Can I take it while breastfeeding?

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There's a laundry list of medications, hormonal birth control, herbs, and supplements which are generally advised against because of the potential negative impact on breast milk supply. Decongestants are widely known to have this effect. And being that it IS cold and flu season right now it's definitely not uncommon to see a mama, suffering in her head cold wallows, to post in an online forum: "Help! I'm breastfeeding. Is it safe to take_____?"

There's actually a lot that goes into deciding if it is appropriate for that particular mama!

The evidence-based drug information that is available needs to carefully be weighed- general risks and benefits as well as the potential effect on the breastfeeding relationship of this unique mother-baby pair.

What does this mean exactly?

Well, the potential impact on milk supply caused by over-the-counter decongestants might very well be far less of a concern for the mama with a very well-established nursing relationship, who is not pump-dependent, does not work outside of the home where she is separated from her baby for hours on a routine basis, or for the co-sleeping/nighttime nursing duo who greatly benefits from peak prolactin levels with lots of baby-on-breast stimulation. These mamas may experience a slight dip in milk supply or production, but because of frequent and effective nursing, supply rebounds quickly after short-term use.

For other nursing pairs, there may be a greater risk associated with medications and herbs that are known to cause reduction in milk- perhaps we are referring to the mama of a very young newborn and her milk supply is still primarily hormonally driven, or a working mama who doesn't respond optimally to a breast pump, or a mama who has other underlying health conditions that are related to supply concerns.

Nursing dynamics are unique to each and every mama-baby, and so recommendations must always be unique as well.