Horrible snotty cold and coughing, any recommended remedies without taking meds? :(

[kikiroo]

I've finally caught the lurg and was wondering if there's anything I can take that's ok during pregnancy? eg. Can I eat Tunes? Or Halls? Strepsils? Ultrachloraseptic throat spray? etc. I've been doing the lemon, honey hot water and gargling salt but not quite cutting it! Thanks in advance ladies :)

Steaming? Run a bowl of hot water and put olbas oil in it (make sure it's not boiling). Put your face over it and a towel over your head.

Also ask a pharmacist if any cold/flu stuff is okay if you're suffering! But buy the generic meds not the expensive stuff they try to get you to buy.

Ah thanks PeteSwotatoes, steaming sounds like a treat! I'll get pick up some olbas oil and try that tomorrow :)

Two, both seriously powerful... but you might not like the sound if them

1, the more acceptable. Get some root ginger, wash it, chop it toughly including the skin, put in a milk pan if water. Simmer for about 20 mins, the strain but retain the ginger. Drink the ginger water hot, with sugar or honey to taste. Use ginger again, following steps before, and again, until finally the taste if ginger has gone. Far East / Caribbean swears by this.

2 do the same with one clove if garlic. My Jamaican friend made this for me, slightly sweetened. Can't say it was nice but I felt much better for 6 hours. Mind you, the bedroom and I smelt if garlic,,

Feel for you - came down with a cold last month and was knocked out for 2 weeks because I couldn't really take anything for it. I bought some nasal spray recommended by chemist (it didn't really work), did Olbas oil steams about 4 times a day, had plain paracetamol (not 'extra' or anything like that) rested a lot, and ate tons of oranges.

It sucks - feel better soon

I feel your pain. DP had kindly shared his lurgy with me and I'm starting a new job today 😩 I've been liberally applying Vicks vaporub and taking standard paracetamol. I still feel shit.

I would add ginger garlic and turmeric to your lemon and honey. And if you have or can get some dry oregano, put a large spoonful in a cafetiere of coffee, or boil in water, strain and add some honey. The oregano in particular I tend to drink a lot of with colds and it helps.

Ooh Orlando I'm making a note of your hardcore ginger method.

I feel your pain too OP, i have had it for 10 days now, barely slept and coughing so hard i have nearly wet myself! It is getting better, longer gaps between coughing fits and getting easier to breathe at night. I have been taking hot honey and lemon, simple linctus and lots of fluids. Don't feel like anything really helped that much though. Hope you feel better soon x

You can get salt nasal rinses from the pharmacy. Not the most pleasant experience, but effective if you have blocked sinuses. Lots of sympathy. Have been plagued by colds this pregnancy.

I had one last week, this is what I did.

Paracetamol, cool strips on my head, hot honey and lemon, and vics on my chest.

I'm not sure how much it helped, and I'm still getting over it now, but it was better than nothing.

Nasal sprays are ok. And speak to your GP - they can prescribe OTC options for you

Otherwise, salt rinses and gargles are effective

No proper advice for the colds but hope you're all sleeping with vicks on the soles of your feet, helps you stop coughing and the only thing that works on my ds and lets him get some sleep.

I've have a rotten cold as well and my midwife suggested frankincense oil in place of olbas or Vicks. I haven't tried it yet but thought it would be worth mentioning if you're avoiding meds completely. Honey and lemon has been pretty good, otherwise just lots of sleep and fluids!

Oh wow! Thank you for all the amazing suggestions ladies :) I'll try some out. I can't quite believe how much snot I'm producing at the moment :S