Cough remedies when pregnant? (My DH may kill me if I don't let him sleep!)

[Novia]

Hi everyone - I have had a rotten cold and have been left with a constant painful chesty cough. Most annoyingly during the night, which keeps us both awake.

I'm 12+3 and I know that most over-the-counter remedies are taboo, but I was wondering if anyone knew of A) something I can take, or B) any home remedies (excluding honey and lemon)?

Many thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Okay - when DH goes postal I'm blaming MN!

When I asked in boots they said olbas pastilles are ok so I've been taking them.

The pharmacist on boots was spectacularly unhelpful at first though. at first it seemed add if she wasn't even willing to sell me some paracetamol.

If it is painful and chesty you may have a chest infection, in which case you need antibiotics. Go to your Gp and get it checked out, as chest infections can get really nasty very quickly (I'm in the same boat, just been given anti-bs and have been assured that it is safe to take these in pregnancy).

I'm watching this with interest as I must have the same cold but dare not take anything. But as its my OH that gave it me I have no sympathy for his lack of sleep and just want some myself.

Thanks both! I will try the Olbas Pastilles.

Panic - Thanks, but I don't think it's a chest infection (yet!) as I've only had it a week. It's more that my throat and stomach muscles hurt from coughing IYSWIM?!

zigwig - good point, mine is DH's fault too! He always seems to get a mild cold (though thinks he's dying) and then I get stuck with a cough which lasts 2 months!

You have my sympathy, I'm in the same boat! The pharmacist I spoke to in Boots was also unhelpful. I've been surviving with Olbas tissues and drinking hot water with lemon and honey. You're also fine to have Halls Soothers as those don't actually have any medicine in. Not fun though!

I had a really nasty cough that I couldn't shift earlier in pregnancy. No infection or anything. It was keeping me awake at night and I pulled a muscle in my bump so coughing really hurt. Asked pharmacist and they said simple linctus is ok in pregnancy. Tasted foul but gave me a bit of temporary relief xx

wkmmum - I am a wimp and make dramatic gagging noises/faces with medicine; just now nasty is the linctus, is it a specific one?! :)

I was told lemon sherbets!

Novia - it was just an asda own one. Sure you can get honey and lemon ones as well though xx

Jakeman's menthol sweets really help, they are about 60p for a massive bag from boots/superdrug and are fine during pregnancy

I managed to catch whooping cough when pg with DS. The GP recommended 'simple linctus' - which is the name of the actual medicine, not a plain old cough mix. He recommended it to be taken in hot black tea with a spoonful of honey. THat was disgusting so I stuck to hot tea and taking the linctus separately. Hope you feel better soon.