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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be actually sitting here crying over this coughbecause I can't DO anything for it due to being an incubator?

59 replies

missmakesstuff · 31/03/2015 01:37

And think that someone, somewhere, should do some bloody testing on drugs so I can get something better than 'simple fucking linctus' and paracetamol....

I'm 41 weeks pregnant and since dh borough a cold home last week have had a cough for over a week. So fed up, couldn't sleep till at least midnight, then awake again half an hour ago, woken myself up by wetting myself. Lovely.

Have tried everything, have inhaled steam, a vaporizer with menthol, I stink of tiger balm, I have drunk my own body weight not insubstantial in honey and lemon, and I have now just bloody had it.

I steamy to take a luck off good cough medicine that will knock me out for long enough so I can sleep for the first time in a week and not wake up every morning with false contractions because my coughing has caused the muscles in my stomach to hurt so much I'm convinced baby might actually make an appearance this year.

But if I go to the gp or boots, all get is the head tipped to the side 'sorry, we can't give you anything...have you tried honey and lemon with whisky?

Aaargh! Of course dh, the Tucker, has Nora worded comfort and just pretends I'm not keeping him awake. He had a cough for one night and now is fine again. Because he doesn't have a person compressing his lungs to half their size

Is it too much to ask that someone could just give pregnant women actual hard facts about what is actually in the good drugs and why we can't have them so we cam make a bloody choice ourselves?

OP posts:
textfan · 31/03/2015 03:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PetShopGirl · 31/03/2015 03:04

You poor thing. You have my absolute sympathy as I was in the same boat when pg with DS2 a few months ago. I had a cough that went on for weeks on end and nobody gave a toss. Was in complete agony and honestly thought I might have broken a rib a couple of times. My colleagues must have been absolutely desperate for me to go on maternity leave. The only teeny tiny bit of comfort I got was from sipping hot Ribena (but not enough to make any real difference).

I had to spend a few nights on the antenatal ward because of BP issues, and they had to give me a private room as my coughing/sobbing was disturbing everyone. I was famous throughout that hospital for that sodding cough.

Also I was due to have an ELCS and was absolutely terrified of coughing during the op and also while I was recovering. I was reassured that coughing during the op was unlikely as the spinal would probably help suppress it, but that even if I did cough they would manage it as they are used to people vomiting and all sorts. Great. Anyway, to cut a long story short, my ELCS went ahead as planned and I didn't cough at all, and from the minute the baby was born the cough completely disappeared. Apparently he had been pressing everything upwards and squashing my lungs, which was what was irritating them. Once they had a bit more space it was fine. The relief was absolutely immense - I really hope the same thing happens to you, OP.

littlehouseinthebigwoods · 31/03/2015 03:22

You poor thing. My mum recommends slowly sucking chocolate to help ease a cough. I haven't tried it yet but might be worth a go?

marshmallowpies · 31/03/2015 03:36

Ugh I had this all of Nov and Dec, the crying with frustration I remember well! And trying to suppress coughing in public in case I wet myself. I would have given anything for a dose of night nurse and a good nights sleep!

It stopped after Xmas for about 2 weeks, then came back slightly less badly, and I had an ELCS in early Feb.

Coughing really hurt the scar for about 3 days after the op then I didn't notice it after that - holding a cushion over the scar can help but I only heard about that afterwards on here, duh!

I did the lemon and honey with ginger in too, which helped a bit. Nothing like as good as Night Nurse would, though...hang on in there OP!

HistoriaTrixie · 31/03/2015 03:41

I'm in the US and quite possibly it might not be available there, but if you can get hold of Robitussin-DM, which is guaifenesin (expectorant) and dextromethorphan (cough suppressant), my doctor okayed its use while I was pregnant. There's also Delsym, another doctor suggestion, the active ingredient is dextromethorphan polistirex. I hope you feel better - and get to meet your baby! - soon!

wheresthelight · 31/03/2015 04:07

cider vinegar isn't when pregnant (asthmatic who coughs constantly). it tastes vile do mix in some honey buy warm up a glass of it and drink it. works wonders

WaitingForEgg · 31/03/2015 04:29

Have you ever used a salbutamol inhaler? They are safe to use in pregnancy so may be worth asking your doctor/pharmacist?

figginz · 31/03/2015 04:43

Sounds hideous. You have my sympathies.

Try Gaviscon for the cough. I know that makes me sound like a weirdo but it's the only thing the doctor would recommend for my cough when pg. I was so desperate I tried it and it worked or was a placebo or the cough was on its way out anyway, but don't care it worked

Good luck Thanks

Gunpowder · 31/03/2015 05:40

I had this at beginning of 3rd trimester following flu, was AWFUL. Eventually went to GP and had pneumonia so don't struggle forever. I was hugely better after a couple of days of antibiotics.

Ohhhhh and Manuka honey helped me a little bit. Tastes a bit minging though.

LoxleyBarrett · 31/03/2015 05:57

Lying to the Pharmacist - yep, that's the answer Hmm

LoxleyBarrett · 31/03/2015 06:06

Unfortunately we can't sell dextromethorphan for use in pregnancy over here and if your chest is clear anti-biotics and salbutamol won't do anything either.

I'm sorry you feel so ill, but the reality is that only the glycerin based products are licensed for use in pregnancy and they aren't really that effective.

SoonToBeSix · 31/03/2015 06:06

Try Vicks on your feet. And you definitely can take co coda mol when pregnant just not when breastfeeding.

pearpotter · 31/03/2015 06:07

The best things for coughs I've found is:

Lemsip with honey - it's the decongestant that stops the nasal drip. I'd guess you can't have phenylephidrine yet though but something to note when you've had the baby.

Propping yourself up so your pilows are high in bed- with other blankets or pillows underneath.

Vicks - on your chest and on the soles of your feet. No idea how the latter works but there is anecdotal evidence that it does. And it feels quite nice.

Hope it brings you some relief.

FiveLittlePeas · 31/03/2015 06:08

Hope you get better soon... but honestly, what would you want to take for acold, apart from paracetamol?? There really isn't anything else. That and patience, it'll go away in a couple of days.

pearpotter · 31/03/2015 06:12

Instead of Lemsip for now, steep a lemon sliced up in hot water- I usually put it in the bottom of a jug. Give the slices a good squeeze with a spoon. Add plenty of honey to sweeten.

Make any soup with onions and garlic as a base.

Warm baths with a few drops of Olbas oil in the water.

MsAspreyDiamonds · 31/03/2015 06:27

Yes to rubbing Vicks on your feet, I did that when my dc get hacking coughs and it works a treat. If you are not too hot, pop a pair of socks afterwards but it's not necessary.

Original poster
missmakesstuff · 31/03/2015 06:51

Thanks all, just woken up so got 3 hrs broken sleep which is something, I will give all of those a go, although I've tried most.
Thing is, it's not a cold now, it never is, I just get a day at most of cold symptoms and then the cough sets in, and it's never gone before 2 weeks.
Fivelittle I can think of loads of stuff I'd be taking, proper hot toddys with whisky to help me sleep, decongestants, ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation in my throat and to make my chest stop hurting, proper expectorant to get this last bit of phlegm which sits on my cheat and starts me off every 5 mins during the night... I don't have any patience or a few days in fact, I'm 41+1 dats so could still be waiting for my lungs to become normal size in a week...

But I do get bloody paracetamol, which I've been taking every 4 hrs for the last month for unbearable rib pain, but only works for an hour tops...woohoo!

Maybe the only sure fire way I will know labour is starting will be the cough stopping then!
Poor baby is wriggling like mad now, which whilst nice is also really uncomfortable at this stage. Bloody move out then

I've had enough...think the first suggestion I'll try is the chocolate one...

Time to start the day! There may be a news story later about a heavily pregnant woman actually managing to cough a baby out in boots whilst lying to a pharmacist and punching someone who suggests honey and lemon and asks if I'm still pregnant
Keep an eye out!

OP posts:
sashh · 31/03/2015 07:28

Have you tried a local anesthetic spray? I have no idea if it is contraindicated because of pregnancy but I can't see much being ingested and passed on to the baby, it might get you some sleep.

Also have you tried gargling with soluble paracetamol? Or even whisky - gargling and then spitting out you might ingests some but again it will be a minimal amount.

And sorry noone is ever going to do drugs tests on pregnant humans, you would not get it past an ethics committee. Unfortunately the BNF is no longer available to the general public online but you may be able to find research results on animals who are pregnant

bennybenbear · 31/03/2015 07:38

I could have written your posts! I'm 36+5 weeks pregnant and had this cough/cold for over 8 weeks now. I am at my wits end. I love it when someone suggest honey/lemon or be patient it'll go in a few days, yup still here weeks on! I've had antibiotics too which obviously didn't work but it was a last resort really. The totally blocked nose and hacking cough at night is a particularly great combination! At least I have a few more weeks to try and shift it so at 41+ you have my upmost sympathy OP, really hope we both have super easy births to make up for this!

SenatusPopulusqueRomanorum · 31/03/2015 07:45

YANBU. I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding for nearly 9 years so it has been paracetamol or nothing. Even for gallstones.
I swear by homemade chicken soup now Smile.

AlternativeTentacles · 31/03/2015 07:56

Add the ginger to the honey and hot lemon and make sure the honey and lemon are fresh - I am the same and get coughs if ever I get a cold and this year it has only been copious amounts of honey and hot lemon with ginger that saw me through.

marshmallowpies · 31/03/2015 07:58

Oh another thing: the doctor suggested I see the asthma nurse to see if it was an asthmatic cough. I'd never had asthma before but it is in the family. But this was just before Xmas so I ran out of time, and then the cough went away so I never did make the appointment. But if the same cough ever comes back, I will!

EponasWildDaughter · 31/03/2015 08:00

Vicks on your feet, warm socks on top.

Sorry if it's already been said.

eeyore2 · 31/03/2015 08:03

I had bronchitis and sinusitis at around 37 weeks once and was given a nasal steroid spray, antibiotics and a tiny bit of codeine (to suppress the cough). After weeks of muddling through on honey and lemon it was a blessed relief!

Hippee · 31/03/2015 08:14

Another vote for Vicks on your feet - don't know why it works but I was getting really desperate about the lack of sleep at one point, gave it a go and it worked for me.

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