When yous're expecting, your immune arrangement runs at a lower speed than usual — which is actually a expert thing, since information technology keeps your growing baby protected and stops your body from thinking that the fetus is a strange entity. The downside of this allowed suppression, though, is that your body doesn't ward off many of the viruses that cause the common cold, which tin make you lot more vulnerable to symptoms including a stuffy nose, cough and sore throat.

The upside to even the nastiest cold symptoms is knowing your baby isn't experiencing whatever of them. In fact, the womb's surroundings keeps baby completely sheltered from cold bugs.

As for you, colds are mostly an uncomfortable badgerer best managed with rest, fluids, patience and a quick call to your practitioner to make sure he or she is aware of all your symptoms, including any fever. If necessary, your doctor can likewise steer you lot towards common cold medications that are considered safety during pregnancy. Hither'due south what you demand to know to feel better.

What are the symptoms of a cold during pregnancy?

A common cold usually begins with a sore or scratchy throat that lasts for a day or two, followed by the gradual appearance of other symptoms, including:

  • A runny, then after stuffy, nose
  • Sneezing
  • Mild fatigue
  • A dry out cough, particularly near the common cold's stop, which may keep for a week or more than subsequently other symptoms accept subsided
  • Low-form fever (usually under 100 degrees Fahrenheit)

Weirdest Pregnancy Symptoms

What causes colds during pregnancy?

Colds are most normally acquired by a type of virus known as a rhinovirus, which is easily passed from person to person. At that place are 200 or more cold viruses, which is why may become them often.

How long does a cold during pregnancy last?

Common cold symptoms generally last 10 to 14 days. And yes, sorry to say, you tin go a brand new cold but as the last one is catastrophe, then if information technology feels like you always have the sniffles, you may be right.

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Nevertheless, if your symptoms persist by 10 to 14 days, or seem to be getting progressively worse, let your practitioner know. He or she will want to brand sure your never-ending cold isn't evolving into something more serious, like COVID-19 or the influenza.

Is it a common cold — or the flu?

You can usually tell the difference between a cold and the flu by taking stock of the symptoms:

  • A cold, fifty-fifty a bad 1, is milder than the influenza. Its symptoms come on gradually, and at that place'south usually piddling to no fever. The sore throat that normally starts off the cold goes away after a day or two, leaving the runny nose and cough as the chief symptoms.
  • Influenza, aka the flu, is more severe and comes on more than suddenly than a cold. Symptoms of the influenza include a high fever (ordinarily 101 degrees F to 104 degrees F or higher), headache, chills, a sore pharynx that mostly worsens by the 2nd or third day (different with a common cold), often intense muscle soreness, and general weakness and fatigue, which tin can last a couple of weeks or longer. You may besides feel occasional sneezing and a cough that can become astringent.

COVID-nineteen symptoms — including fever, coughing, chills and fatigue — can mimic those of the cold and flu. If you're sick with COVID-nineteen or think you may take COVID-19, stay home and telephone call your doctor for next steps.

What can you do to feel better if you get a cold during pregnancy?

Although many of the medications that relieve common cold symptoms are typically off-limits during pregnancy, you don't have to suffer with a runny nose and hacking coughing when y'all're pregnant. Some of the about effective common cold remedies don't come from the pharmacy shelf. Here'southward how to experience ameliorate faster:

  • Rest. Taking a cold to bed doesn't necessarily shorten its duration, but if your body is begging for some residuum, exist sure to listen.
  • Stay active. If yous're not running a fever or cough and y'all feel upwards to it, do some light to moderate, pregnancy-rubber exercise, which may really aid you feel better faster.
  • Keep eating. Sure, you probably don't take much of an appetite, merely eating equally healthy a nutrition every bit possible when yous practice feel upwardly to it can assistance with some of your cold symptoms.
  • Focus on foods with vitamin C. They can help boost your immune system naturally. Try all types of citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapefruit), strawberries, melon, kiwi, mango, tomatoes, bell peppers, papaya, broccoli, red cabbage and spinach.
  • Chow downwardly on more zinc.It may also help heave the immune organisation; pregnant women should aim to go 11-15 milligrams each day from all sources, including your prenatal vitamin. Make full upward on turkey, beefiness, pork, cooked oysters, eggs, yogurt, wheat germ and oatmeal.
  • Drink upwardly. Fever, sneezes and a runny nose will cause your body to lose fluids that you and your babe need. Warm beverages will exist particularly soothing, and so keep a thermos of a hot drink like ginger tea or a hot soup like craven broth next to your bed. Try to drink enough to stay well hydrated too — your urine should be the colour of pale straw. Water and cold juices too work fine, if that'south what you're thirsting for.
  • Supplement safely. Taking your prenatal vitamin, which contains vitamin C and zinc, is smart even when you lot're fighting a common cold. Just don't take any other supplements beyond your prenatal without your doctor'south approval.
  • Sleep piece of cake. Breathe easier when you're lying down or sleeping by elevating your head with a couple of pillows. Nasal strips, which gently pull your nasal passages open, making breathing easier, may as well aid. They're sold over the counter and are completely drug-complimentary.
  • Moisturize your air. If dry out conditions in your home aggravate your sensitive nasal passages and throat, misting the room with a cold or warm air humidifier at night can help. Adults tin use either kind, but for condom's sake, don't ever utilize a warm-air version in a baby'south or toddler's room.
  • Use saline nose drops, sprays or rinses. These help moisten your nasal passages; since they're un-medicated, they're completely safe to use every bit ofttimes every bit you need. Just avoid neti pots, since they're more than apt to spread germs.
  • Gargle with saltwater. Gargling with warm common salt water (one/4 teaspoon of common salt to 8 ounces of warm water) can ease a scratchy or sore throat, wash abroad post nasal baste and assist control a cough.
  • Eat honey. A couple of teaspoons direct — or mixed in hot water with lemon — has been shown to help suppress the kind of dry out coughing that often comes with and after a cold at to the lowest degree every bit effectively equally an OTC cough syrup.

What can meaning women take for a cold? Safe medications for colds during pregnancy

Before you attain for anything in your medicine cabinet when you're in bed with a cold, achieve for the phone to call your practitioner and so you tin can ask which remedies are considered rubber in pregnancy, besides every bit which will work best in your case.

Be sure to double-check any prescription or OTC medication or supplement recommended by a different wellness care provider, such as a therapist, nutritionist or chemist, with your practitioner to make sure it's condom. And watch out for multi-tasking meds, similar full general hurting relievers, which could comprise ingredients that aren't cleared for pregnant women. Some remedies you're used to taking may not be prophylactic during pregnancy.

So what cold medications are generally considered safe during pregnancy? Here's a listing:

  • Acetaminophen: If yous're running a fever or suffering from nasty body aches or headaches, it's generally considered condom to take products containing acetaminophen (similar Tylenol) over the short-term.
  • Cough medications: Expectorants (similar Mucinex), cough suppressants (such as Robitussin or Vicks Formula 44), vapor rubs (similar Vicks Vapo Rub) also as most coughing drops are considered rubber during pregnancy, simply ask your practitioner about dosing.
  • Some nasal sprays:Most steroid-containing nasal sprays are fine to employ during pregnancy, but cheque with your physician almost brands and dosing. Apparently saline drops and sprays are always safe to have when you lot're expecting and tin assistance clear and moisturize a stuffy nose.
  • Some antihistamines: Benadryl and Claritin often get the greenish light during pregnancy, but be sure to cheque with your practitioner before taking them. Some doctors will propose staying abroad from those medications in the first trimester.

Always check with your practitioner earlier you take any medication — prescription, over the counter or homeopathic. And don't put off calling the doctor or refuse to take a medication he or she prescribes considering you remember all drugs are harmful in pregnancy. Many are not. But practise exist certain the prescribing dr. knows you're expecting.

COVID-19 symptoms — including fever, cough, chills and fatigue — tin can mimic those of the cold and flu. If you're sick with COVID-xix or call up you may take COVID-nineteen, stay habitation and call your md for adjacent steps.

Medications to avoid during pregnancy

Some of the medications that could assist with cold symptoms are off-limits to momshoped-for because they may complicate pregnancy and cause harm to their unborn infant, although further research needs to be done. Don't panic if you happened to inadvertently take ane of these medications. It's probably fine, but simply allow your dr. know. Off-limit meds include:

  • Some pain relievers and fever reducers. Studies suggest an association between analgesics such every bit aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), especially during the third trimester, and pregnancy complications, including depression birth weight and preterm delivery.
  • Most decongestants. Near practitioners say to stay clear of decongestants such as Claritin-D, Sudafed or DayQuil. Even those experts who say it'south okay to take some decongestants will probably caution that they're only safe to use later the first trimester, and only in a express amount (for example, once or twice daily for no more than a day or two).
  • Some nasal sprays. Steer clear of non-steroidal nasal decongestant sprays containing oxymetazoline (similar Afrin) unless given the green light by your practitioner. Many will tell you to avert these sprays completely while yous're expecting, while others will suggest simply limited use (i or two days at a fourth dimension) after the showtime trimester.
  • Alternative or homeopathic remedies. Don't take echinacea, supplemental vitamins similar zinc supplements or other over-the-counter herbal remedies without medical blessing.

How to foreclose a cold during pregnancy

Also avoiding anyone who is visibly sick, wash your hands with soap and water a trivial more frequently — and scrupulously — than you did before. Don't simply wash and shake; use a towel to brand certain your easily are completely dry when yous're washed. In a compression, carry an alcohol gel with 60 percent alcohol on the label for quick sanitizing on the become.

Simply don't blame yourself if yous even so come down with a common cold — or several — during your pregnancy, despite your best efforts. Viruses are about impossible to avoid, especially in the winter. There are many joys of existence pregnant, just alas, being even more than vulnerable to nasty cold bugs isn't 1 of them. And merely remember: This, too, shall pass.

When to meet a doctor

Call your doctor if:

  • Y'all have a fever over 101 degrees F
  • Your cold is astringent plenty to interfere with eating or sleeping
  • You're coughing up greenish or yellowish mucus
  • Y'all have a cough with chest pain or wheezing
  • Your sinuses are throbbing
  • If symptoms last more than than x to 14 days; it's possible that your cold has progressed to a secondary infection, and a prescription medication may be needed for your condom and your baby'south