What over counter medicine can I take for this cough?

[Markandkark]

have a very annoying wet chesty cough, is there anything I can take before I have to resort to going to the doctors? I'm coughing so much it's giving me a headache. I'm 20 weeks preg.

I phoned my doctor about the same thing. She told me that none of the cough medicines have been tested for their safety in pregnancy and that I should make up my own mind.

Oh dear, that wasn't much help for you! I'm reluctant to go to the doctor as they are quite quick to jump to antibiotics at my practice, but maybe that's what I'll have to do anyway. Thanks

You could speak to a pharmacist and see what they say?

IIRC there isn't anything you can take for a cough that does much anyway, pregnant or not.

I think if you want anything effective you will have to go to your doctor. I tend to agree with Jareth on this anyway. At least you can take some antibiotics that are safe.

The thing that cleared my cough up, meanwhile, was sleeping in the spare room which has thinner curtains and so let a lot of light in from sunrise. I could also have tried sleeping in my room with the curtains partially open... But yes, if antibiotics will help you then go for it. Mine was viral.

I'm sure mine is probably viral too, but whenever I go they are already printing the antibiotic prescription before I've even sat down at my practice. I don't think the antibiotic resistance message has filtered through to my doctor yet. I try and avoid going if at all possible!

I hear a spoon of honey is good too. I never remembered to try it, but someone I spoke with swore by it.

Yep, a spoonful of honey works better than OTC cough medicine even when not pregnant - IIRC there was a study done that said the same thing. And the advantage of honey is that you can take it as and when you need it.

Try dissolving it in hot water with a dash of lemon juice and two paracetamol for a homemade lemsip.

Other things that can help are a nice warm bath or shower, sleeping in a more upright position to ease pressure on your lungs (don't know about you but I've got loads of pillows in the bed now anyway), drinking plenty of fluids, and keeping your rooms as airy and cool as possible - putting the heating on or keeping the windows shut will make it worse.

Isn't there a special kind of honey that's even better? Manuka or something

Boots do a Glycerin and Blackcurrant Linctus which is says is safe in pregnancy. I used it a few weeks back and it worked a treat.