Stinking cold - remedies when pregnant

[CucumberCool]

Ftm - COVID test booked for later today

What can you take when you've got a cold when pregnant?

Sore thoat, runny nose, hacking cough (occasionally lower stomach pain with it).

I had a hot lemon juice and honey, gots some 'Halls'... Are these both ok?

What's safe and what's not? Baby book suggests ringing GP (of course) but it's not very realistic in this day and age as I won't be able to actually speak to anyone with a medical background.... I would genuinely value the advice of strangers on the internet over the GP receptionists! What a time we live in...

Speak to your pharmacist. All cold and flu meds will give guidance on the box.

Can you ring your midwife or community midwives for advice? They will be able to tell you up to date info of what you can/can’t take. I was under the impression paracetamol is the only thing you can take safely in pregnancy. I had Covid two weeks ago and I just had paracetamol and fluids. Hope you feel better soon x

Spoke to a pharmacist. Turns out you can't take anything!

Halls and the like are ok in moderation.

No cold or flu remedies (lemsip etc) not even echinacea or olbas oil!!

Hot lemon and have honey was the only suggestion!

back to bed I go.

Tesco cold and flu sachets say consult a doctor so I spoke I sent my sister (who is a GP) the list of ingredients and she said it's fine to take 🤷‍♀️

Camomile tea is great for colds...reduces inflammation in mucus membranes apparently. I make a cup of tea and then add lemon and honey.
I'm fairly sure it's safe during pregnancy but I'm not a medical professional so best to check with one!
Hope you feel better soon

Yeah I got told the same… you can’t take much at all. Honey and lemon and rest. I missed Lemsip & Olbas Oil!

Get well soon x

Echinacea is fine during pregnancy. But if you're already feeling the cold it's prob too late.

Manuka honey is great, and definitely helped me when I had Covid in early third trimester.

Sambucol / elderberry syrup with lots added zinc, vit c etc. I added hot water and was very soothing, like a hot black currant. Also sambucol do lozenges with zinc and they help you recover quicker too.

Paracetamol - totally safe to take during pregnancy.

Olbas bath oil / or the drops to add to bowl to steam the nasal passage. Also the little stick is good to just stick up your nose and get instant relief. Not sure why you wouldn't be able to have this??! Just don't injest and don't put any essential oils directly on the skin.

Vicks vapour rub, over chest, behind ears, under nose etc

Hope you feel better x

I was suffering major sinus issues earlier on, official guidance form Olbas Oil is not to use when pregnant.

Vicks VapoRub can be used which may help. Other than paracetamol and plenty fluids I don't know what else to suggest.

I have a stinking cold too at 27 weeks pregnant and have found spicy food and hot showers help (sorry, not pharmaceuticals but I never use them anyway, even before I was pregnant) as well as making sure I constantly have hot lemon water at hand. And tissues. I've made my nose bleed with the amount of blowing I've been doing but it's better than sitting there sniffling/trying to breathe!

Ice cream is brilliant for sore throat. Otherwise I use honey, ginger, lemon in hot water

Propolis

As much sleep as you can get, hot showers to ease congestion, honey, ice cream/ice lollies and cold drinks for sore throat and cough. Unfortunately I found that not much else was allowed.
Drink lots to keep hydrated especially if blowing nose all the time and keep applying vaseline to avoid dry nose on top of everything else. Hope it clears up quickly for you.

I just took Lemsip as usual. It's paracetamol which I've always been under the impression is fine during pregnancy.

Although having just consulted Dr Google it appears that depending on which variety you take, there can be potential risks from the decongestant drugs in Lemsip. I'm not massively worried as it seems that risks either involve neural tube defects (I'm too far along for that) or are risky for women with a history of preeclampsia (not applicable to me).

I had bad congestion and sinus problems and found that eating hot chilli or curry helped.

I have this too, and an awful wheezy cough (PCR test taken today before anyone mentions) I am just keeping topped up with paracetamol and blowing my nose as much as possible. The way I see it, I am expelling the germs a saline solution spray really helps as well!

I’m feeling rotten with a cold too. I’ve stuck to hot water with ginger and lemon.

There’s some recent research which suggests paracetamol should be used with caution in pregnancy. Here’s some balanced expert opinions (sounds like it’s nothing to worry about but don’t take it if you don’t need it): www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-statement-on-paracetamol-use-during-pregnancy/

Thanks all! Definitely sticking to the non pharmaceutical options.

Have no idea why echinacea and olbas are not recommended but I'm not going to risk it...

Warm baths, sleep, all the fluids and nearly a whole jar of honey seem to have got me through the worst!

Kiwis have apparently got more vitamin c in than oranges! Had a few of those too.

I have also heard paracetamol should be used with caution now...did take just the one before bed last night and it helped a lot.

Negative on the PCR thankfully..

Hope everyone gets well soon! It's a bad one going round

I’ve got it too at 34 weeks. My daughters have all had it from school (negative pcrs so I know it’s not covid).

Paracetamol and hot chocolate is mildly helping. I’m having a sofa day today. My daughters seem to have had one really bad day and then picked up so hoping todays my day 😩

Quite pleased to get it out of the way before baby is here. It will hopefully give my immune system a much needed boost!