Pregnant women must be extremely careful about the medications and supplements they take, in order to ensure the health of their developing babies. When a pregnant woman gets a cold, she may feel miserable, but can feel relief at the thought that the virus itself will not hurt her baby. A number of non-medical solutions exist for relieving the symptoms of a cold during pregnancy. Severe colds may sometimes be treated with medications that are deemed safe during pregnancy, when approved by the patient's obstetrician.
Step 1
Stay hydrated. A pregnant woman is already advised to increase her fluid intake, but this becomes even more important when she has a cold. Water, juice and decaffeinated teas help loosen and thin out mucus, and can replenish fluids lost from sweating out a fever.
Step 2
Run a humidifier in the bedroom or other sleeping areas. The moist air helps ease stuffy nasal passages and can ease breathing. Try a steam bath if there is no humidifier in the house. Put boiling water into a mixing bowl, cover your head with a towel and allow the steam to penetrate the sinuses.
Step 3
Use a non-medicated nasal spray to reduce inflammation of the nasal passages. Simple saline sprays are available at most grocery stores and pharmacies and are safe for pregnant women to use.
Step 4
Prop yourself up on extra pillows or sleep in a reclining chair to facilitate easier breathing during a cold. This remedy is also useful in late pregnancy when the baby's position may compromise lung function.
Step 5
Take acetaminophen if a fever is one of your cold symptoms. This medication is safe to use throughout pregnancy, and reducing a fever is very important to the health of the baby. If are not able to lower your temperature, call your doctor for advice.
Step 6
Speak to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter cough medicine if a persistent cough is keeping you awake at night or interfering with daily activities. Dextromethorphan is an element in cough medicines that is labeled "Category C" for pregnancy, meaning that harm to the baby cannot be ruled out. Your doctor can make the decision about whether this drug would do more good than harm, especially if you are at risk for pre-term labor due to the physical stress of coughing.
Things You'll Need
- Humidifier
- Saline nasal spray
- Acetaminophen
- Cough medicine
