Getting the flu vaccination will reduce your risk of infections and complications and is safe during any stage of pregnancy. In fact, the flu vaccine even passes some protection on to their unborn child, which lasts for up to six months after birth.
Speak to our obstetricians about how you can organise your flu vaccination. Learn more about influenza in pregnancy here. If you experience any of the following, please seek medical advice:.
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Skip to content. Cold and Flu season has arrived - relief of symptoms. If you are pregnant and suffering from a cold, here is our guide to managing your symptoms.
Do I have a cold or the flu? Relieving symptoms Ideally, you should not take any medication during pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimester. Reducing the risk When it comes to illness during pregnancy, prevention is better than a cure. And are cough drops safe to take during pregnancy? Cough drops are sold over-the-counter without a prescription from your doctor. Most of the ingredients are likely safe to use during pregnancy, but their effects on pregnancy are not fully known.
The active ingredient in most cough drops is menthol. Menthol helps treat a cough and sore throat by cooling your throat and reducing throat irritation. There are no studies that assess the safety of menthol during pregnancy. Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, the risks of menthol cough drops on pregnancy are not fully known. That said, there have not been any reports of negative effects on a pregnancy due to menthol use.
To be safe, you should talk to your doctor before taking menthol cough drops during pregnancy. In addition to an active ingredient, some cough drop brands also contain natural herbs, such as:. These herbs have no specific warnings for use during pregnancy. Be sure to ask your doctor before taking a cough drop that contains these herbs. Many cough drops also contain corn syrup or other sweeteners.
Corn syrup and other sweeteners can cause your blood sugar to rise, making your diabetes harder to manage. Healthy habits can help keep you from catching a cold or other virus that would give you a cough or sore throat. For more tips, read about cold and flu home remedies. In some cases, it may be better to skip the home remedies and see if you need medical treatment.
For cough, call your doctor if it lasts more than a week, or if you also have:. Breathe easier by elevating your head with a few pillows. Nasal strips can also help as they gently pull your nasal passages open.
They are easy to find, sold over the counter and are drug-free. Stay active: If you can, do some light to moderate, pregnancy-safe exercises. It will help your body to fight off the cold faster.
Drink lots of fluids: Symptoms of colds like sneezing, runny nose, and fever causes your body to lose fluids that are essential to you and your baby. Warm beverages like tea with honey which helps to suppress a dry cough or hot soup with broth are soothing for your symptoms and cold water and juices work fine as well. Eat foods with vitamin C: Foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, melon, kiwi, and red cabbage are packed with vitamin C which will help to boost your immune system.
Get more zinc: Pregnant women should try to get milligrams of zinc each day, including the zinc in prenatal vitamins. Foods like turkey, beef, eggs, yogurt, wheat germ, oatmeal, and pork will also help to boost your immune system.
Use a humidifier: Dry conditions in your home can aggravate your symptoms so using a cold or warm air humidifier at night can really help. Use saline nose drops, rinses, and sprays. We do recommend avoiding neti pots, however, as they can spread germs.
Gargle with warm salt water: Gargling with warm salt water can help to ease a scratchy throat and help control a cough. Medications that are safe for pregnant women to take for a cold Before reaching for the medications in your medicine cabinet, reach for the phone and call your OBGYN to discuss the recommended remedies you can take for a cold while pregnant.
Acetaminophen Taking acetaminophen like Tylenol can help in the short-term to reduce head and body aches and break a fever. Cough medicine Expectorants like Mucinex, cough suppressants like Robitussin, vapor rubs like Vicks VapoRub, and cough drops are all considered safe during pregnancy. Nasal sprays Plain saline drops and sprays are safe and can help to moisturize and clear a stuffy nose.
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