Mothers who are breastfeeding need to know the list of diarrhea medications for breastfeeding mothers. This is important to help mothers choose what type of medicine is safe to use to treat diarrhea while breastfeeding a baby.
Diarrhea should not be a reason to stop breastfeeding your little one. Even when you have diarrhea, you can still breastfeed. Breast milk will actually form antibodies or immune-forming substances to prevent the baby from getting the same disease as the mother.
When you have diarrhea, breastfeeding mothers need to rest more and drink enough water or electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration from losing a lot of body fluids. If needed, you can also take diarrhea medicine for breastfeeding mothers.
List of Diarrhea Medicines for Breastfeeding Mothers
Diarrhea is most often caused by a viral infection. Diarrhea caused by this viral infection usually goes away on its own within a few days without any treatment. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers who have diarrhea should only take diarrhea medicine if they really need it.
But if you decide to take medicine, know the following list of diarrhea medicines for breastfeeding mothers:
Oral rehydration fluid
Diarrhea medicine is important to be taken every time a breastfeeding mother has diarrhea or vomiting. Oral rehydration fluids are solutions that contain electrolytes, salts, and glucose. The function of this fluid is to replace the body's fluids, electrolytes, and minerals lost during diarrhea and prevent the body from becoming dehydrated.
Loperamide
Loperamide is available in tablet, capsule, and syrup form. This drug works by slowing the movement of the digestive tract, so the body can absorb more fluids and minerals.
Loperamide is safe to take by breastfeeding mothers. Small amounts of loperamide can pass into breast milk, but the amount is safe and there is no risk of harm to the baby. However, if your diarrhea does not improve after using loperamide for more than two days, you should consult your doctor further.
Attapulgite
Attapulgite works by binding to large numbers of bacteria and toxins that cause diarrhea, and preventing the loss of more body fluids. Attapulgite can also reduce the frequency of bowel movements, improve the consistency of loose or watery stools, and relieve heartburn during diarrhea.
Attapulgite is not absorbed by the body, so it is unlikely to pass into breast milk. Therefore, the consumption of attapulgite during diarrhea is relatively safe for nursing mothers. This drug is available in tablet and syrup form.
Apart from taking medication, you can also try natural ways to treat diarrhea, including:
- Drink water or electrolyte drinks. An electrolyte drink can be made by mixing a glass of water, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and a teaspoon of salt and sugar.
- Take probiotics. Several studies state that the consumption of probiotics is quite safe and useful to help treat diarrhea.
- Avoid spicy, sour, spicy, fatty, and gassy foods because they can make digestion uncomfortable.
- Avoid consumption of milk, caffeinated or fizzy drinks, and artificial sweeteners, until diarrhea is cured.
- Eat foods that are easily digested or gravy to replace lost body fluids, such as porridge, bananas, rice, bread, crackers or biscuits, and soups.
Not all diarrhea requires treatment with antibiotics. Antibiotics are only needed to treat diarrhea caused by certain bacterial and parasitic infections. To determine which antibiotic drugs are suitable and safe for breastfeeding mothers, you should consult a doctor further.
In general, the list of diarrhea medicines for breastfeeding mothers above is safe for consumption by mothers. However, if you are unsure, or if the diarrhea lasts for more than three days and causes dehydration, you should immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.