enough when youre a healthy breastfeeding mother, when you get a cold it can really take its toll. Since most foods and beverages that you consume make their way into your breast milk, you need to be careful with what you take to battle your illness. By finding natural ways to fight a cold during this time, you can keep your little one safe while you nurse your own body back to health.

Saline

Saline is a salt-water mixture that is an inexpensive, non-prescription method to help you safely battle the nasal congestion associated with a cold. Saline is available in spray or drop form, as well as dry salt packets that can be mixed with sterile water and administered with a Neti pot. This salt-water solution is safe for anyone, including breastfeeding mothers and small children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Simply read the products instructions and apply the solution as recommended. Saline solution helps to thin mucus and flush out nasal passages. It has no side effects, and you can use it as needed.

Fluids

According to MayoClinic.com, its vital that you get enough fluids to keep hydrated while your body fights a cold. Get at least eight glasses of water, clear broth, herbal tea or warm water with fresh squeezed lemon juice and a squirt of honey. One-hundred-percent fruit juice, such as orange juice, can help, too. MayoClinic.com advises you to stay away from fluids that will make you dehydrated, such as coffee, caffeinated soda and alcohol, as dehydration will only make matters worse. These you should limit or eliminate altogether while youre nursing anyway.

Chicken Soup

It may seem like an old wives' tale, but according to MayoClinic.com, theres some validity to the claims that homemade chicken noodle soup with vegetables helps you safely combat a cold. First off, it acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting your bodys natural inflammatory response to this illness, which causes stuffiness, pain and pressure. This warm comfort food also helps relieve congestion by temporarily increasing the movement of mucus, moving the gunk out so the virus doesnt have as much contact with the lining in your nose. Although its not an all-out cure, it can help you feel better as the cold runs its cycle.

Rest

Not only does producing breast milk affect your energy level, so does an illness. Help your body reserve its energy for fighting the cold by making sure you get enough rest. When you feel tired or fatigued, lie down to rest or take a nap. Its alright to take it extra easy while youre a sick nursing momma. Dont be afraid to ask for help during this time. Fathers, your parents, friends or babysitters can take over on the baby front for a bit so you can rest.

How to Use a Nursing Supplementer

When faced with lactation problems, you feel helpless. The little newborn needs to eat and the nursing just isn't working like it should. A solution to increase your milk supply is to use a nursing supplementer. This useful device not only increases milk supply, but encourages improved suckling and enables adoptive mothers to nurse their baby. Here is how to use a nursing supplementer.

Instructions

Determine the Kind of Supplementation Your Baby Needs

1

Notify your pediatrician and obstetrician about your lactation difficulty. Most pediatricians will want to weigh the baby every 3 to 5 days in the beginning and check for dehydration. Your obstetrician can prescribe certain drugs or may recommend certain herbal tinctures that may help you increase your milk supply.

2

Contact a lactation consultant. Ask her for a recommendation of what type of supplementer to get. The two popular brands available are the Lact-Aid and Medela's SNS.

3

Read the directions thoroughly. Each supplementer works in basically the same way, but each will have its own quirks to get it to work right.

Set Up the Supplementer

4

Fill the bag or bottle with pumped breast milk or formula. Set it on a paper towel or in its filler stand to keep it clean.

5

Select the size tubing right for your baby. The tubing comes in three sizes, small, medium and large diameter. The supplementer directions may tell you to start with the largest tubing and work down to the smallest, but ask your lactation consultant which is the best size for your situation.

6

Tighten the tube cap on the bottle or bag and, if the bottle has more than one tube, tape one tube to the bottle. This will leave you with only one rubber tube to wrestle away from your baby.

7

Secure the string attachment around your neck. The bottle or bag should rest slightly above your breasts on your chest with the tube end at about the midline.

8

Tape the other tube just beyond the tip of your nipple on your nursing breast using gentle paper tape. You might find it easier to tape down the length of the tube rather than across the tube like some supplementer's directions. Do not put tape beyond the edge of your areola because this skin is very sensitive.

Latching On and Nursing With the Supplementer

9

Bring baby to your breast. Keep the baby's nose even with your nipple.

10

Latch baby on while trying to keep the tubing even with your nipple. The tube sometimes slips out and some babies even spit out the tubing but have patience, this is the most difficult part of the whole process. With a little practice both of you will know what to expect.

11

Keep an eye on the supplementer for air going into the bottle. If air is not going into the supplementer, it will create a vacuum and the baby can't get any formula or breast milk out.

12

Let the baby lead the feeding. Don't be alarmed if your little one doesn't take as much as you think he should. He is getting some breast milk and your body should be producing more.

13

Remove the tape gently and if any seems to be stuck, rub some olive oil on it to loosen it. Wash the oil off before nursing again.