What Can I Take For Sore Throat While Breastfeeding
Today has been a long day, so you decided to have a good long bath. You’re inside your bathroom, singing your heart out in the shower. But when you wake up the next day, you find your throat feeling dry and your voice sounding hoarse.
Many people have experienced a sore throat and know just how annoying it is. Some might have one because of a cold or because of karaoke night. Either way, a sore throat can make anyone feel uncomfortable and irritable.
Thankfully, most cases of sore throat can go away in a day or two. But while some people only need a glass of water to feel better, others need medicine and rest. And in this article, we’ll discuss if these treatments are safe for nursing moms.
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The Signs and Causes of Sore Throat
Signs of a sore throat include a scratchy feeling in your throat and difficulty in swallowing and speaking. Other symptoms to look out for are coughing, sneezing, fever, headaches, patches of pus on your tonsils, and nasal congestion.
There are many causes of sore throat. Sometimes, it might be from straining your vocal cords from singing or yelling. Other times, it can be from a cold or flu virus. Other causes of sore throat include pollution, cigarette smoking, and allergies.
Tonsilitis, strep throat, and mono are conditions that can cause a sore throat and require medical attention. Your doctor will prescribe either antibiotics or antiviral medicines.
What Can I Take for Sore Throat While Breastfeeding?
Your physician will either prescribe antibiotics or antiviral for your sore throat. However, they will need to do a check-up before giving you any form of medication. And so far, both antibiotics and antiviral are safe for nursing mothers.
You should still make it a point to tell your doctor that you’re nursing. This can help them choose which course of medicine is right for you.
For milder cases, you can also use lozenges. They can be used as temporary relief for sore throat and are available over the counter. Plus, lozenges are safe to ingest while nursing.
How to Keep Your Baby Safe While You’re Sick
It sucks to be sick. But it sucks more if you’re child is also under the weather. You’ll have to be extra careful not to accidentally infect your baby while you have a sore throat.
You can take precautions to keep your baby safe. The first thing you can do is wear a mask while feeding, playing, and caring for your baby. Proper hygiene is also a must, so remember to wash your hands before and after handling your child. And lastly, avoid sneezing or coughing directly at your child (or at anyone else for that matter.)
You may still care for your child while you have a sore throat. However, you should also be careful to not infect your baby. If your condition is making it harder to care for your infant, ask for help from someone trustworthy.
More related to breastfeeding:
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Home Remedies for Sore Throat
Mild cases of sore throat can be remedied at home. If you’re not suffering from an infection or flu, you can easily take care of your itchy throat by doing the following:
Stay Hydrated
Water is your number one friend when you have a sore throat. It can cool your irritated throat and lessen inflammation. Keep a bottle around you at all times so you won’t forget to drink.
Gargle Warm Water with Salt
A salt water gargle can soothe your throat and reduce swelling. Salt can also aid your body in the fight against bacteria by drawing out the infection. Simply mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one glass of warm water and gargle every one to two hours.
Drink Some Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is another effective drink when you’re throat is sore. Chamomile is said to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and astringent properties, making it a go-to home remedy. If drinking chamomile is not your cup of tea (pun intended), then you can try steaming chamomile extract.
Mix Fresh Garlic in Your Food
Similar to chamomile, garlic is also a classic home remedy ingredient. Because of its antibacterial properties, garlic can help relieve bacterial infections. You can mix fresh garlic in your dressings, dips, and sauces. Garlic tea with honey is also another effective remedy.
Have A Spoonful of Honey
And speaking of honey: Honey also has antibacterial properties like garlic. Eating a spoonful of honey or mixing it in your tea can help bring relief to your throat. Do keep in mind that honey can be acidic.
Steer Away from Acidic Food
Asides from honey, people with acid reflux should avoid their triggers. Acid reflux can worsen sore throat symptoms. You should also avoid eating an hour before sleeping to avoid reflux and heartburn.
Let Your Voice Rest for the Day
Finally, the best way to get rid of your sore throat is by letting your voice rest. Overusing your voice puts a strain on your throat, making it harder to speak and swallow. Avoid shouting, singing, and speaking for an extensive period.
Conclusion
A sore throat can make swallowing, speaking, and eating difficult. It’s also very uncomfortable when you need to clear your throat every five minutes. Overall, nobody wants to live with an itchy and dry throat.
A sore throat is usually caused by sicknesses such as colds, tonsilitis, or flu. And asides from a sore throat, you will also have to deal with other symptoms.
Fortunately, a trip to the clinic can help figure out what sickness you have. Treatment can range from either doing home remedies to taking prescribed medications.
Treatment for sore throat is safe for nursing mothers and their babies. Antibiotics and antiviral medicines won’t interfere with your breast milk and its production. However, it’s also important to remember to be careful around your baby when you’re feeling ill. Otherwise, you risk infecting your infant.
Nobody wants to have a sore throat, but sometimes you can’t help overworking your throat a bit. But with patience, rest, and a bit of chamomile tea, you can go back to your nightly concert in the bathroom.
