What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Most medicines can be taken while you're breastfeeding without harming your baby.

But it's always best to tell your GP, health visitor, dentist, pharmacist or midwife that you're breastfeeding, when discussing medicines.

Small amounts of any medicine you take may pass through your breast milk to your baby.

Generally, the amounts are very low and very few medicines are unsafe while you're breastfeeding.

You should also let your GP know if your baby was premature or had jaundice when they were born, as this may affect what medicines you can take.

What medicines can I take while I'm breastfeeding?

Medicines that can be taken while breastfeeding include:

  • most antibiotics
  • asthma inhalers
  • vitamins (but only at the recommended dose)
  • the painkiller paracetamol – you should check with a GP or midwife before taking paracetamol if it's combined with other medicines

You should check with a GP or midwife before taking any other types of painkillers, such as ibuprofen.

You can use some methods of contraception and some cold remedies, but not all.

You can take some medicines used to treat postnatal depression, but always check with a GP, your midwife, health visitor or a pharmacist, who can advise you.

It's fine to have dental treatments, local anaesthetics, routine vaccinations (including MMR, tetanus and flu jabs) and most operations. Check with your GP if it's safe for you to have the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

Is there anything I cannot take while I'm breastfeeding?

Common medicines that are not recommended when you're breastfeeding include:

  • codeine phosphate
  • decongestants that come as tablets, liquids or powders that you swallow
  • some nasal decongestants that come as nose sprays or drops – check with a GP or pharmacist before using them
  • aspirin for pain relief
  • herbal remedies – not enough is known about herbal remedies to guarantee they're safe to use when breastfeeding

Talk to a GP or pharmacist before taking antihistamines for allergies or allergy-related conditions, such as hay fever. Do not stop taking prescribed medicines without talking to your GP.

For more information:

  • talk to your midwife, health visitor, a pharmacist or a GP
  • check the drugs factsheets on The Breastfeeding Network website or email

Illegal drugs and breastfeeding

It's dangerous to take illegal drugs while you're breastfeeding or, indeed, at any time.

They can affect your ability to look after your baby safely and can be passed on to your baby through your breast milk.

It's important to talk to a midwife, health visitor or GP if you're using them.

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding
https://www.whateatly.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/what-can-I-take-for-upset-stomach-while-breastfeeding.png

Banana, tums, rolaids, white rice, and 11 other foods and fluids answer what can I take for upset stomach while breastfeeding. Read to learn more.

 

What can I take for upset stomach while breastfeeding is the next query we answer in this article.

Before starting, it is essential to know why one should be aware of what she’s consuming with an upset stomach while breastfeeding.

You not only try to cool down your own stomach to feel better and prevent diarrhea but also try to provide your baby with foods that are healthy for him/ her.

If you try eating food that, in some way, aids you but not your baby, you’d again be on the internet searching for your baby’s issue and how to cure it.

The best thing you can do is to eat foods that help both your kid and yourself while you breastfeed him/ her during an upset stomach or diarrhea.

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

That said, let’s get started with answering what you can take for your upset stomach while breastfeeding.

  • What can I take for upset stomach while breastfeeding?
  • Natural Approach:
    • 1 – Bananas:
    • 2 – White Rice:
    • 3 – Applesauce:
    • 4 – Toast:
    • 5 – Eggs:
    • 6 – Mashed Potatoes:
    • 7 – Yogurt:
    • 8 – Kefir:
    • 9 – Chicken:
    • 10 – Water:
    • 11 – Chicken Soup:
    • 12 – Sports Drink:
    • 13 – Natural Apple Cider Vinegar:
  • Unnatural Approach:
    • 1 – Tums:
    • 2 – Rolaids:
    • 3 – Imodium:
  • What not to take for upset stomach while breastfeeding?
  • When to see a doctor?
  • Conclusions:

What can I take for upset stomach while breastfeeding?

To answer this, we have two approaches that we can choose from: natural and unnatural.

Natural part will be covering things we can try to cure upset stomach while breastfeeding with foods and fluids.

Unnatural part will be covering things we can use to cure diarrhea or an upset stomach with medicines or relatables.

Since our blog is known to provide you with a list of foods, we strictly advise you to ask your doctor first if you want to try out the medicines and relatables listed below in this article that will help you answer the query.

Natural Approach:

In this approach, we will look into a list of foods and fluids you can eat and drink that will help you answer what you should be consuming, both for your baby’s health and yours.

1 – Bananas:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Bananas will always make it to the top of the list whenever it comes to curing diarrhea or an upset stomach, hands down.

Bananas have soluble fiber that absorbs the liquid in your stomach and makes digestion processes easier than ever.

It is good for your baby to have consumed through breastfeeding as well.

2 – White Rice:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Next comes white rice that helps cure a stomachache, upset stomach, or diarrhea.

Not only does white rice help you with firming up your loose stool but is also digested very easily.

Please do not add any spices and oily stuff on top of your rice as they are very irritating for a stomach that is in pain already.

3 – Applesauce:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Applesauce is one of the foods from the BRAT diet, suggested for people with diarrhea, that helps cure diarrhea and upset stomach.

Fiber found in applesauce is in the form of pectin, allowing it to become more accessible for digestion.

4 – Toast:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Another food you must add to your diet plan in order to answer what can I take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding is toast.

It adds bulk to your stool, hardening the flow of bowel movement, curing an upset stomach.

5 – Eggs:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

If you are an egg-person who loves to eat eggs every morning, we have a good news for you: you can still eat eggs if you want in an upset stomach.

Eggs are healthy and doesn’t affect you in any way if you have diarrhea or an upset stomach.

However, if you have severe diarrhea, you may find eggs not aiding you in any way.

In that case, we’d advise you to try out other edibles and avoid eggs – this is to speed up your recovery from diarrhea.

Another thing to keep note of here is that if you have an egg allergy, eggs may not be something to add to your diet for you.

6 – Mashed Potatoes:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Yes, mashed potatoes are next that help cure an upset stomach while not affecting you in any way.

Potatoes contain potassium, making them easier for digestion as well.

However, do not eat them with skins – peel them first before consumption.

7 – Yogurt:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Yogurt has living bacteria known as probiotics, making it one of the best foods to cure diarrhea and an upset stomach.

If you’re wondering how, it’s because these probiotics can replace healthy bacteria found in your digestive tract, making you healthy again and prevent loose stools.

8 – Kefir:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Just like yogurt, same is the case with kefir.

Probiotics found in kefir can effectively aid one with fighting an upset stomach and diarrhea.

9 – Chicken:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Last but not least, chicken is also one of the good foods you can consume to recover from an upset stomach.

It is both packed with proteins and is digested easily.

Preparing yourself a chicken soup is also preferable.

However, do not add butter or oily stuff to your meals as they are unhealthy for your stomach that is disturbed alt.

10 – Water:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Water should be your friend when fighting an upset stomach.

Not only does it keep you hydrated for as long as you’re drinking it, but also helps you to clean off toxins from your body – and once they are out, your heatburn will lower down.

11 – Chicken Soup:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

As mentioned earlier alongside the consumption of chicken, you can also try chicken soup if you want.

However, do not add spices like you would usually do, to your soup.

12 – Sports Drink:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Sports drink contain electrolytes you’d need to provide your body with, to take the place of ones that are lost.

It, therefore, makes sense to consume a sports drink to cure an upset stomach.

13 – Natural Apple Cider Vinegar:

What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Some people believe consuming natural apple cider vinegar helps lower symptoms of an upset stomach but there’s no existing evidence or research backing this claim.

Also, apple cider vinegar is good for when you have hair loss.

You may look into this one as well if you want to.

However, only consume as little as a tablespoon.

Unnatural Approach:

In this approach, we will reveal what people love taking in an upset stomach while breastfeeding, unnaturally.

1 – Tums:

Tums tops the list of unnatural approaches to cure an upset stomach.

Tums has been around for 80 years now, fighting heatburn fast. And as you may think, heatburn is one of many reasons for an upset stomach.

2 – Rolaids:

Just like Tums, Rolaids also fights heatburn, helping your upset stomach to feel better again.

People consuming Rolaids for an upset stomach while breastfeeding had no issues with it.

3 – Imodium:

If you have diarrhea and experience sudden visits to your bathroom, you can take Imodium to lower the frequency of your diarrhea.

It’s totally fine to take Imodium while breastfeeding.

What not to take for upset stomach while breastfeeding?

The list of foods and fluids below are restricted for consumption if you have an upset stomach.

It is because some of them are hard to digest, some contain nutrients that don’t help during diarrhea, and some don’t aid in preventing heatburn at all.

Foods and fluids you must avoid for upset stomach/ diarrhea while breastfeeding are:

  1. dairy products except for yogurt
  2. greasy foods
  3. fatty and fried foods
  4. most dairy
  5. raw vegetables
  6. raw fruits
  7. strong spices
  8. whole-grain breads
  9. whole-grain cereals
  10. tea
  11. coffee
  12. alcohol
  13. soda

When to see a doctor?

If your diarrhea or an upset stomach lasts for more than 3 days and or is severe, please contact your doctor immediately.

Also, consult with your doctor before trying any of the unnatural approaches mentioned above.

Conclusions:

A. There are 2 approaches to answer what can I take for diarrhea while breastfeeding – or when you have an upset stomach or stomachache.

B. Natural approach lists 13 foods and fluids to consume that are healthy.

C. Unnatural approach lists 2 ways to cure heatburn, curing an upset stomach.

D. There are a total of 13 food types you must avoid throughout the course.

E. You must visit your doctor if your diarrhea lasts for more than 3 days.


What can i take for an upset stomach while breastfeeding

Can my upset stomach affect my breastfed baby?

As long as the symptoms are confined to the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps), breastfeeding should continue without interruption as there is no risk to the baby.

What can I take for upset stomach and diarrhea while breastfeeding?

Loperamide (Imodium®) is the drug most widely used. The dose is two capsules to start then one after each loose bowel motion. It can be taken by breastfeeding mothers as it is poorly absorbed from the gut and minimal amounts reach breastmilk.

Can I take Pepto

Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pepto-Bismol is not suitable for some people. To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have: ever had an allergic reaction to bismuth subsalicylate or any of the other ingredients in Pepto-Bismol or Pepti Calm.