Can't shake Catarrh - Could this be a pregnancy symptom? (gross alert!)

[joannita]

I've had evil phlegm glued to the back of my throat ever since I became pregnant (about 4 months ago). It's very thick and green and difficult to bring up, often makes me retch when I try to cough it up. I often have problems with catarrh in winter but it usually goes after about 3 weeks. This just seems to be going on forever and is really unpleasant. Could it be linked to pregnancy? Is there anything I can take for it that is OK during pregnancy?

Well, I've experienced a bunged up head and that is due to pregnancy but what you have sounds more like an upper respitory tract infection.

Thick green mucus can be the bronchial tubes. You should head along to the GP I reckon OP.

I had to get antibiotics at one stage due to a persistant sinus infection so there are antibiotics they can give you while pregnant.

Lie scarlet the colour of the mucus would suggest to me that you could have an infection that might need antibiotics. I'd also vote for a trip to the GP. I think now you're 4 months there is a wider range of antibiotics they can give you. I've had to have them in all 3 of my pgs for one reason and another, and everything was fine. There really isn't anything fantastic you can get over the counter for colds etc when you're pg.

Hope you feel better soon.

Yes, having green mucus used to guarantee that Doc would give you antibiotics, but not anymore in my experience. I'm asthmatic and have allergic rhinitis. Apparently, according to one doc I saw a few years back, asthmatics often have green mucus anyway. Since then I've not bothered asking for antibiotics for green mucus.

Thanks for the advice in any case. Think I'll soldier on. I know antibiotics are Ok, but don't want to kill all the good bugs babies are developing. I admit I have no scientific basis for this, maybe they don't have any good bugs yet! Just seems logical! Also don't want to get thrush!

I just thought someone might know a good softcore remedy or something herbal.

I'm pretty sure bronchial tubes are fine. I have no cough or congestion. Mucus is falling down from nasal cavity and sticking to back of throat.

i am 6 months pregnant and have been full of snot since last September - have had some other cold symptoms at times but mostly just can't shake off the runny nose and phlegm at back of throat - it's rank!

I'm 26 weeks and can't shake catarrh at the back of nose/throat after a nasty coldy bug 3 weeks ago. Makes me snore like a blockage in a brewery Poor DH has to decamp to the spare room! (Though my mucus is clear/yellowish - just really thick and gungey! Yuerkk.)

Ah, sounds like post nasal drip from the sinuses then! It's hard to know if it's just pregnancy bunged up-ness or an actual sinus infection!

Maybe head to the GP anyway just in case.

I've been snotty since I became pregnant, however, I've just been given antibiotics for a chest infection because I have green phlegm. I guess it depends on how you are feeling generally tho.

I have the same problem! I'm 14 weeks, and had it since I got pregnant. I remember having it with my 2nd too.

I'm asthmatic and also have allergic rhinitis, but have never had green mucus unless there was another problem. Maybe I'm just lucky. You have been suffering with this for a few months now, though, so I would go to the GP. They can tell if you have an infection from your temperature, chest sounds etc, so I don't think they'd give antibiotics if you didn't need them, especially in pregnancy. I did get a bad chest infection when pg with DD2 - had to spend a day in the observation ward (the general "full of germs" one, not the maternity one) and have a chest xray at 8 months pg, as well as then having the strongest antibiotics they could give me, and a mega dose of brown inhaler for about 3 months. I ended up coughing up blood, which was pretty horrid, and freaked out DD1 for a good while. This is probably why I'd always err on the side of caution with something like that!

Hi everyone, interesting that other people have the same thing, though it gives me no joy to hear you're having/have had a grim time, especially Catsycat. That must have been awful.

I didn't know pregnancy could make you snotty. I'm a pretty snotty individual to start with so it was hard for me to tell if this might be a pregnancy thing. I'm going to make a docs appt today (if the evil call waiting system ever lets me through) even though I think they'll just send me away with nothing. It's got to be worth a go.

Incidentally in first pregnancy & during breastfeeding I was miraculously cold-free for over a year. It was amazing because I usually get every bug going. My immune system seemed to be boosted some way, now the opposite appears to be true. Weird. Someone needs to research this because the general idea that your immune system is lowered to stop you rejecting your baby doesn't seem to hold true in all cases.

Hi @joannita i know it’s been years since you posted but did your problem ever get better? I have exactly what you describe now 18 weeks pregnant. I’ve had it almost the whole pregnancy and it’s making me so depressed! I can’t live like this. Do you have any tips or hope please?!