What Cold Medications Can Be Taken During Pregnancy

Choosing cold medicines during pregnancy should be done very carefully and only under doctor’s supervision. This will help minimize negative effects for both the child and the expectant mother. At the first signs of illness, it’s important to start active treatment. Preventive measures also play a significant role. 

It’s very important for an expectant mother during pregnancy to monitor her body’s condition. As soon as the first symptoms become noticeable, treatment should be started immediately. It is recommended to consult a doctor who, after an initial consultation, will prescribe cold medicines for pregnancy. 

How does a cold affect pregnancy?

A cold can negatively affect and cause developmental delays in a child’s organs. This is especially true for ARVI. If a common cold is not treated, the illness can turn into sinusitis, cause pneumonia, or acute bronchitis. Influenza poses a certain threat to pregnant women. If it occurs, it is necessary to be monitored by a specialist, as ARVI can trigger a spontaneous miscarriage.

Viral diseases are less dangerous in the second trimester. However, there are still risks of unpleasant complications. These include both inflammatory diseases of the internal genital organs and chronic infections. At the first signs of illness, it is necessary to start treatment immediately. How the disease affects the mother and her child depends on the individual characteristics of the body, genetic predisposition, and health condition. 

How to Treat ARVI

Only the attending physician should prescribe cold medicine during pregnancy. Standard treatment methods are not suitable in this case. Taking even familiar medications can be dangerous and cause complications. As soon as the first signs of a viral infection appear, bed rest is the most effective approach. Avoid exhausting yourself with household chores.

It is also recommended not to burden the body with heavy food. Preference should be given to light, easily digestible dishes. It is also important to remember to stay well-hydrated. Water helps remove toxins from the body. During pregnancy, cold medications containing alcohol are strictly prohibited. Do not take antipyretics or antibiotics without a doctor’s approval. 

A little about colds and their symptoms

The causes of diseases can vary, but the symptoms are generally always the same. They vary only in the severity of the course of the illness and the location of the respiratory center damage. One of the “first signs” of the disease is a runny nose — nasal breathing is impaired, and changes occur in the vocal timbre. This leads to swelling of the mucous membrane: air enters the olfactory zone with difficulty. Inflammation of the endings of the olfactory analyzer also occurs. 

Next, the temperature rises, chills occur, there is pain in the eyes and throughout the body. This is followed by the formation of acute inflammation of all parts of the throat: there is a tickling, dryness, sore throat, and hoarseness. A cough appears: it can be non-productive (dry) or productive (with phlegm), which are accompanied by allergy signs — tearing, itching in the eyes and nose.

To alleviate symptoms—weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite—it is worth resorting to various cold medicines during pregnancy. If the sore throat has passed but the cough remains, it is highly likely that the infection has progressed to tracheitis or bronchitis. This leads to the appearance or intensification of a cough with phlegm. After the illness is cured, the cough may persist for several weeks. 

What is the risk of ARVI during pregnancy?

Viral infections pose the greatest threat to pregnant women and their future child. The degree of danger depends on the stage of pregnancy. The first trimester is considered the most dangerous period. At this stage, the fetus has no protection, so the virus can provoke developmental defects, including those incompatible with life. 

During a normal pregnancy in the second and third trimesters, the baby is well protected by the placenta. It acts as an almost impenetrable barrier for most infections. However, if the pregnancy is accompanied by certain complications, such as preeclampsia, threat of miscarriage, or exacerbation of various chronic diseases, serious consequences can occur in both the second and third trimesters. At this stage of pregnancy, it is advisable to refrain from taking cold medicine. 

Up to the middle of the second trimester, a viral infection can disrupt the formation of the central nervous system organs, specifically the brain and spinal cord. Starting from the second trimester, there is a risk of intrauterine infection of the fetus, leading to infectious-inflammatory processes in various organs. This includes meningitis, encephalitis, and pneumonia. 

If the wrong cold medications are chosen during pregnancy, it can also negatively affect fetal nutrition. As a result, there may be a delay in physical development. If a cold occurs a few weeks before delivery, the newborn may show signs of experienced hypoxia: the baby may be lethargic, pale, and may have breathing issues. 

Contraindicated for pregnant women

In the first trimester of pregnancy, it is recommended to abstain from cold medications. All medicinal products and tinctures containing alcohol are prohibited. This restriction also applies to Schisandra, ginseng, and Eleutherococcus. It is also advisable to refrain from any warming treatments. This includes the sauna, hot baths, foot baths, mustard plasters.

The list of cold medications during pregnancy that should not be taken includes aspirin and indomethacin. The prohibition also applies to immunomodulators, antibiotics, medications that increase heart rate and blood pressure, drugs affecting blood clotting. Care should be taken when choosing herbs: there are herbs that have an abortive effect, as well as those that negatively affect a woman’s hormonal balance. 

What can pregnant women do when they have a cold?

What medications can be used for colds during pregnancy? First, it is important to understand what actions are permissible for expectant mothers when they experience the first symptoms of illness. The list of allowed actions includes:

• maintaining a proper drinking regimen;
• regular humidification of the room;
• walking in the fresh air;
• using natural sources of vitamin C: lemon, rosehip, cranberries in their natural form, various frozen berries;
• it’s not necessary to lower the temperature if it does not exceed 38.5 (it indicates that the body is fighting the pathogen).

Under specialist supervision, it is permissible to take certain flu medications during pregnancy. It is also possible to take vitamins and herbal supplements. During the illness, it is advisable to maintain a light diet to prevent undue stress on the body. 

What pregnant women should not do

It should be noted that therapy in pregnant women differs in several ways from the usual. It is not just that completely different medications for colds during pregnancy are required. Taking any medication without consulting a doctor is strictly prohibited. Many medications negatively affect not only the expectant mother but also her child. 

How to treat a cold during pregnancy? Medications from certain groups are prescribed only if the potential benefit outweighs the harm. A cold without fever requires symptomatic assistance. During treatment, the use of alcohol-based medications, as well as antibiotics and sulfonamides, is completely excluded. Their prescription should be conducted under the supervision of a doctor. 

At the first signs of a cold, it’s worth resorting to rinsing and drinking plenty of fluids. Any possible complications require specific cold medications during pregnancy. If the following symptoms occur, assistance is needed immediately:

• persistent vomiting;
• there is uterine tone or contractions;
• bloody discharge from the vagina;
• high fever (above 39 degrees) that doesn’t subside;
• there are rashes.

It is very important to know the composition of medications. This will help understand which cold medications are allowed during pregnancy and which are strictly prohibited. Pregnant women should not do the following for a cold:

• Perform inhalations on their own. Simple humidification of the room will suffice — using a humidifier or by hanging wet clothes;
• Not consult a doctor. Immunity is often reduced during pregnancy, which leads to more rapid development of ARD complications. Therefore, at the first signs of illness, it is necessary to consult a doctor. They will examine both the pregnant woman and assess the condition of the fetus;
• Adhere to too strict bed rest. Reduced physical activity can lead to thrombosis and even congestion in the lungs. Following this contraindication, the course of ARVI can lead to the development of pneumonia;
• Rinsing the nose very often. This washes away the beneficial microflora of the mucous membranes, which is an important part of the defense against viruses and bacteria;
• Being very nervous. The body is capable of dealing with it independently within 5-7 days. If all measures are followed, it is highly likely that no cold medicine will be needed during pregnancy.

The main recommendation for all pregnant women who feel the first signs of ARVI is to consult a doctor. They will conduct an initial examination and, based on this, inform you of any contraindications and what needs to be done for a quick recovery. 

Disease Prevention

As soon as the peak of viral diseases and flu occurs, a pregnant woman should begin active prevention. This is because the immunity of women expecting a child is significantly reduced. The set of active preventive measures includes:

• during the family planning stage, get a flu shot;
• avoid crowded places;
• limit contact with sick relatives;
• wear a gauze mask;
• rinse your nose and gargle after visiting public places;
• dress according to the weather.

The more effective the prevention, the higher the chances that any illnesses will be avoided. If this is not possible, it is advisable to consult with a doctor about approved cold medications during pregnancy.