Can I take cold medicine while breastfeeding?

Generally speaking, women can take cold medicine while breastfeeding, but they should do so cautiously under the guidance of a doctor. The detailed explanation is as follows:

When a breastfeeding woman catches a cold, if the symptoms are severe, such as high fever or severe coughing, it may affect her own health and ability to properly care for her baby. In such cases, taking cold medicine to relieve symptoms becomes necessary. However, since medication components may pass into breast milk and affect the baby's health, special attention should be paid to the ingredients of the medicine. It is best to choose medications with minimal impact on the baby and follow the advice of a doctor or the medication instructions carefully.

Some medications, such as acetaminophen-based antipyretic analgesics and antihistamines, are relatively safe during lactation. For example, acetaminophen tablets can help relieve symptoms like fever and headache caused by a cold, and chlorpheniramine maleate tablets can alleviate allergic symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose. These medications generally have minimal effects on breast milk when used at appropriate doses. However, drugs containing pseudoephedrine or codeine may have adverse effects on the infant and should be avoided. Additionally, antibiotic medications such as penicillins and cephalosporins are generally safe to use if there is no allergy, but close attention should be paid to the baby for any adverse reactions.

In daily life, breastfeeding women are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet, ensure adequate sleep and regular作息 (作息 means rest and work patterns), and engage in moderate exercise to enhance their immune system and reduce the likelihood of catching a cold.