Medications & Breastfeeding: What’s Safe When You’re Sick
Getting sick when you're a mom is unavoidable — but knowing how to navigate illness while breastfeeding or pumping is a must if you want to avoid accidentally dropping your supply. Understanding the relationship between breastfeeding and medications is crucial for maintaining both your health and your baby's well-being.
No medicine can "cure" colds or the flu, but you can ease symptoms with safe over-the-counter medications, prescription antivirals, and natural immune-supporting supplements. When considering medications during breastfeeding, it's important to be well-informed about their potential effects on your milk supply and your baby.
While 99% of prescription and over-the-counter medications are safe for breastfeeding moms, they are not always safe for your milk supply. Because most medical schools skim over lactation, many physicians don't know which medications are truly compatible with breastfeeding. When in doubt, consult your local IBCLC, call your hospital's lactation department for evidence-based guidance, or refer to resources like LactMed or Hale's Medications and Mothers' Milk for up-to-date information on drugs and lactation.
Which Medications Are Safe?
Fever & Pain Relief: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin) are safe options.
For Stuffiness & Allergies: Be careful with Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Sudafed (pseudoephedrine), as they often reduce milk supply significantly. Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) are better options.
Flu Treatment: If you are diagnosed with the flu, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is the preferred antiviral for breastfeeding moms. Only tiny amounts pass into breast milk, and no harmful effects have been reported in infants. Understanding the relationship between flu and breastfeeding can help you make informed decisions about treatment. Tamiflu is most effective when taken early, reducing the severity and duration of illness by about 1–2 days.
Important Reminder
DO NOT stop breastfeeding and DO NOT pump and dump. Fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and coughing are not reasons to stop nursing or discard pumped milk when you have a common cold, flu, COVID-19 virus, or food poisoning. Breast milk safety is not compromised by these common illnesses.
Here's why:
Most viruses have a 48-hour incubation period, meaning your baby has already been exposed before you even notice symptoms.
Your body immediately begins making antibodies against those germs. Kissing your baby's skin accelerates this process.
Those antibodies pass directly into your breast milk, giving your baby built-in cold and flu fighters, automatically, as long as you keep nursing.
Nurse, Nurse, Nurse. Your milk is medicine.
Final Thoughts
Cold and flu season doesn't have to stop you from breastfeeding. With safe medications, supportive supplements, and your own amazing milk, you've got everything you and your baby need. When considering a supplement while breastfeeding, always consult with a healthcare professional to ensure it's compatible with nursing.
Stay hydrated and keep electrolytes balanced with BOOBIE Hydromom — made with coconut water and formulated to support milk supply and recovery during illness.
Snack smart while you rest with BOOBIE Bars and nutrient-rich BOOBIE Body protein shakes to help keep your energy (and milk supply) strong.
