Panadol?

[Hollybolly]

So just a quick question about panadol

As of this morning I have woken with a hideous head cold. Have no idea where it came from but its full on - my eyes are stinging from them watering so much, I can't stop sneezing, have a terrible headache and overall I feel like death right now, lol

I know my options are limited as far as what I can take... I'd preferably take nothing, however I've taken some panadol just to get a bit of relief and its made everything bearable (i can see through my stinging eyes!)

DS seems to be getting it too - has a cough starting & runny nose... I know that breastmilk is the best for him, but as he seems to be teething as well, he's looking and feeling as miserable as me, poor little man
He has had a bit of a temp today - last night I gave him some baby panadol to regulate it & so he could sleep, but I was fine last night, so nothing for me.

My question... if I've taken panadol myself, is it safe to give him baby panadol because of the panadol in my system through the breastmilk?
I'm happy to suffer... as long as he's comfortable enough to sleep/feed through the night... but if its not going to effect him, I'll take some panadol going to bed so I can try & sleep myself

Just not sure if I'm double dosing him?

[Indadhanu]

I have always thought that there is little, if any, paracetamol that goes through the breasstmilk.

Embarrassed to say I never thought of that...

[tellytubby]

Embarrassed to say I never thought of that...

You're not the only one Leasha - I'd never thought of it either!!. Whooops!

[Beach Mama]

I am sure someone will pop in with a definite answer for you hun, but I would say that is fine. The amount that goes through the breast milk is really minimal so whatever you give him won't be double dosing. I really hope you both get some rest and are feeling better soon darl.

[Nelle]

Oooh great question, I'd not have thought of that! I'd say it's safe, but I can flag this for some of the mods of this area to see what they think. xo

[Jennifer13]

I wouldn't think you're anywhere near double dosing, since he'd be getting such a tiny amount in your breastmilk anyway. How long between when you take it and feed him and give him a dose? Because if you're really worried you could always wait until immediately after a feed to take it yourself and give him his dose then too.

The other thing is, they seem to have a dose for babies within a weight range, so in any case you've got some wiggle room (unless he's particularly tiny).

Do you have a steam vaporiser? They are wonderful for you and bub when you have a cold. I learnt with five years of nothing else but panadol and this is the only thing that worked for us!

[Hollybolly]

Thanks girls

Jen - I don't quite give him the amount recommended on the bottle, so hopefully that plus the fact that there is the wiggle room you mentioned as well?

I just fed him at 10pm and that is usually his last feed until about 4.30-5am, but going by the last few nights, thats prob not the case as he's been waking every 1.5-2hrs because of his coughing or not being able to breathe comfortably through his blocked nose

He's still wide awake (stupid daylight savings ) so I'll give him a top up before he goes down prob around 11pm... and I'll give him panadol only if his temp is up.

As for me, I'll take mine after the top up and then surely if he has a good few hours sleep before his next feed it should be almost out of the milk by then?!

I'm definately checking out the vaporisers tomorrow if I have the energy to leave my lounge

Thanks again, ladies

ETA - Tan, its so nice to see you around again!

[MantaRay]

Holly, if you want to get the absolutely correct information, you can call Mothersafe during their operating hours or the Poisons Information Line after hours. However I believe the answer is that the amount which goes through the breastmilk is so small that it is safe for both you and baby to have the recommended dosage. I know I have done this myself at times. HTH and that you feel better soon.

[Lenny]

Holly, hope you are both feeling better. I was given the same advice as MR gave you. I was told I can take the whole recommended dose of panadol, AND the baby could have his whole recommended dose as well. But that info was from the MCH line.