Did you use vicks vapour rub in pregnancy?

[whyhastherumgone]

Got a stinking cold and desperate for something to put in steam and inhale but am finding mixed info online (as always!).

I've looked at the ingredients and can't see that there's anything dangerous there and it's too late to text my midwife and get a reply, so just wondered if you'd been pregnant recently and if you'd used it? I've avoided olbas oil/nasal sprays [apart from saline and saltwater spray, but that just seems to dry my nose out with no unblocking].

I know nobody can give me a straight yes or no unless there are any midwives or doctors out there but was looking more for a general consensus.

I was told by my MW & GP it's not allowed in pregnancy & just to use steam.

Very frustrating!

Currently pregnant and just got over a stinking cold. I've been liberally applying vapour rub for the last 2 weeks.

My GP told me the reason no one will give straight answers surrounding safety of any substance in pregnancy is due to when doctors used to recommend the use of thalidomide as it was seen as pregnancy safe.

Oh bugger I used it in steam - a tiny bit. Hopefully couldn't have done too much harm and I can breathe again now so I might be able to sleep for the first time in over a week - steam alone doesn't seem to do anything!

@Notquitejustyet how far along are you? I'm just coming up to 12 weeks :-/ trying to tell myself lack of sleep was probably more damaging than a tiny bit of vicks.

Sorry, I've only just seen this - I'm 25+5 today. I was told to avoid decongestants that contain Phenylephidrine as it can reduce blood flow. Vapour rub doesn't contain this drug though so is safe for use in pregnancy. I've copied and pasted some information below:

Safe Vicks products:

Vicks Vaporub is safe for mums-to-be and helps relieve the symptoms of a blocked nose, sore throat and cough. It is available as an ointment for rubbing on the chest, throat or back, and can also be added to hot water and the vapours inhaled.

Vicks Inhaler looks like a little lip balm stick and contains menthol, camphor and pine needle oil, which work to help clear stuffiness – it’s safe to use when pregnant.

Vicks First Defence nasal spray doesn’t contain any active medical ingredients, but uses a microgel to trap any possible cold virus particles and stop them getting into your system, so it’s generally considered safe in pregnancy.

Sourced from: www.madeformums.com/pregnancy/is-vicks-safe-to-use-when-pregnant/30931.html

I've used vapour rub (rubbed on chest) and currently using the inhaler thing otherwise I can barely breathe! I'm pretty sure I asked the pharmacist what I could use and he said vapour rub.

Yes. The vaporub is perfectly safe (unless you eat it!)

have a look at the tub.
if it contains camphor (spelling?) then it's not safe during pregnancy.