Any tips on coping with a cold during first trimester?

[Mistymoo]

I started with a cold on Sunday. Have been hot and cold. I have a blocked nose, sore sinisus, sneezing and a tight chest. Am taking paracetamol and am basically feeling sorry for myself.

Mistymoo how funny I just posted an identical post just below you as I'm the same. How many weeks along are you? I'm only just four weeks and had a miscarriage two months ago, so feeling very wary and nervous and this cold is not helping! All the lovely ladies who posted on mine have said paracetamol only - how depressing! I've just had a large glass of freshly squeezed orange juice as I figued a good boost of vitamin c won't do any harm. I'm going to struggle through work today as sadly I can't really go home to bed, but I'm feeling so blocked up and pretty rubbish. Hope you feel better soon!

Yep, it totally sucks. I had a cold in the first trimester and I lost my voice. Even paracetamol should not be taken in abundance, my pharmacist recommended only a couple of doses per week... grr.

The only thing that really helps is rest and when pregnant you have to become more selfish about this. I tried to go to work until I felt like fainting and got told off by my midwife.

I then ended up crying when trying to take a cab home but not having enough voice to tell the driver where I wanted to go...

Make an effort to go home, have a bath and camp on the sofa until better. xx

Thank you for the messages.

I am just over 5 weeks. Thankfully I don't have to work until Thursday so will take it easy over the next few days. I Feel really lazy though

Just phoned my dad to collect dd from school later and I started blubbering. I'm useless at being ill!

Can your dad have DD for a little while after school. You need to go back to bed, and rest/sleep as much as you possibly can.

Paracetamol is fine, but do not take too much each day, only take it when you absolutely have to. Have a soak in a warm, not hot bath. If you have a fever, make the bath on the tepid side of warm, remember to drink lots and lots and lots of fluid, not just water, try some watered down fruit juice for vit c, lemon and honey drink that kind of thing.

If you don't fancy eating, have a banana.strawberry smoothie with a handful of oats and lots of cold milk/ice cream.

If you feel poorly on thursday do not go in to work. The first trimester is very hard, as people do not know you are pg and there is a tendancy to just plod on, although you feel worse than you would normally. With a DD, you will feel even more tired. Give yourself plenty of time to recover.

Get well soon x

Marmalade melted in hot water is good for a tickly cough/sore throat if you can't take cough medicine.

Poor you. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you all. Have phone NHS 24 as DH wanted me to. They have advised a telephone consultation so am waiting for GP to phone back.

Hello Mistymoo - I am 9 weeks tomorrow and am just getting over a severe sinus infection. I have lots of tips for you!!

Firstly - get yourself 2 types of vitamin c - time release tablets and some high strength effervescent (soluble) ones. Take one high strength and 2 time release per day while ill.

Vic vapour rub is a God send and can be used on your chest/back and you can also dissolve is in hot water and inhale with a towel over your head. I do this before bed to unblock my nose and loosen my chest.

Olbas oil - you can put this on your pillow and on tissues to help you breath better.

Last obvious one - LOADS of water and lots of fruit and veg - grapes always seem to work wonders when I have a cold.

To be honest - If you haven't got a fever then I would stop taking the paracetamol.

Good luck + stick with it