Pregnant with mucus cough - can I take anything

[LittleOatcake]

I'm 17 weeks with a cough which is mainly annoying rather than painful. Night is the worst as when lying down I can't stop coughing. Waking up early to get it all off my chest (figuratively and physically haha) 🤣

I've been having hot honey and lemon and paracetamol, but is there anything stronger that's safe in pregnancy?

Thanks!

I have seen a few gp threads that say cough mixture does nothing for coughs . You are as well off with honey and lemon .

hope you feel better soon

https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/

this is super helpful to find out what you can and cant take

Have you thought about seeing the GP? I had this at 24 weeks pregnant and it was so awful I couldn’t sleep! In the end I saw GP who prescribed antibiotics and this cleared it up. Worth checking in with your GP if you can get an appointment.

I had a really bad cough over Christmas, I asked at the pharmacy and they said no cough medicine is certified safe for pregnancy. They also wouldn’t comment whether cough drops were safe. I know how difficult it can be!! So frustrating when you can’t sleep as well. Seems to be really limited what we can safely consume. I’d say if it isn’t getting better definitely go to your g.p. After three weeks mine was getting worse and I ended up on antibiotics, I was worried about this but g.p said totally safe. Cleared it up quickly x

If its productive then only glycerol really.

If it’s non productive and dry then codeine can be prescribed as a cough suppressant or you can get someone else to buy some cocodamol for you (they wont serve you when pregnant).

I had it twice. Once at 9-11weeks and I needed the gp and antibiotics in the end. There was so much green phlegm, I was bed bound, and I was also being sick every time I coughed. I couldn’t go in to work or even focus to wfh. I was out of breath just going to the toilet.

The second time at 23-26 weeks pregnant was over Xmas - it lasted almost 3 weeks. It started off as a bad cold then three days later developed into a bad cough and stayed. After the second week I was thinking of going to the gp, but I knew it wasn’t as bad as the last time. Still a bit wheezy and out of breath though if I did any walking. The amount of green phlegm was minor, the main problems were not being able to lie down because then I would continuously cough until I sat back up. Most evenings I only managed 3-5hrs of sleep and the first time I needed the toilet that was it I couldn’t lie down again. It was horrible due to that.

I did fully recover though without the gp/antibiotics this time. I think it’s going around. I just took paracetamol. I did buy soothers and had one but it didn’t help my cough at all so I didn’t use any after that.

Thanks I think I will this week. It needs to shift!

Yes I'm the same. Lying down is the worst bit. Up and about doing the day is fine. You poor thing!! I think I'll call the GP tomorrow as it's still continuing. Luckily no temperature or anything further!

Thanks everyone. Helpful advice xxx