In winter, pathogens lurk around every corner; there are even 200 different types of viruses.
Therefore, colds are not uncommon, mostly harmless but very often annoying, especially a cold during pregnancy is a great burden.
Especially expectant mothers and mothers during breastfeeding are not spared and are plagued by symptoms of a cold: sore throat , blocked nose, high fever, coughing , etc.
It’s got me again! No wonder, with so many cold viruses, it’s almost impossible to avoid them all and stay healthy.
The risk of infection is even greater in pregnant women because their immune systems are in a state of emergency.
Pregnancy comes with many side effects , as your immune system must now protect not only your body but also the baby. Your defenses are now geared toward protecting the unborn child and the baby.
Constant colds are nothing new, and we usually don’t worry about them.
But pregnant women usually experience colds more intensely and ask themselves – what now?
What helps? What remedies are available? Can I prevent a cold during pregnancy in the future? How long does a cold last during pregnancy?
How did I get infected in the first place? You were probably nearby when someone coughed or sneezed; this is called droplet infection.
It is also possible that you have also gotten into this situation through a contact infection when you touched a contaminated object, most likely on public transport or on the door handle during your last doctor’s visit.
Although a cold during pregnancy may be annoying, it is usually harmless and, above all, not contagious to the baby.
The placental barrier ensures that pathogens stay out and cannot reach your fetus.
Even a flu-like infection does not pose a great danger to the baby, unless the cold lasts for a longer period of time and is accompanied by a high fever.
A harmless cold differs from the flu in that with the flu the symptoms appear suddenly, usually more than one symptom at a time, combined with a high fever.
If you have a cold during pregnancy, you should not resort to medication and various home remedies for colds on your own.
The treatment of colds is limited during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Although various home remedies and herbal preparations are permitted, you may want to play it safe and visit your gynecologist for advice.
After consulting your gynecologist, you will then know exactly which medications and home remedies you can use to combat the cold.
Although grandmothers swear by home remedies and various plants, you should also take this with caution.
Because incorrect dosage of home remedies, or seemingly harmless medications, can backfire and harm you and your unborn baby.
That doesn’t mean you should avoid home remedies altogether. You probably already know that a stuffy nose can be easily relieved with inhalation.
A saline solution is harmless and has a positive effect on your mucous membranes. It even relieves sore throats by moistening the mucous membranes and breaking up the hard mucus.
The best way to overcome a cold during pregnancy is to rest and stay in bed.
Although most medication labels state that pregnant women should take them with caution, sometimes they are unavoidable and you must take them.
Because if you feel bad, it will be reflected in your body and therefore also in your baby.
Symptoms that can indicate a cold:
• Sore throat – which usually causes difficulty swallowing and hoarseness
• Cough
• Sniffles
• Shivering
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Headaches – the accumulated mucus causes pressure in the head area
Symptoms of a cold during pregnancy
A common cold is not like the flu; it is usually milder and lasts for a week.
Provided it’s treated appropriately, that is. If left untreated, a common cold can develop into something more serious and dangerous.
The flu, on the other hand, is caused by the influenza virus and can be vaccinated against it.
Pregnant women can also get a flu shot without fear that the vaccine will have a negative effect on the fetus, their amniotic fluid, or their placenta.
The flu usually comes on suddenly and is more aggressive and persistent than a cold.
Dry heating air often causes a cold because it dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat.
Dry air causes your mucous membrane to lose its ability to defend itself, making it easier for viruses to take hold and cause inflammation.
The common cold usually manifests itself as an upper respiratory tract disease, which is characterized by inflammation of the nasal and pharyngeal mucosa.
One symptom rarely appears alone; usually, several occur simultaneously. A scratchy and sore throat is definitely the last thing you need, especially since even a regular cough syrup can pose a risk to you or your unborn baby.
But be careful, these symptoms almost always signal the onset of a cold. In addition to a runny nose, difficulty swallowing and coughing are also precursors of a cold during pregnancy.
Chills and hoarseness are also annoying symptoms of a cold and can be very unpleasant.
You may attribute symptoms such as body aches, fatigue and headaches to your pregnancy, but if they occur together, then you are most likely suffering from it.
Fever is an unpleasant symptom of colds, especially in pregnant women because medication is so limited. High fever should not be underestimated when it comes to colds during pregnancy.
If it rises above 38 degrees Celsius and lasts longer than three days, you should definitely see a doctor and seek advice.
The longer the fever lasts and the higher the fever is, the higher the risk for the woman and the baby.
Premature labor and even miscarriages are caused by high fever.
If you are unable to visit a doctor or cannot reach one, you can combat the fever with the help of some harmless home remedies.
Drinking plenty of fluids is a must! This prevents your body from becoming dehydrated, and the fluids cool your body from within.
Still water is best, but if drinking just water gets too boring, you can also try certain teas.
But please find out which teas you can drink during pregnancy before you enjoy your next cup.
The selection is so large that you certainly won’t have to go without your cup of tea during your pregnancy.
So sit back, enjoy the moment and your warm, or even hot, cup of happiness.
A cold bath is also permitted, but the water should not be much cooler than your body temperature. A temperature difference of -10 degrees Celsius is acceptable to avoid shocking your body.
Permitted, safe herbal preparations for pregnant women and also various types of compresses are now your best friends to deal with the cold.
No matter how scared you may be, you must not resort to medication on your own.
Although medication treatment for pregnant women is very limited, there are medications that can also be taken by pregnant women.
But please avoid taking any medication without consulting your doctor.
Remember, Mom! Take medication only after consulting your doctor, no exceptions. I’m not repeating this for nothing.
It is widely known that various medications can be harmful to expectant mothers and the unborn baby.
Most medications can penetrate the placental barrier and harm the baby.
Studies on the effects of medications in pregnant women are limited for ethical reasons, and studies conducted on pregnant animals are not reliable.
For this reason, doctors are very cautious when they have to prescribe a medication to a pregnant or breastfeeding mother.
It is not uncommon for a mother to not have done enough research and to take a medication on her own, even though there is a clear risk of harming the baby, no matter in which trimester.
The embryo is most vulnerable in the first trimester or the first three months of pregnancy and this is usually the time when women do not even know they are pregnant.
How do I relieve the symptoms of a cold during pregnancy?
Herbal medicines are used to treat colds during pregnancy.
Although they are proven to pose no risk to pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, they should still not be taken without consulting a gynecologist.
Drinking tea when you have a cold is not always safe during pregnancy.
Different teas have different effects. Sage and chamomile flowers are the most popular and common.
However, you should avoid sage tea during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, as it stimulates the uterus and, in the worst case, can lead to premature labor.
Chamomile, on the other hand, can be enjoyed without limits, as no side effects have been proven so far.
But just in case, you should still limit your consumption of teas during pregnancy and instead of drinking it, you can gargle it to relieve the pain.
In addition to drinking tea, there are other home remedies for colds during pregnancy, the most popular of which are certainly inhalation and the numerous different compresses.
1. Inhale
Inhaling salt water is very popular and almost always relieves a sore throat.
It has an expectorant effect, clears a blocked nose and dissolves mucus in the paranasal sinuses.
A hot shower or a cold bath in hot water can also have the same effect.
Just as you can clear a baby’s nose of mucus by running hot water in the bathroom to create steam, it will work for you too, and you can also enjoy a warm shower.
And then fall asleep peacefully with a clear nose instead of a cough.
I would advise you against using various nasal sprays, except for a nasal spray with sea salt to clear your airways of mucus.
Inhaling essential oils or peppermint and eucalyptus extracts can usually help prevent a stuffy nose, but it’s a no-go while you’re pregnant.
Various oils and herbal mixtures available in drugstores are also not recommended, especially if you cannot understand their contents.
They may contain substances and impurities that, instead of relieving pain, may be harmful to you and your fetus, harming both of you without you even realizing it.
2. Wrap
Different wraps are used for different illnesses or complaints.
Calf compresses help with fever, chest compresses are used for coughs, and neck compresses are used for sore throats.
It’s important to note that there are both hot and cold neck wraps. You should use them depending on what you find most beneficial.
Cold neck wraps also have an anti-inflammatory effect, but are used less frequently than warm neck wraps for sore throats.
Cold compresses help to cool down, but also to warm the body.
It may sound strange, but it’s true; it depends on how wet you use the cloth.
It is important that they have a soothing effect on inflammation, just like a warm compress.
I assume that if a cold drink suits you, then a cold compress shouldn’t be a bad idea either. One thing is certain: never apply cold compresses to cold parts of your body.
Another thing to consider is the material of the cloth you use for the wrap.
Always use a clean tea towel or hand towel for cold compresses, and a flannel cloth is particularly good for a warm compress, although a terry cloth towel will also retain heat well.
Various neck wraps are also a widespread and popular method of relieving cold symptoms.
The most well-known is probably the potato wrap, which our grandmothers and even great-grandmothers used. It’s easy to make and people swear by its healing powers.
You take a few potatoes, wash them, boil them and place them on a kitchen towel wrapped lengthwise and press the potatoes together.
Then you wrap the towel with the potatoes around your neck and wrap a scarf or another towel over it to keep everything nicely wrapped and warm.
Be careful, the potato wrap shouldn’t be too hot to avoid burning your throat, so it’s best to check how hot it is beforehand.
The pain should subside within 2-3 hours of wearing it.
Please note that if you feel too hot or uncomfortable, or if your cold symptoms worsen, please remove the potato wrap immediately.
The quark wrap is also not unpopular and can be used as a cold or warm wrap.
Simply apply a finger-thick layer of curd to the cloth and wrap the wrap around your neck with the coated side. Then simply wait until the curd dries. Then remove the curd wrap.
The onion compress works just like a potato compress, but it smells much worse. But if you have a stuffy nose, you don’t have to worry about that because you certainly won’t have to endure the smell.
An onion wrap is also very easy to make. Take an onion, chop it, then spread the chopped onion across the tea towel, warm it briefly in a steam bath, and wrap it around your neck.
How long you can wear it around your neck is up to you. But if you’ve decided to do it, you should stick with it.
A chamomile blossom wrap would definitely smell much better. Chamomile has a calming effect, and instead of soaking the wrap in plain water, you can make chamomile tea and soak it in it.
Then wrap it around your neck and relax. The wraps alone aren’t as effective as the relaxation you’re supposed to experience.
Just being calm and relaxing combats the symptoms of a cold and works wonders.
This loosens the muscles and makes you feel good. So, no matter which wrap you choose, take your time.
Because rest is the best remedy for a cold during pregnancy.
3. Paracetamol
Of course, after consulting your doctor, this is the only medication you can take to combat a cold during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Paracetamol is an analgesic and antipyretic and is considered harmless in the first and second trimesters.
However, you should avoid taking it in the third trimester because it can lead to complications.
Paracetamol is most commonly prescribed to reduce high fever and combat colds.
4. Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is also an analgesic to relieve pain.
It is mostly used as a painkiller, mostly to relieve headaches.
Many expectant mothers suffer from headaches in the first and second trimesters as a result of raging hormones.
Under the supervision of a doctor and when it is really necessary, ibuprofen is prescribed, but only for a short time.
And like other medications, ibuprofen is prohibited in the third trimester and is considered very dangerous.
5. Antibiotic
A cold during pregnancy usually runs without problems.
Although you may feel bad, nothing will happen to your baby.
You should definitely see your doctor if you can’t sleep, if you have lost your appetite, if you have chest pain, or if you have a high fever that lasts for more than three days.
Depending on the diagnosis, your doctor will be able to determine whether you have a viral or bacterial infection.
In this case, he or she will prescribe an antibiotic that will not harm your baby in any way.
There are several antibiotics that are permitted during pregnancy or while breastfeeding and are harmless to the child.
How to prevent a cold during pregnancy
Pregnant women are more susceptible to colds because the low temperatures outside and the hormone progesterone are responsible for the weakened immune system.
That’s why it’s all the more important to know how to protect yourself from a cold.
The most important thing is to strengthen your immune system. But that doesn’t mean you should eat for two or supplement your diet with nutritional supplements. It’s enough to eat healthier.
You need to make sure you get enough vitamins. Vitamin deficiencies weaken your body and make it more susceptible to disease.
Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamin C, the most important fighter against viruses in winter.
A balanced and healthy diet during pregnancy provides your body with vitamins and important nutrients that you need now more than usual to avoid catching a cold.
Honey, for example, is a very good food during pregnancy and is 100% safe.
However, there are no indications for or against propolis (a resinous substance produced by bees), and therefore you should only take it after consulting your doctor.
It is important that you drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, get plenty of rest, get enough sleep and avoid stress as much as possible.
And if you haven’t been able to avoid the stress, a walk in the fresh air will definitely do you good and calm you down.
Plenty of outdoor exercise should be a daily routine during pregnancy anyway. When going for a walk, don’t forget to dress comfortably and warmly to avoid getting cold.
You should try to avoid places where many people gather, especially enclosed spaces such as shopping malls and cafes.
And if you do mingle with people, you should avoid physical contact, especially with sick people.
Pathogens are everywhere, but they are mostly transmitted through physical contact or objects.
This doesn’t mean that you have to lock yourself at home and avoid all human contact, but being a little more careful can never hurt.
I also recommend washing your hands regularly; that shouldn’t be an issue otherwise.
Humidity also plays a major role in colds. The hot, dry air from heating dries out our mucous membranes, making it easier for pathogens to enter our bodies.
Fresh air is best for the mucous membranes and if it is not possible to be outside, then you should ventilate your home well.
The bedroom in particular should be well ventilated before going to bed.
Final thoughts
Dear Mom, I hope I was able to help you and that you found advice in my text.
I tried to mention everything that bothered me and that I was afraid of.
The important thing is that you do not do anything on your own initiative without consulting your doctor, because doing so puts not only you but also your baby at risk.
I hope it doesn’t happen to you and you can enjoy the winter to the fullest and look forward to and prepare for the baby without stress.
