Everyone is uncomfortable going through a cold, but more so if we are pregnant and know that the medication is quite limited. But If you have a cold during pregnancy, you can follow some tips that will help relieve symptoms.
Fortunately, even if the cold affects our well-being, it will have no effect on pregnancy. And colds are not rare, if we take into account that during nine months we usually go through one of them at least once, in any other period of our life. In pregnancy, it wasn't going to be less ...
Luckily, a common cold is not usually extended beyond seven days (maybe a little more during pregnancy), but in any case remember that you do not have to self-medicate, as many drugs (eye to paracetamol or ibuprofen, for example) they could affect the fetus. Also, remember that no medication cures the cold but that it will follow its natural process.
In any case, if the symptoms become unbearable, go to the doctor to advise you of a certain pharmacological way to relieve them, although it is likely to tell you that it is better not to take anything… Therefore, we will give you some Natural tricks to relieve cold symptoms during pregnancy.
Choose appetizing foods that do not cause you repulsion: do not go hungry during pregnancy, or during a cold.
Drink plenty of fluids, since the possible fever, sweat and abundant mucus cause the body to lose fluids: water, natural juices (orange, with vitamin C), nutritious soups ... will help replenish.
If the body asks for rest, do your best to listen to it. Being in bed or lying down will not shorten the cold, but it will make you feel better, especially those central days when the disease becomes more evident.
When you are lying or lying down, resting or at bedtime, having a pillow or two raising your head will make us breathe better through your nose, with your head higher. The nasal strips, which do not contain drugs, help open the nostrils.
A humidifier or a saline nasal solution (serum) will also help keep the nostrils moist and breathe better.
If the throat is sore or itchy, you can gargle with warm salt water.
If there is sporadic fever, a shower or warm bath may come in handy, drink cold drinks and do not get too warm. Try to lower the temperature naturally. Since the fever can cause pregnancy damage if it exceeds 40 degrees or 38 for more than one day, see a doctor in these cases.
Flu or cold?
To know if we are facing a case of flu in pregnancy or common cold, there are some data that differentiate them. Even the strongest colds are milder than the flu. Colds are usually preceded by sore throats, followed by a gradual onset of symptoms.
Runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and probably some general malaise and mild tiredness are the most frequent symptoms. If there is a fever in the cold, it does not usually exceed 38 degrees. The cough may appear, especially towards the end of the cold, and continue for a few more days when the other symptoms have already disappeared.
Instead, the flu is more serious and appears more suddenly, practically without warning. The most frequent symptoms are: high fever (39-40º), sore throat, headache, sore muscles, generalized weakness and tiredness that last longer than those of the cold (two weeks). There may be sneezing, coughing and even nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. It is convenient to go to the doctor, avoid the loss of fluids and, as always, do not self-medicate.
One way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated, in fact the recommendations indicate that pregnant women are a moderate risk group and should get the flu vaccine.
Finally, remember that if the fever for more than a day (or if the fever exceeds 40 °) or if the cold is prolonged more than a week and notes that worsen the symptoms, go to the doctor. It is possible for the cold to degenerate into sinusitis or another infection that does require treatment because they can harm the fetus.
You also have to go to the doctor if the cold significantly interferes with your diet, if there is chest pain, wheezing or if you have greenish or yellowish fluid expectorates. But we hope that everything remains in a common cold and that these tips to relieve cold symptoms during pregnancy Make you spend these complicated days better.
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In Babies and more | Flu in pregnancy: how to take care of yourself, Medications that are considered safe in pregnancy, Medications in pregnancy: avoid them as much as possible
