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Runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, sore throat… no doubt, you have caught a cold. How to treat him? This is the first question you ask yourself because you are pregnant and, you probably know, most drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy. First of all, know that it is no coincidence that you have often had a cold for some time. Pregnancy causes a weakened immune system due to the action of progesterone. Clearly, you are more susceptible to infections. But don’t worry, whether it’s big or small, the common cold is a common infection and most of the time not serious.
Cold and cough when pregnant: make sure it is not the flu
The first thing to do when you have a cold when you are pregnant is to check that you have no fever. Headaches, body aches and a temperature over 38,5 can be signs of the flu. Consult your general practitioner without delay. Otherwise, to cure your cold, you do not have a thousand solutions. The only medicine you can use while pregnant for mild fever is paracetamol. For the rest, ask your doctor or midwife for advice and especially noself-medication. In general, when you are pregnant, it is good to have a medical opinion, from your general practitioner or even from a pharmacist, before taking any medication, even the most trivial.
Common cold in pregnant women: what to take as medicine?
To know : ” all anti-cold drugs (Dolirhume, Humex, actives …) sold without a prescription in pharmacies are prohibited during pregnancy, because the vasoconstrictors they contain can be dangerous for the baby », Recalls Professor Deruelle gynecologist-obstetrician at the Lille CHRU. No regrets to have, know that these drugs do not cure the common cold, which is a viral infection and which is therefore cured on its own, they are simply intended to relieve the symptoms of the common cold, in particular by reducing nasal congestion. Which can be reduced by other than medical means: nasal spray with seawater, physiological serum, hygieno-dietetic measures (hydration, ventilation… see below).
How to cure a cold naturally when you are pregnant?
To reduce symptoms, the simpler remedies are the best. Frequently clean your nose with physiological serum or with a seawater-based spray. No risk with these products. You can also make steam inhalations to decongest the nasal passages. Aromatherapy can be useful, but be careful, do not use no essential oil without the advice of a doctor or a pharmacist specializing in aromatherapy, because most essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy, at least in the 1st trimester of pregnancy.
Some homeopathic treatments can also be envisaged as a preventive measure, that is to say as soon as the nose begins to clog or run. You can thus take granules of Kalium Bichromicum 9 CH, Nux Vomica 9 CH or a dose of Oscillococcinum. Once again, these treatments must be prescribed by a doctor or a midwife specializing in homeopathy.
Most of the time, the common cold goes away on its own after 5 to 7 days. If the symptoms persist and if they are accompanied by fever, even moderate, it is better to make an appointment quickly for medical advice. An uncomplicated cold is caused by a virus, but sometimes there can be a secondary bacterial infection. In this case, antibiotic treatment will be necessary.
Tips and natural remedies for colds during pregnancy
- Blow your nose very regularly.
- Drink plenty of water to get rid of phlegm that clogs the nose and avoid dehydration (in case of fever). To relieve a sore throat, nothing better than a hot tea or an infusion of thyme with a teaspoon of honey. Lemon also helps eliminate phlegm. Add a few drops to your drinks.
- Air out the house daily to purify the air.
- Do not heat the chambers above 19 ° C.
- Use a humidifier in bedrooms, especially at night. You can also place a container of water under the radiators or dry your laundry in your room.
- Fill up on vegetables and fruits and adopt a balanced diet. Vitamin C is effective in fighting viruses.
- In case of a blocked nose, you can take inhalations of steam, taking care not to use essential oil without medical advice, because most of them are to be avoided during pregnancy.