Safe Remedies for the Common Cold in Pregnancy

With cold and flu season upon us, our providers want to share their list of remedies they recommend for you while you are pregnant.

At this practice, our first suggestion to any pregnant woman will be the "non-medication" options. Whenever possible we want you to avoid taking any medications, even "Over the Counter" medications available without a prescription at your pharmacy to minimize exposure of any potentially dangerous agents to your fetus.

Symptoms of the common cold include, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, fatigue and cough. They often last 7 - 10 days and no medication will cure a cold. The goal is to manage your symptoms until the virus resolves. If you develop a fever of 100.4 or greater, contact our office and then visit your primary care physician or urgent care for evaluation. They may need to prescribe a safe medication to you to manage a secondary infection.

PREVENTION OF COMMON COLD

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially if you have very limited cures available during pregnancy"

We encourage all pregnant women to take measures to avoid becoming sick with the cold or flu by paying special attention to the following:

Wash hands often with soap and water. Proper hand washing can help you avoid bacteria and viruses in the community.
Avoid sick people when possible. If you are unable to avoid a sick child or family member, hand washing, disinfecting and in some cases the use of a mask may be helpful.
Take care of yourself by resting and eating a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables.
Stay well rested by making sleep a priority and maintaining good sleep habits.
Get your Flu Vaccine as early in the season as possible.

FOR CONGESTION AND SORE THROAT ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMON COLD

FIRST LINE REMEDIES

Consider these remedies and try them before taking any medications.

Saline Nasal Spray or Nasal Irrigation (Neil Med Original Sinus Rinse Kit)
Nasal Strips (Breathe Right)
Throat lozenges and hard candies
Herbal Teas
Saltwater gargle
Honey
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and herbal tea.
Get plenty of rest. Your body will need rest to recover.

OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS

Since 1975, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assigned pregnancy risk factors to all drugs used in the United States. You can view the categories and their meaning here.

When taking any medication, we recommend the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time to relieve your symptoms.