Food poisoning during lactation

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

Food poisoning can happen to anyone, and breastfeeding women are no exception. This group of victims has a very hard time for a number of reasons: their body is depleted by recent childbirth, constant lack of sleep and lack of vitamins that go away with milk.

In addition, mothers worry about the health of their babies and think about whether breastfeeding can be continued. To understand these issues, you need to take into account many nuances. And above all, it is important to know what symptoms are accompanied by poisoning during breastfeeding.

Symptoms of intoxication during lactation

The clinical picture of poisoning in young mothers looks the same as in other adults.

From the moment the toxin enters the body until the first symptoms appear, it takes from several hours to a day.

Moreover, the shorter the incubation period was, the more the disease will manifest itself.

At the onset of the disease, pain appears in the upper abdomen. The sensations can be of a prolonged pulling character or be characterized by acute painful spasms.

This symptom is quickly replaced by the characteristic signs of intoxication:

• The woman has severe nausea and vomiting. This phenomenon can be repeated 5-10 times a day;
• In addition, there is an urge to defecate. The feces are offensive, have a liquid consistency and a light shade. Diarrhea, like vomiting, is repeated many times;
• A few hours after the first symptoms appear, the sick woman may feel weak, dizzy, and chills. At this time, the body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees. The patient is cold, even under a warm blanket or in a hot bath.

Despite the fact that the weakened body of a nursing mother is quite difficult to tolerate food poisoning, this is not an unambiguous reason to stop lactation. The fact is that together with mother's milk, the baby receives antibodies to mother's diseases. At the same time, pathogenic microorganisms that cause digestive upset practically do not penetrate into milk, remaining in the intestines.

However, in such a situation, the woman should make every effort not to infect the child in another way. In this case, the main route of infection is fecal-oral, so you should pay great attention to your hygiene and wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before picking up the baby.

Possible causes of breastfeeding poisoning

As a rule, food poisoning occurs due to the activation and increased reproduction of bacteria that live in the human body. Most often it is E. coli, but it can also be Staphylococcus aureus.

The following factors can provoke this phenomenon:

• The use of products that have expired or that have been stored in violation of standards;
• Eating foods that have not been sufficiently heat treated;
• Drinking unboiled and unfiltered water;
• Eating vegetables and fruits that have not been washed or peeled.
• Ingestion of substances that are not intended for food (household chemicals, external medicines or cosmetics).

These are the main causes of food poisoning in women. Of course, it is not easy to imagine this, but you can also get intoxication due to the use of alcohol or other toxic substances. In this case, as well as in a severe course of the disease, when convulsions and loss of consciousness appear, there is no question of continuing lactation, since this will definitely harm the child.

In addition, the treatment of such intoxication is best done under the supervision of a physician. To preserve milk, a woman should express herself. Then, returning home, she will delight the baby with the most necessary and useful food for him.

Therapeutic measures for food poisoning during lactation

If the mother's condition allows you to stay at home and treat the problem yourself, you can choose the safest remedies for the woman and child.

Alas, not all medicines are suitable for alleviating the condition of a woman with poisoning during breastfeeding, but among them there are quite acceptable drugs. However, the emphasis will have to be on folk remedies.

Women during the period of breastfeeding are used to limiting themselves in many ways. Not only many products are banned, but also medicines.

If poisoning is detected, mom will have to give up antidiarrheal and antimicrobial drugs like Loperamide, as well as most painkillers and antispasmodics. Treatment should consist in the rapid elimination of toxins and pathogenic microflora from the body.

Drug treatment:

• For this, preparations on a natural basis are suitable: Eubikor, Polysorb, Rekiten-RD. These are absorbents that collect and remove all toxic substances from the intestines. In case of severe intoxication, they must be taken at least 4 times a day, washed down with plenty of water;
• If a lot of fluid comes out with feces and vomit, medications for dehydration are needed, for example, Regidron, Hydrovit, Humana Electrolyte. They are safe and can be used by both children and adults at any age and condition. The contents of 1 sachet should be diluted with 1 liter of boiled water, and then drunk within an hour.

Alternative medicine is considered safer if poisoning occurs. Most of the products are based on herbal ingredients that do not harm either the young mother or the baby.

Folk recipes used for lactation in case of poisoning:

• To stop the diarrhea, use rice water. For its preparation, take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of cereal and 2 glasses of water. After the rice has boiled a little over low heat, the resulting liquid is cooled, filtered and drunk often, but in small portions;
• Mineral water, which you need to open, release gas from it, and then drink a little during the day, will help from dehydration;
• In addition, with a disorder of the digestive system, you can take a decoction of St. John's wort. It is prepared like ordinary tea: plant raw materials are poured with boiling water and insisted. For stomach cramps and pain, tea made from chamomile or peppermint can help. These herbs have a relaxing and calming effect. Chamomile has antiseptic properties, so its use will accelerate recovery;
• Food poisoning forces you to follow a sparing diet. The victim should refuse spicy, sweet and fatty foods. The menu should consist of oatmeal or rice porridge prepared without the use of milk or butter. In addition, you can use natural unsalted croutons or dryers. In addition to this, be sure to drink plenty of water or black tea. Green tea is undesirable because it contains more caffeine, which leads to even more fluid removal from the body.

Prevention of poisoning when feeding a child

A woman who is breastfeeding a baby should be especially careful about her health. For a defenseless baby, mom is the whole world, and if he has to go to the hospital, he will suffer a lot. In this regard, you need to make every effort to avoid diseases.

To prevent food poisoning, first of all, you need to eat quality fresh food. The nutrition of a young mother during lactation should be rational and safe, so experiments with exotic dishes and the degree of steak roasting can be postponed.

It is necessary to pay attention to the expiration dates and composition of the food that is on the shelves in the store or in the refrigerator at home.

Another important aspect is hygiene. Cleanliness of hands, household items, vegetables and fruits is very important. A young mother who cares about her health in this way will be an excellent example for her child.