Terrible cold: wld it be very wrong to take sudafed?

[Artichook]

I've never had a cold like this: fever, chills, hacking wheezy cough and so much snot, oh the snot, it keeps coming and coming and coming. It's dehydrating me and hurts.

I know you are meant to avoid sudafed when preggers (I'm 28 weeks) but can it be worse for the feotus than my current state? I need to dry up the snot and cattarh and feel like I can breath.

Has anyone taken sudafed or lemsip when pregnant?

Why not try a paracetamol first? My doctor said paracetamol is fine and it does help

Thanks Bejeena. I have taken paracetamol and it helped the pain but can't help the congestion. It's the constant, constant snot that's getting to me. I've never seen anything like it.

I wouldn't. But what I would do is use Otrivine. Evidence suggests that otrivine is ok as it works only on the local area, ie your nose when you spray it up. I used in both pregnancies (terrible pregnancy rhinitis) and it saved my life. Miraculous stuff.
I also had big, fat babies who are hitting all their miletimes with aplomb. Websites are very ambivalent about it, and I must point out I'm not a doctor and this is only my experience (etc etc), but I would say yes to otrivine and no to sudafed.

It's also a lot more effective than sudafed.

I used octravine in pregnancy on recommendation from my gp

Sudafed is contradicted in pregnancy. It's because it works by constricting blood vessels which is great for sinus pain but bad for baby! I had similar at about 24 weeks. I took regular paracetamol and inhaled steam, a lot! It was the only thing that gave me relief. Hope you feel better soon :)

Don't take the tablets, they aren't safe in pregnancy. The decongestant nasal spray is fine though, I've used it through 2 pregnancies and both babies arrived on time and perfect.

Oh, art you sound like you've got what I had last week. The amount if snot was unbelievable and I was still struggling over a week later.
As you know from the antenatal thread, I tried Vicks, but tbh, it didn't help. I only took Paracetemol in the end, but agree it wasn't very effective.
Keep propped up at night and keep a box of tissues to hand. I went through 3 boxes to myself in a week!

Sorry. Haven't got any words of wisdom, but you have my sympathy.

Get some saline solution vials from the chemist and squirt it up your nose - not super pleasant but VERY effective.
Prop yourself up in bed with a hot water bottle and lots of honey and lemon.

I was prescribed sudafed (tablets) during pregnancy - and was told it was safe after the first trimester for short term use.

I wouldn't do anything without speaking to your gp first. Stick to paracetamol, steam, hot drinks, Vicks vapour rub. I had this last week, it was hell but it doesn't last!

If you ditch the dairy the snot is much more manageable.

Thanks all. I've never heard of Otrivine and DH just went to Sainsbueys Local who didn't stock it. We'll try the chemist tomorrow. I've never had a cold like this. I'm beginning to think it night be flu even though I had the flu jab.

artichok if your chemist has a choice of Ortivine, got for the 'measured dose nasal spray'. That's the best to my mind. All the types are stunningly effective but that one is the best I reckon.

I hate snotty colds, they make me feel like I'm drowning in my own body.

sorry for sp mistakes!