Fever in a nursing mother: causes and tactics of behavior

What is body temperature and what does it depend on?

Temperature is an important indicator of the state of the human body, expressing the relationship between the production of its own heat and heat exchange with the environment. It is not an absolutely stable value and depends on a number of factors:

1. The age of the person. In children it is unstable, and in older people it can drop to 35 °C due to a slowdown in metabolic processes.
2. Time of day The temperature maximum is observed at approximately 5 o'clock in the evening, and the minimum - at 4 o'clock in the morning. Moreover, the difference can be as much as a degree.
3. Health status. In many diseases, the temperature rises, this indicates the body’s fight against pathogenic microbes.
4. Phase of a woman's menstrual cycle. This is the result of the action of sex hormones (progesterone increases it slightly). Mild hyperthermia is also normal during pregnancy.
5. The nature of human activity. The temperature rises by 0.1–0.2° during active physical work.
6. Environmental impact. The temperature rises with overheating and decreases with hypothermia.
7. The area of ​​the body where the measurement is taken. For example, the temperature in the rectum will be much higher than in the center of the foot.

There are several types of elevated body temperature:

1. Subfebrile (within 38°).
2. Febrile (from 38° to 39°).
3. Pyretic (from 39° to 41°).
4. Hyperpyretic (more than 41°).

Temperature elevated within 38° is subfebrile

When the body temperature reaches a critical level of 42°, a person dies because metabolic processes in the brain are disrupted, which is unacceptable for the body.

In general, when the temperature rises, the following symptoms are observed (they can appear individually or in combination):

1. Weakness and fatigue.
2. Chills that get worse as the temperature rises.
3. Headache.
4. Muscle aches, especially in the legs.
5. Increased sweating.
6. Decreased appetite up to complete refusal of food.

Video: what is body temperature and what it is like

Breastfeeding - questions and answers

What to feed a newborn?

At different times, different answers were given to this question. However, the latest recommendations of Russian and foreign specialists - neonatologists, pediatricians, nutritionists - once again prove: the new is the well-forgotten old. Scientific research has confirmed that the best food for a child is mother's milk. It contains all the nutrients a baby needs in the first six months of life.

Why is breastfeeding good for a baby?

Breast milk contains in an optimal combination all the proteins, fats and carbohydrates, vitamins, water and minerals a baby needs. Unlike mixtures, it is completely absorbed and provides immunity to the newborn.

Children who receive breast milk are less likely to catch colds, suffer less from otitis media and infections, from diarrhea and allergies than children who are bottle-fed. Breastfeeding gives the baby a feeling of closeness to the mother, warmth and comfort.

Why is breastfeeding good for a mother?

Breastfeeding helps build closeness with your baby. Attachment to the breast immediately after childbirth helps to contract the uterus, timely separation of the placenta, and prevent bleeding. A woman who breastfeeds is at lower risk of anemia (anemia), osteoporosis, ovarian (adnexal) and breast cancer. If a number of conditions are met, breastfeeding also helps prevent another pregnancy. This method of family planning is called lactational amenorrhea (LAA).

What is natural (exclusive breastfeeding) feeding?

Natural feeding involves feeding the baby ONLY breast milk in the first months of life. No water, no juice, no complementary foods. During the first six months of life, a healthy baby does not need any other food other than mother's milk.

The baby gives the mother a “signal” to produce milk; “request” to change the composition of milk when he is sick; "request" to increase the amount of milk when he is growing rapidly.

The mother gives the child ideal food, the composition of which changes depending on his needs; antibodies that protect it from infections and diseases; love, warmth and tenderness; feeling of comfort and security.

Breastfeeding is a process of two-way communication between mother and child. The more often and longer the baby suckles, the more milk the mother produces.

What special breast care is required during breastfeeding?

Almost none. If you shower daily, you should not wash your nipples before or after feeding. Soaps and disinfectants can dry them out and make them sore. There is also no need to lubricate the nipples with a solution of brilliant green (brilliant green) or ointment. It is good to leave a little milk on the nipples after feeding. Your milk contains various antibacterial substances, and therefore is the most reliable hygiene product.

When should you start breastfeeding? How often do you put your baby to the breast?

You should start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. First, the breast secretes the colostrum the baby needs, which is very nutritious and rich in vitamins and antibodies. Colostrum is the first natural vaccination for a newborn against infections. Even one drop of colostrum contains everything a newborn needs. After two to three days, milk begins to be produced. Feed the baby as required, but with a break of no more than three hours during the day and no more than five at night. Put your baby to your breast frequently. The more often the baby suckles, the more milk the mother produces. If a baby gains weight of at least 500 grams per month and urinates at least six to eight times a day, then he is getting enough milk.

How should a nursing woman eat?

There is a widespread myth that breastfeeding women need special foods. In fact, your body can produce multi-component breast milk from so-called “simple” foods: bread, potatoes, carrots and apples. The main thing is that the food of a nursing mother is varied. It is advisable to include meat, fish, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products in your daily diet. Forget talk of “forbidden foods.” You can eat everything, provided that neither you nor the child’s father is allergic to any specific product. Forget also the stories about “uneven” or “thin” milk, supposedly a consequence of poor nutrition of the mother. Research shows that even with a very poor diet, the content of fat and some vitamins in milk can only slightly decrease. The amount of proteins remains unchanged. In any case, low-fat milk is better than the “good” complementary foods!

To reduce pain attacks in a baby, a nursing mother should first of all limit the consumption of whole milk in any form - do not add it to tea, porridge, etc. If possible, replace whole milk with lactic acid products. And also eat those vegetables and fruits that grow and are typical for the region of residence.

It is important NOT to eat foods that increase gas formation - cucumbers, cabbage, grapes, corn, kvass, fresh yeast bread, etc. Products that provoke the development of colic in a baby are fatty pork, salads with mayonnaise, fried and salty foods, seasonings and marinades.

Does going to work or school prevent you from continuing breastfeeding?

No. Milk is expressed and can be stored at room temperature for eight hours, in the refrigerator for three days, and in the freezer at -18 degrees for up to three months. The quality is not lost.

There are several ways to express milk: manually, with a breast pump, with a breast pump-syringe, or with a “warm bottle”. Your health visitor or other trained specialist will tell you more about these methods. The technique of expressing milk is useful for all mothers to learn to relieve the feeling of pressure during fullness or engorgement of the breast. In addition, you can always leave your milk for your baby if for some reason you have to be separated from him for a while.

Why does milk disappear, and what to do in such cases?

As a rule, milk disappears because the mother does not allow the baby to suckle enough, or rarely puts him to the breast, or, worrying that “the baby is malnourished” or “the milk is bad,” introduces complementary foods. As soon as the child receives complementary feeding, he begins to suck less on the mother's breast, and the less the child sucks, the less milk the mother's body produces. Therefore, if you are worried about a lack of milk, try feeding your baby more often (10-12 times a day). Make sure it is attached correctly to your chest. And be prepared for the fact that the results will not be noticeable immediately: after changing your diet, four to seven days must pass before more milk begins to be produced.

Is it possible to breastfeed after a caesarean section?

Yes. Everything is done exactly the same. The only difference is that your milk sometimes comes in a little later, and you may need more help from your healthcare team when latching on. The main thing is to find a position in which the baby could suck without causing you pain or discomfort. For example, the baby can be “thrown” over the shoulder or fed while lying down, etc.

What other problems may arise and how to solve them?

Breastfeeding is a skill and it takes time to master. Not everything will work out right away; difficulties may arise. Don't be scared and don't give up! Almost all problems that arise during breastfeeding are quite easily solvable. Painful or injured nipples are a consequence of improper attachment of the baby to the breast. In this case, there is no need to stop feeding. Rinse your nipples with warm water and let them dry. Place your baby on the breast that is less irritated. Try different feeding positions. Applying a drop of breast milk to the nipple before and after feeding also promotes healing. Engorgement is a painful fullness of the breast with milk. This can happen within two to three days after birth, when milk production begins. Frequent feeding and, if necessary, pumping will help you cope with this problem.

How to breastfeed correctly?

1. Take a comfortable position, sitting or lying down. Bring your baby to your chest so that his head and body are in the same plane. The baby should face the breast, with his nose opposite the nipple. 2. If you wish, you can support the breast from below with your whole hand or place four fingers under the chest on the chest, and the fifth, large, on top. 3. Touch the nipple to your baby's lips, and when he opens his mouth wide, allow him to take the breast into his mouth, holding his body tightly to you (bring the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby!).

If the baby is attached to the breast correctly, he will capture with his mouth not only the nipple, but also most of the areola (the dark spot around the nipple) with the tissue located along it. In this case: - the child’s chin touches the chest; - his mouth is wide open; - you can see most of the halos above the upper lip, and not under the lower one; - you do not experience any discomfort in your chest. As a rule, the baby releases the breast on its own, satisfied and sleepy. Remember that breastfeeding is a wise investment in your baby's health.

Possible causes of hyperthermia in a nursing mother: assessing the symptoms

Hyperthermia in humans can be caused by a variety of reasons, which only a doctor can accurately determine. However, in the case of a nursing woman, the following most likely options can be assumed:

1. Lactostasis and mastitis. These conditions quite often occur against the background of stagnation of milk in the breast, caused by improper attachment of the baby. Sometimes they are accompanied by a fungal or bacterial infection (for example, with existing cracked nipples). When the temperature rises, a woman needs, first of all, to carefully examine her mammary glands: even if there is no noticeable discomfort, a reddish spot can be found on the skin.
2. Stress factor. For many women, anxiety and emotional shocks cause a rise in temperature (within subfebrile values). And the psyche of a nursing mother is quite unstable due to the busy rhythm of life and the influence of hormones.
3. Ovulation. Despite lactation, ovulation can occur in the female body, especially if the baby is already receiving complementary foods. And the release of the egg from the follicle is precisely accompanied by an increase in basal temperature (it is measured in the rectum): and often the overall body temperature also increases slightly - to no more than 37.3°.
4. Postpartum inflammation of the reproductive organs (the most serious of which is endometritis). Such pathologies usually make themselves felt by pain in the lower abdomen and abnormal discharge.
5. Viral infections (flu, ARVI). They are most likely to occur during the cold season. Depending on the reaction of the woman’s immune system, the temperature can be either low-grade or quite high. It is not difficult to recognize the disease by its characteristic symptoms: sore throat, runny nose, headache, etc.
6. Exacerbation of chronic diseases (for example, cystitis or bronchitis). Most often this happens in the first postpartum weeks, when women's immunity is quite weakened.
7. Food poisoning. In such a situation, intoxication of the body occurs, which manifests itself in the form of hyperthermia. If the poisoning is severe, the temperature may rise to high values ​​(accompanied by chills). Poisoning can always be recognized by its characteristic symptoms: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
8. Thrombophlebitis of the extremities. This pathology often occurs during childbirth due to infection with pathogenic bacteria (for example, if there was severe bleeding, hematomas occurred, the placenta was separated manually, etc.). As a result, the mother’s venous walls become inflamed and blood clots form. Thrombophlebitis manifests itself in the form of mild swelling and redness of blood vessels, nagging pain, lethargy and a slight increase in temperature (not higher than 37.3°).

Photo gallery: the most likely causes of hyperthermia

Viral and infectious diseases are almost always manifested by an increase in temperature, sometimes to high values

A common cause of fever during lactation is mastitis.

Temperature may rise slightly under stress

Temperature may rise slightly during ovulation

As a result of a difficult birth, the mother may develop thrombophlebitis, which also slightly increases body temperature

Temperature may rise due to food poisoning

It is very important for a nursing woman to measure her body temperature correctly. You cannot do this in the armpit, like ordinary people: the temperature there will always be elevated (it is better to place the thermometer in your mouth). In addition, it is optimal to take measurements after feeding or pumping.

When I was in the maternity hospital after the birth of my child, after measuring the temperature in the armpit (as usual), I was very upset because the reading was 37.8°. However, the nurse immediately reassured me, explaining that this method is not informative during lactation and advised another way - bend your right arm at the elbow and fix the thermometer in this way. Surprisingly, the temperature turned out to be absolutely normal.

Is it possible for a mother to feed breast milk if she has a fever?

Each case is individual, so only a doctor can say unequivocally whether to maintain lactation or not. A nursing mother's temperature may increase due to:

1. Lactostasis is a stagnant process in the mammary glands. The reason is narrow ducts, significant milk production, and poor appetite in the child. In this case, breastfeeding should be maintained and the breasts should be carefully expressed. If there are no seals, you can deal with the problem yourself.
2. Mastitis. The disease develops against the background of lactostasis, if the mammary gland tissue becomes inflamed due to the introduction of a pathogen. In each individual case, the doctor makes a decision individually. If there is no pus, the baby is not removed from the breast.
3. Relapse of chronic inflammatory processes of an infectious or non-infectious nature. After childbirth, the body is weakened and immunity is reduced. When using medications, you need to build a feeding regimen so that a minimum of chemicals remain in the milk.
4. Dehiscence of postpartum sutures or scars after cesarean section - recommendations as in point 3.
5. Sepsis. In most cases, the woman requires hospitalization. Maintaining lactation is problematic.
6. Toxic infections of food etiology - depends on the type of disease.
7. Thrombophlebitis or hemorrhoids. Pathology often occurs after childbirth. The disease does not affect the quality of breast milk.

Attention!

Low-grade fever (37.1-37.4 °C) during lactation may be associated with milk let-down. If a woman does not have any unpleasant sensations and feels well, there is no need to call a doctor.

Temperature 37 °C

This indicator is not considered dangerous. If a slight increase is associated with mild food poisoning or with an exacerbation of inflammatory foci in the body. There's no need to worry.

The temperature can rise to 37 °C during ovulation. For many women, restoration of reproductive function occurs within 2-3 months after childbirth.

In some chronic pathologies, low-grade fever persists constantly. Even with tuberculosis, the issue of feeding a newborn is decided by an obstetrician-gynecologist and a phthisiatrician. If a woman does not secrete pathogens, then there are no contraindications. In some cases, anti-tuberculosis drugs are added and lactation is maintained.

Temperature 37.5 °C

This increase is not dangerous to health. There is no need to lower the temperature. If there is no danger to the baby, any contact with the mother is allowed. When a woman has a cold, it is advisable to wear a mask.

An increase in temperature may be associated with the condition of the mammary glands. In this case, measurement in the armpit is not informative. It is better to place the thermometer in the elbow or groin area. In the latter case, you need to subtract 0.2-0.3 °C from the obtained value. A thermometer is placed in the armpit only 40 minutes after complete pumping.

Temperature 38 °C due to cold, mastitis

During ARVI, the body begins to produce antibodies. They spread through the bloodstream and enter breast milk. The child receives them along with him. The likelihood of infection decreases as the immune system prepares. If the disease occurs, it will not cause complications.

Home remedies you can use to reduce your temperature include:

1. Warm water with lemon, dried fruit compote, cranberry or blackcurrant juice.
2. Tea brewed from raspberry or currant leaves, linden blossom.
3. Vinegar rubdowns and compresses.
4. For lactostasis, you can apply cabbage leaves to your breasts.

But at a temperature of 38 °C, you should consult a doctor. Usually it indicates the development of organic pathologies. After diagnosis, pharmaceutical medications may be prescribed.

With mastitis, the temperature will not decrease until the inflammation of the mammary gland tissue is stopped. A woman must be prescribed antibiotics to suppress the activity of pathogens, antispasmodics and analgesics to eliminate pain. Physiotherapeutic treatment may be included. In acute cases, surgical intervention is resorted to. When pus appears, stop breastfeeding.

Lactation can be maintained even if the mother is ill. To do this, you need to express milk every 2.5-3 hours to maintain prolactin production. The amount of fluid you drink per day is also slightly reduced.

Attention!

At high temperatures, it is recommended to drink more.

If possible, a woman should have contact with the child and hold it to her body. At this time, the baby is transferred to suitable formulas or a nurse is found. She does not have to put the baby to the breast - it is enough to express milk. Unfortunately, most children, even after a short break, choose the pacifier. Therefore, if the baby is 4 months old, there is no point in maintaining lactation.

Temperature 38.5 °C

It is believed that at this temperature pathological processes begin to occur in the body - metabolism is disrupted, blood thickens, etc. This temperature needs to be brought down.

The safest remedy is Paracetamol. It has no teratogenic effect and is approved for children from the first month of life. To minimize penetration into breast milk, it is advisable to choose a suppository form.

If Paracetamol is intolerant, it can be replaced with Ibuprofen or Analgin. The feeding regimen needs to be adjusted.

Attention!

Aspirin is not used as an antipyretic. The active component (acetylsalicylic acid) suppresses the production of thromboxane A2, a substance responsible for blood clotting. Entering the baby's body, acetylsalicylic acid can disrupt the production of hemoglobin, which will lead to pathology of the kidneys, liver and central nervous system.

Temperature 39 °C

If the condition worsens and the temperature is above 39 ° C, breastfeeding should be discontinued. Breast milk changes consistency, “curdles” and begins to taste bitter. Most often, the baby himself refuses a low-quality product.

Interesting!

One of the symptoms of COVID-19 is high fever and fever. But lactation, if the woman is not hospitalized, does not have to be interrupted. According to recent studies, the new SARS-CoV-2 virus is not transmitted through breast milk.

In what cases can you breastfeed at a fever, and when is it better to refuse it?

If the body temperature is slightly increased (within subfebrile values), then the mother should continue feeding. This is explained as follows:

1. With lactostasis and the early stage of mastitis, the lack of natural emptying of the mammary gland will only aggravate the condition: the breasts will become even more full and the temperature will rise to a higher level.
2. If a mother catches a viral infection of a cold nature, then she, of course, has already managed to transmit the microorganisms to the child (after all, their contact is very close). And by the time the temperature rises, the female body has already begun to produce protective bodies. They get into milk in large quantities, and the baby may well not get sick at all. Even if infection occurs, the baby will survive the disease more easily.
3. A woman can cope with mild food poisoning on her own; all symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours after cleansing the body. Thus, when breastfeeding, the baby is not in danger. Along with mother's milk, he will again receive antibodies that resist intestinal infection.
4. Factors such as stress and ovulation do not in any way affect the quality of breast milk and are not an obstacle to feeding.

For a mother, abruptly stopping breastfeeding can be dangerous: mastitis may well join the underlying disease that caused the rise in temperature. Manual or machine pumping will not empty the breast as well as a baby. In addition, if a woman feels weak, then it will be quite difficult for her to express herself several times a day, especially at night.

A slight increase in temperature is not a reason to stop breastfeeding.
Despite the fact that in most cases, an increase in mother’s temperature does not pose a risk to the baby’s health, there are situations when breastfeeding must be temporarily stopped. We are talking about serious diseases. A woman’s weakened state in itself can cause milk to disappear, because lactation is associated with certain energy expenditures. In such circumstances, the main task is treatment, because the baby, first of all, needs a healthy mother.

Severe hyperemia is usually caused by a bacterial infection (although the temperature is not always high). In this case, the patient is prescribed antibiotics. And they are not always compatible with breastfeeding (when drugs enter a child’s body, they can cause dysbacteriosis, allergies and other complications). In addition, due to infection, toxic substances will penetrate the child’s body and have a detrimental effect. Here is a list of specific diseases, mainly of a bacterial nature:

1. Pneumonia.
2. Angina.
3. Sinusitis.
4. Cystitis.
5. Dysentery.
6. Endometritis.
7. Advanced thrombophlebitis (when surgical intervention is already necessary).
8. Severe intestinal poisoning. Emergency measures cannot alleviate the patient’s condition; the temperature rises, chills, uncontrollable vomiting, and tachycardia develop. In such situations, urgent hospitalization of the woman is necessary, which, of course, means stopping breastfeeding.
9. Purulent mastitis. Breastfeeding must be stopped for a while, since pus accumulates in the cavity of the mammary gland, which ends up in the milk. In addition, this pathology often involves surgical intervention: a woman’s breast is opened to remove purulent contents. In any case, the mother will have to use strong antibiotics that are not compatible with lactation.

There is a false opinion that due to high temperature, breast milk changes its taste, consistency, curdles, becomes sour or bitter, etc. Doctors completely refute it. The only obstacle to feeding in this situation is toxins and drugs that get into the baby's food.

If the temperature is associated with a bacterial infection, then the mother is prescribed antibiotics, which are often incompatible with breastfeeding

How to feed your baby when he has a fever

Unfortunately, not a single child grew up without a fever. Fever can accompany teething, intestinal infections, ARVI and many other diseases. At such moments, parents have many questions: how to lower the temperature correctly and at what numbers it should be done, how to feed the child if he is unwell, and what dishes to give preference to. Today we will discuss all these exciting moments with pediatrician, Mail.ru Health consultant Olesya Vladimirovna Butuzova.

— Olesya Vladimirovna, how can you tell if your baby’s temperature is normal or elevated? What deviations are acceptable?

— In a newborn, most of the physiological processes have not yet been adjusted, and the organs are immature. Therefore, the baby’s body temperature is prone to fluctuations: he quickly becomes hypothermic, but also quickly overheats. The temperature is affected by the child’s clothing, weather, heating in the house, etc. It is also important to remember that during feeding, crying, playing, and any activity, the baby’s body temperature is slightly higher than during sleep and rest.

As a rule, the normal body temperature of a newborn can be considered 36.3–37.2 °C. A pathological increase is considered to be when the thermometer exceeds 37.5 °C.

— What can cause a small child’s temperature to rise?

- There are a large number of reasons - a wide variety of infections, ARVI, teething, reaction to vaccination, roseola. This is why it is so important to call a doctor. He will determine the cause of the fever and prescribe not only antipyretic drugs, but also targeted treatment aimed at eliminating the condition that led to the increase in temperature.

— Is it necessary to lower a child’s temperature?

— Mothers are afraid of rising temperatures, but in reality everything is not so simple. Temperature was originally intended by nature as a helper and protector. For example, pathological microorganisms that cause a variety of infections stop multiplying at high temperatures and die. So the body “raises the heat” to get rid of bacteria and viruses and stop the development of infectious processes. Also, when the temperature rises above 37 ° C, autogenous protective cells are activated, which recognize and neutralize pathogens.

In general, temperature helps, but this does not mean that it does not need to be brought down. It's important to just do it right.

— In what cases should it be necessary to lower the temperature?

— As a rule, pediatricians advise reducing the fever if the thermometer has reached 38 degrees and is creeping higher. Initially, it would be good to focus on physical cooling methods: undressing, drying. If this does not help, you need to add medications.

There are exceptions to this simple rule - the child has a history of temperature cramps. These babies' temperature drops even with a slight increase.

Temperature, or febrile, convulsions are an attack during which the child’s arms and legs begin to twitch involuntarily. It occurs, as is already clear from the name, against the background of rising temperature. This is a serious condition that requires emergency assistance and urgent use of antipyretic drugs!

— What feeding regimen should be chosen when a baby has a fever?

- No strict regimes - feed only on demand and at the request of the baby. And be prepared for the child’s appetite to be reduced.

— Is it necessary to force a child to eat if he has no appetite due to a high temperature?

— I am often asked this question, and I always suggest remembering your condition during a fever. Do you want to eat? No to me! I think like each of us. That's what kids don't want. Therefore, of course, there is no point in forcing them.

— What to feed a baby at a high temperature?

— The child’s diet remains almost unchanged. If he is breastfed, he eats his mother's milk. If he is artificial, then a mixture. Quite often, babies refuse complementary feeding when their temperature rises - this is not scary, milk or formula is quite enough.

— Is it necessary to give a child plenty of water if he has a high fever?

“We just discussed that you shouldn’t force-feed a child if he has no appetite.” But giving him water is very, very important!

During fever, the baby's heat exchange changes, and he begins to lose a large amount of fluid. Plus diarrhea or vomiting with some infections. All this can quickly lead to dehydration. And this is extremely dangerous! Drinking plenty of clean water is important not only to prevent dehydration. It also helps remove toxins from the baby's body.

— What to do if a child starts vomiting and completely refuses to eat?

“You can’t act forcefully in such a situation.” This can only worsen the baby’s condition and well-being and provoke another attack of vomiting. But it is necessary to keep the child hydrated in order to prevent dehydration - a very dangerous condition for life and health. However, liquid can also provoke vomiting if you give your child active drinking - from a bottle or sippy cup. Therefore, soldering is carried out in minimal portions, but constantly, that is, a teaspoon every 2-3 minutes. If the temperature is high, accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, and drinking water does not bring any effect, an intravenous infusion of fluid is necessary.

The situation with an increase in temperature is ambiguous, so we recommend that you always call a pediatrician for consultation. The doctor will examine the child, make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, including antipyretics. The mother’s task during a rise in temperature is to calm the baby and prevent dehydration. And don’t force him to eat, but simply offer breast milk and formula more often, in small portions. Older children can be given berries and fruits rich in vitamins and microelements. Be prepared for the fact that your child's appetite may be poor - this is normal. When the fever decreases, the baby will begin to eat again. Be healthy!

Pediatrician Olesya Vladimirovna Butuzova

*The ideal food for an infant is mother's milk. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. MAMAKO® supports this recommendation. Before introducing new foods into your baby’s diet, consult a specialist.

Does mom need to lower her temperature?

Of course, a nursing mother is interested in quickly stabilizing her body temperature. This will improve her well-being, because a woman needs a lot of strength to care for her baby. During lactation you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. First of all, if the temperature does not exceed 38°, then there is no need to reduce it. This reaction of the body indicates the active production of antibodies (for viruses, elevated temperature is much more dangerous than for humans).
2. If the increase exceeds low-grade fever, you can take an antipyretic drug. Nursing mothers are allowed products based on paracetamol and ibuprofen. They are used orally or in the form of suppositories (in the latter case, the drug does not act so quickly). Take the medicine no more than three times a day.
3. If the mother has a viral infection, then drinking plenty of fluids will help get rid of the pathogens (and as a result, the temperature decreases). This could be tea with lemon, raspberries, berry juice (cranberry juice works well), dried fruit compote, warm milk. Of course, some drinks can cause an allergic reaction in a baby, so you need to carefully monitor his condition. An important nuance: if you have mastitis, drinking too much will only do harm, as it will cause a sharp flow of milk. During ARVI, such simple measures as inhalation of regular steam (or over potato steam), gargling, and rinsing the nose with saline solution are also safe for breastfeeding. All this normalizes the woman’s condition, and as a result the temperature stabilizes.
4. An effective way to reduce fever is to apply a cold compress to your forehead. To do this, you can use ice placed in gauze, a towel dipped in cold water or vinegar half diluted with water.
5. If hyperthermia is caused by a stress factor, then the woman, naturally, should calm down, and the condition will return to normal.

A safe way to bring down a fever is a cold compress on the forehead.
In some cases, the mother needs to see a doctor:

1. The reason for the increase in temperature is unclear.
2. It lasts for more than three days.
3. The temperature cannot be brought down in various ways.

You need to see a doctor who understands the value of breastfeeding. He will select medications allowed during lactation.

Baby's temperature: which feeding mode to choose?

If your baby gets sick with ARVI, consult a doctor as soon as possible! In such little ones, all diseases develop very quickly and are often severe. Until the doctor arrives, a small child with a fever can continue to be breastfed if he does not refuse it. Mother's milk for a baby is nutrition, drink and medicine at the same time. Put your baby to your breast, especially if he is naughty. This will help him calm down and cope with the disease faster. Give your baby some warm boiled water from a spoon or bottle. The correct drinking regime is especially important for “artificially-trained” people; for them, colds are dangerous due to dehydration.

How to maintain lactation during treatment

If, due to treatment of the disease, a woman is advised to stop breastfeeding, but subsequently wants to resume it, then she needs to pump regularly: every three hours during the day and once at night.

If feeding is not possible during treatment, then the mother needs to pump to maintain lactation

Previously, during the mother’s illness, she was recommended to boil expressed milk and offer it to the baby in this form. Modern medicine has a completely different opinion: due to heating, the liquid loses its biologically active components and loses its value. Therefore, expressed milk should be poured out and the baby should be fed formula.

High fever: tips for parents

Authors : National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Recommendations for parents when caring for a child with high body temperature at home:

• Always offer children something to drink (for breastfed children, the most suitable liquid is breast milk);
• signs of dehydration: sunken fontanel;
• dry mouth;
• sunken eyes;
• lack of tears;
• disturbed general condition.

Measures to reduce body temperature

Antipyretics do not prevent seizures and should not be used for this purpose.

Physical measures to reduce body temperature

• Wet cold sheets (and other so-called "physical cooling methods") are not recommended for reducing body temperature
  .
• Children with a fever should not be completely undressed or dressed too warmly.

Medicines to reduce body temperature

It is recommended to use paracetamol or ibuprofen in cases where the general condition of children with high body temperature is impaired.

Do not use

antipyretics only to reduce body temperature in children with fever with an unimpaired general condition.

When treating children with fever with paracetamol or ibuprofen:

• determine the duration of treatment based on the child’s general condition - if it gets better, you can stop giving the medicine;
• if the child’s general condition does not improve, choose another drug;
• do not give ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time;
• alternate these drugs as necessary if severe condition persists or recurs before the next dose;
• parents should know and be able to identify a rash that does not disappear with pressure;
• check the child’s condition at night;
• It is better to leave a child with a fever at home, but be sure to report his illness to kindergarten or school.

When to Seek Medical Help

Be sure to consult a doctor if:

• the child is hysterical;
• against the background of fever, a rash appeared that did not disappear with pressure;
• the child’s condition has worsened;
• fever lasts longer than 5 days;
• the parent or guardian is unable to properly care for the child (ed. note: for example, the child refuses to drink).

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