breastfeeding baby when I have diahorrea: is imodium safe and is she sick?

[tenar]

I have some bug or other that gave me a fever (30 degrees) for about a day, with diahorrea that I thought was gone this morning but is now back with a vengeance. Yay (sorry: TMI really).

Anyway, so far DD seems to be fine, though she was really fussy all night a couple of nights ago, so maybe was feeling crook then. Except her temperature has been up a little, no more than 37.3 degrees (measured with a Braun ear thermometer), for the last 2 or 3 days. Normally her temp measures as less than 36.5, but I'm not really sure if this 37 or so is a fever or if it's normal, healthy, temp variation.

What I'm wondering is two things:

1. Would you take a baby to a doctor who had a temperature that seemed to be slightly up for a few days in a row? My inclination is not to, unless something else happens that makes me worry that she's sick/

2. Is it obvious when a BF baby gets some gastro bug? Her poos are runny anyway. Will I know if she's sick?

3. If I take some imodium will it be OK for her given that I'm breastfeeding. I don't know if it's safe, and it's hard for me to have a conversation about this in Spanish with a pharmacist (we're in Madrid and my Spanish isn't really that good).

Any ideas on any of these?

[Winter]

Hey Tenar, how old is DD? If she's sick, you'd know, I *know* when my bubs is sick. Follow your intuituon and if you get concerned, take her to drs.

As for imodium & diarrhea, are you travelling? Do you need to be "blocked" up? I am always of the opinion that diarrhea is better out than in and your body is trying to expel the bugs that are making you sick.

I'll have a little google on bf & imodium so hang 5...

[Winter]

Found this:

Extremely small amounts of Imodium (loperamide) are excreted into breastmilk. If a breastfed baby consumes 165ml/kg/day of milk (approximately 2.5 ounces/pound/day), he would take in 2000 times less than the recommended daily dose of Imodium.

Watch your baby for pale skin, increased pulse rate, respiratory depression and constipation. Hoping this information helps you and your physician to make an informed decision regarding this medication.

Reference:
Medications and Mothers' Milk, Thomas Hale, R.Ph.,Ph.D.,1994

[Eenee]

I wouldn't take imodium if you have a tummy bug cos just keeping the nasties in there. Not sure exactly how safe imodium is when breastfeeding but it may cause constipation in your baby if you take it. Best to avoid it. And have a bland diet until diarrhoea settles.

Normal temps range from 36-37.5 is about right. Fever is usually 38- 40. low grade fever is around 37.5 and when no other symptoms nothing to worry about.

You will probably know when your baby is sick cos will show other signs- will look generally unwell- i'm sure there are others that can give you more examples.

[Visitor6]

If your diarrhoea is from an infection then Loperamide (Imodium) shouldn't be used. By stopping the diarrhoea you are keeping the bug inside you for longer: the diarrhoea is your bodies way of trying to get rid of the bug.

Treat the fluid loss with hydrating yourself. Add some electrolyte powders or even the over the counter gatorades in between plenty of water is you don't trust the local products.

As for the little one although the temp rise is there it's still within normal limits so again go for the symptom management. Only when reaching 38.0 or of symtoms go on for longer than 24-48 hours is worth heading for the doctors.

As for the paharmacist reliability..... Try the Royal Womens Pharmacy Department
(03) 8345 3190

+61 03 8345 3190 or ED +61 03 8345 2000

Ask a Pharmacist

http://www.thewomens.org.au/Howcommonmedicationscaneffectyourbreastmilk?
(03) 8345 3190

[Miss H]

I agree with not taking the imodium unless you have to be in a place that you cannot go to the toilet if necessary. Your body gives you the runs to get the nasties out of you and imodium will just keep it in.

As for the poos of your daughter, you will know if she is sick as the poo will smell horrible and might even change colour. Normal poo from a BF baby smells quite sweet. Not normally offensive.

How is the weather there? Could she just be a bit warmer. The doc told me that a high temp taken from the hear will be over 37.5.

[tenar]

Thanks for the quick replies, everyone. I had wondered whether it would be wise to take imodium or not, and I do take the point about it being better to get the bug out of my system. Problem is that it's a very dry climate here and harder to stay hydrated, so from that point of view stopping it would be better. But I guess if I'm careful to drink even more than the lots I usually do because of breastfeeding, I can manage.

It's winter here, nearly, so about 20 degrees indoors and 5-15 out. Nice and sunny. I doubt that DD is too hot.

She's almost 7 months old (wow, that time went fast). I don't think she's sick, just wondering a bit about the persistent slightly higher temp. I think I'll trust my instinct and watch her closely, but not go to the doc unless it rises over 38 or something else bad happens with her, which I don't expect.

Thanks again.

[Traveller]

If you google The Breastfeeding Network (uk site) they have a lot of information on drugs and breastfeeding. They say imodium is safe to take when breastfeeding as it is poorly absorbed from the gut and minimal amounts will end up in breastmilk, but the most important things are to keep hydrated and keep breastfeeding as this will help your baby fight the bug that you are carrying.

Hope you feel better soon

T
xx

[Gigi]

i had two bouts of really bad gastro whilst bf-ing. both times, i mean, like "most of the night on the toilet - lost 3kg overnight" type gastro.

i kept bf-ing my baby and SHE DIDN"T GET SICK! the breastmilk screens out the mother's sickness. INCREDIBLE!!

the 2nd time, i was so ill my milk dried up for a day, which was scary (i was unprepared for that).

so my advice would be, if you can, to express and store some BM, JIC your milk dries up for a short time.

or stock up up some organic formula like Holle. JIC you need it.

i was totally unprepared, and had to buy a huge tin of unsuitable formula at the local chemist cos i was too sick to drive any further and just had to buy the 1st thing i was shown.

keep drinking water petal, dry crackers, no fruit, no milk.

i hope you get better soon.

[Ozziehoffy]

tenar, hun sorry you are sick!! I've had gastro 3 times since Elijah was 2 months old! First one was awful and DH was in Townsville at the time too. I asked my doc about imodium and he doesn't recommend it at all. He said the hydralyte/gastrolyte type of things are best and of course water. Neither of the little ones got sick any of the times I had the bug and my doc said it's less likely to be passed from adult to child as adults understand hygiene (well most lol).

As for the temp, I'm going to agree to disagree with what you've been told. I've been advised (yep by my doc) that a mild grade fever starts at 37.3 and not 37.5. In fact even a friend of mine who is a nurse has also told me this. I always take Oskar off to the docs if his is sitting there as he is inclined to get throat infections and almost without fail if he has this temp then he has a throat infection.

Gigi, OMG I didn't know that could happen, that is indeed really scary!! I have nothing and I also have a child who won't drink from a bottle! Wow. Also, screening out mum's sickness is just WOW amazing!!

tenar I really hope you get better soon to you.