Cold Medicine During Pregnancy

Suffering from cold is not an uncommon thing during pregnancy. However, taking over the counter cold medicine during pregnancy is not advisable since they can have an adverse effect on the health of the baby. There are many alternative cold drugs available in the market, which are safe for pregnant women that you can take instead. Therefore, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor about the cold meds that are safe for you to take. He will guide you about the drugs which you can and cannot use during pregnancy.

Make sure every doctor you visit during your pregnancy knows that you are with child before prescribing you any new meds. Information of any supplement you are taking must also be furnished to the doctor irrespective of whether it claims to be natural or not.

Taking Cold Medicine During Pregnancy—Is It Safe?

It is recommended to ask the advice of your current doctor whether to take an OTC cold medicine during pregnancy as they know about your condition better than anyone else. Pseudoephedrine is a safe drug to use during day for colds while Benadryl is most effective during nighttime. Apart from these two, Robitussin is another drug that can be safely used during pregnancy for treating colds. As far as antibiotics are concerned, Cephalosporin is considered a safer option for pregnant women rather than Quinolone or Tetracycline.

The functioning of the immune system slows down during pregnancy, which is why a cold might not go away easily even while taking the right medicine. Thus, it is important to take precaution early and get a flu vaccine to avoid catching flu altogether.

What Types of Cold Medicine Can I Take During Pregnancy?

1. Cold Medicine You Can Take

Antihistamines are a safe class of cold medications for pregnant women with drowsiness being their only side effect. Guaifenesin and Dextromethorphan are considered safe for treating cough during pregnancy while Benzocaine is recommended for alleviating sore throat symptoms when used in combination with Dextromethorphan. For pain relief, the safest cold medicine for expecting mothers is Acetaminophen.

2. Those You Should Avoid

Phenylephrine, NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) and alcohol containing liquid cold medication must be avoided at all costs during pregnancy as they can cause major side effects.

Home Remedies for Cold During Pregnancy

Apart from the cold medicine during pregnancy, there are some home remedies which you can resort to.

Home Remedies	How It Helps	What You Should Do
Fresh air	It makes breathing easier.	Open up the windows and breathe in the fresh air. Go for a walk on the beach to enjoy the salty and humid air.
Healthy foods	They Enhance the immune system and offer an energy boost.	Eat citrus fruits such as oranges and drink as many fresh fruit juices as possible. Include vitamin rich vegetables in your diet.
Chicken soup	It relives congestion.	Make chicken soup yourself at home or get a canned version from the market. Include veggies in it to make it more effective.
Hot/cold pack	It eases congestion and drains sinus.	Dab a cloth in hot water and rub it all over your face. Apply a cold pack after that to reduce the swelling and alleviate headache.
Rest	It allows your body to fight off the illness and helps in alleviating stress.	Take small snaps throughout the day. Keep tissues on hand and rest for at least a few hours during each nap.
Hydrotherapy	It loosens mucus and moisturizes the nasal passageways.	Take a warm shower. Make sure to have a bath mat placed in the tub to avoid any risk of a slip and have someone on hand to help you get out of the shower if you feel weak.
Room vaporizer	It clears the passageways in the nose and thins the mucus in the lungs.	Install a steam vaporizer or a cool-mist humidifier in your room. Adjust the settings in such a way that humid air hits your face while you rest.
Soothing beverages	They soothe throat, boost the immune system and open nasal passageways.	Add two teaspoons of fresh lemon juice in a cup of hot water and drink after stirring the mixture gently. Add a few slices of ginger to increase the flavor.
Hydration	It maintains blood volume and reduces the risk of fluid loss.	Drink as much water, juices, tea or broth you can throughout the day, but avoid drinking herbal tea or coffee. The extra fluids will help in thinning the mucus and draining the sinus.
Nasal strips	It opens up nasal passageways and helps in breathing easily.	Put on a nasal strip following the instructions that are mentioned on the product by the manufacturer. Keep your head in an elevated position while having the nasal strip on your nose.
Saltwater gargling	It reduces swelling and alleviates itchiness in the throat.	Add a bit of salt in a glass of mild hot water and gargle with it as many times during a day as possible. Adding a teaspoon of honey in the saltwater is a good idea.
Mentholated chest rub	It dilates the blood vessels and opens congested airways.	Apply the mentholated salve or chest rub under your nose and rub it on your chest. The menthol vapors emitting from the salve are going to open up nasal passageways and stop the coughing, allowing you to sleep easily.
Steam	It loosens the congestion in the nose without overheating.	Make use of a facial steamer to cleanse your nasal passageways or drape a towel over your head and bow down in front of a sink while letting hot water run, making a steam tent and then inhale the steam.
Sleep propped up	It makes breathing easier and helps in draining the sinus.	Keep extra pillows under your head while sleeping or prop up your bed’s head using blocks. Sleeping or taking naps in a recliner chair semi-upright in posture is also a good idea for reliving symptoms of sinus congestions.

If you want to know more about other home remedies for cold during pregnancy, you can watch the video below: