In bed with bad dry coughs - advice needed

[SueV14]

Hi everyone,

I have developed a bad dry cough since yesterday which is painful in my chest. No other symptoms apart from overall flabbiness and headache. My temperature was normal all day yesterday, now I have 37.1 C (didn't sleep well obviously).

I have Vicks VapoRub and 500mg paracetamol pills at home (not sure what dose and how often is recommended?). Any advice on was I can take or do to fight this. I am exactly 12 weeks today, first pregnancy and first cold in pregnancy, so have no clue.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Hi Sue, I am suffering with similar symptoms, I know this will sound old fashioned but I find soaking a tea towel in very warm olive oil and putting it on my chest very relieving. To avoid getting it on my clothes I put a dry one on top too. This is something my midwife recommended last week.
Hope you feel better soon

You could try a simple linctus to help soothe your throat or a warm drink with honey and lemon.

Plenty of warm drinks. Squash made with hot water is good. Also, coughs are worse when you're lying down so do try and get out of bed. Sit on sofa with a blanket instead.

Thank you everybody. I emailed my consultant and she said 1000 mg paracetamol up to 4 times a day is ok. Sounds like bloody a lot to me, so only taking 500mg at a time. Hubby is going to get more honey and a cough sirup too.