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Pregnancy

I can't breathe, what can i take?

11 replies

iloveknitting · 15/10/2007 10:34

im coming down with a cold and can hardly breathe, can i take decongestants(sp?) lemsips, soothers etc or do i have to suffer through it without taking anything?

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Spagblog · 15/10/2007 10:35

Try steaming inhalation. When I had bad sinuses during pregnancy I was advised to leave cold cures alone and inhale steam. I got some salts to add to the water. Eucalyptus or something similar.

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iloveknitting · 15/10/2007 10:41

ive tried steaming, it works well during the day, its at night when i cant sleep because it feels like im suffocating, can i use vicks vapor rub?

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Bessie123 · 15/10/2007 10:42

I think you can take lemsip because it only has paracetamol in it, but you should check with a pharmacist.

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bran · 15/10/2007 10:50

I think Olbas oil would be ok when preg (better check the box though). You could also try sleeping propped up at an angle, I find this helps prevent my windpipe filling up with phlegm.

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violeta · 15/10/2007 11:18

I got told by NHS Direct and my midwife not to inhale Olbas Oil actually and that breathing in steam was the only thing they could recommend.
But then again even though I followed their advice, I've always thought that breathing in car fumes and the like would be far more damaging, but there you go!

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Soph73 · 15/10/2007 11:44

Oh no, I spent all last night inhaling olbas oil as I have a stinking cold and I¨m 13 wks pregnant! I must admit it didn´t bloody work though - still can´t breathe

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ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 15/10/2007 11:53

Lemsip has decongestants in it which you're notmeant to take.

I found hot ribena with soluble paracetamol in it just as good as lemsip TBH

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bamzooki · 15/10/2007 11:59

I had a stinker of a cold when pg with ds. Went to doc cos could not get any sleep at all, and he checked Otrivine (what i would normally use) in his book and said it was fine to use and to 'decongest away to my hearts content'.
I went home, used my trusty spray and had a blissful sleep.
I was in 3rd trimester, so I guess in the 1st it might be different, but try speaking to your GP.

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violeta · 15/10/2007 12:25

I really wouldn't worry Soph73, I think they're over-cautious about these things, to be honest.

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designerbaby · 15/10/2007 12:34

I had a stinker of a cold at 16 weeks - lasted for a couple of weeks, miserable ain't it? And now I think I'm coming down with another (great as I'm due any day now... labour with a stinking cold sounds like FUN... )

Only thing which has helped me was the juice of half a lemon (gottta be a REAL lemon, mind) which is packed with vit C and also a natural decongestant, with a big dollop of honey (to taste) to sweeten and soothe your throat, topped of with really hot (not boiling though, as it kills the vits) water. Sip it slowly while it's really hot.

It's much tastier than lemsips... and you can swallow a coupld of paracetamol after if you have a headache etc.

Good luck - hope you feel better soon...

DB
xx

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iloveknitting · 15/10/2007 13:12

mmm, a homemade lemsip sounds good, im off to root around in the larder for some honey.