Chronic urticaria and breastfeeding

Hi all, I really need some help!
I am breast feeding my 5 1/2 month old DS and am having to take polaramine every day to keep my chronic urticaria (chronic hives) under control! It is really becoming a problem as I have a 2 1/2 year old DS as well and am working part time too and with taking the polaramine I struggle to stay awake which is a bit of a problem while trying to look after 2 little ones and working! I really need some advice on what to do please. Are there any non drowsy med's or remedy's that I can take that are safe whilst breast feeding? Doctor isn't really helping and has just said to continue with polaramine :doh: I really want to continue breast feeding for a lot longer but am getting stuck for options!

It's really not accecptable that women are not treated properly or pressured to wean because they are breastfeeding. Look at this article that we posted yesterday - it is excellent. Take it to your GP who should have seen it already. Rodney Whyte at the Monash Medical Centre Drug information line is fabulous - some-one will post his number for me!

Do I have to wean to take this medications?

I have no idea about BF, but do have experience with urticaria

I had chronic urticaria in pregnancy and wouldn't take polaramine. I got some homeopathic drops of my naturopath that did the trick.

Also, keep cool, avoid hot showers, use lots of fragrance free moisutiser - I used coconut oil/butter.

Our bottle of Aerius for kids says that it can be used to treat hives in kids over 6 months old.
That makes me think that you should ask your Dr if you can take it yourself - the little bit that would go through shouldn't be a problem if it is given in bigger doses to babies.
Rodney Whyte's number is: 03 9594 2361

I had chronic hives for 6 months which also included the first trimester of my second pregnancy and I took zyrtec. I found a great guy in the USA who basically said that there is not enough studies of it in breastfeeding and pregnancy to give any recommendation for it's safe use, however the amount transferred in breast milk is very small and you should really only be very daytime if you take high doses.

Have you considered an elimination diet? I suffered with hives for a while back and it was a developed food intolerance which is extremely common in women if childbearing/breastfeeding..


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Leah and Dan
Lucy 5
Minnie 2
Pippi due 29 sept

YOU are what YOU eat!