Flu symptoms

[Lotsalotsagiggles]

Am 23 weeks and Feeling so unwell

Is there any cough medicines I can take? Ache so much and really hurts when I breathe. Paracetamol not touching it

I feel your pain. I've been ill for 4 weeks and only just getting better. I went to the GP when breathing became an issue and I also couldn't cope a minute longer with the sinusitis pain.

GP recommended: steaming with menthol crystals (which I didn't feel helped but was willing to do anything), saline nasal spray, full dose paracetamol every 4 hours, staying indoors, warm and rested, plenty of fluids.
I also asked if I could have cough sweets / strepsils and she said this was fine. Didn't make the cough go but at least gave a small bit of relief for a few minutes that I was sucking on one.

I ended up getting worse after a few days and called 111 who sent me back to GP and I was given short course antibiotics and signed off work. I also found that putting a hot water bottle on my upper back or on my chest helped a small bit with the coughing and congestion.

Hope you start to feel better soon!

If you genuinely think you have the flu, ring the midwives or 111 or see your GP. It could be dangerous while pregnant.

If by flu you mean just a cold that's gone particularly nasty, try a saline nasal spray. I used sterimar (and honestly found it better than the nasal spray I normally use anyway!). You can take most kinds of cough linctus (just read the back), but honey, lemon and ginger probably works better. If your chest is really congested and you're in pain, see your GP and see if they'll give you an inhaler to use. It's perfectly safe in pregnancy. I'm asthmatic and use it daily. But it should really help to clear the infection if you have a lot of tightness and mucus in your airways.