Pregnancy & Cold Remedies

Pregnant women have a lot of things to consider when they get sick that other women do not have to think about. Pregnant women who become sick with a cold cannot be treated with the same medications and methods that others can as many regular cold medicines can harm the baby. Thus a pregnant woman with a cold has to use all natural ways to help relieve her symptoms and manage her illness until her weakened immune system is able to fight it off. A pregnant woman has a weakened immune system because it is functioning for two systems and its main attention or concern goes to that of the baby developing in the uterus. The body has an automatic protective function thus the baby eats first and takes all the nutrients it needs before anything ever enters the mother's digestive tract or blood stream.

Diet

Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables as well as a mixture of lean meats and whole grains. The most important thing though is to stay hydrated. Drink lots of water. Pregnant women already need to drink more water than an average person in order to keep the amniotic fluid replenished and the baby hydrated. Thus when you feel a cold coming on or have one you need to drink even more to compensate for the fluid you lose with a runny nose and to help flush the toxins out.

Prevention/Solution

The best way to deal with a cold is to prevent getting one in the first place. Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap. Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it when you have to touch public areas or are around anyone who sneezes or appears sick. Keep your hands away from your face as much as possible to prevent accidentally spreading germs. Keep warm at all times, and during cold weather make sure your feet are covered and you don't expose yourself to cold conditions such as high air conditioning for prolonged periods of time.

Symptoms to Treat

For a stuffy nose, use a saline nasal spray. Since saline is just salt water it is perfectly safe to use and will help decongest the nasal passage. Use a mentholated salve on your chest to help relieve congestion. It works by triggering the blood vessels to dilate thus opening the body's air passageways.

Natural Remedies

Drink hot water mixed with honey and lemon. Drink a cup in the morning and a cup at night. Use steam to open your clogged nasal passages and throat. Take a warm shower (no hot showers for pregnant ladies) and let the steam open up your nose. Sleep is nature's best medicine and allows the body to heal itself. When you're pregnant you already tend to sleep more, but when you're sick and pregnant you will sleep even more. Sleep actually increase immune functions thus allowing your body to concentrate its natural resources on fighting the infection instead of helping you function in your day to day routine which it has to do when you are awake.

Warning

Do not drink hot teas. While many people think they are good for colds for pregnant women, they can be dangerous. Herbal teas are an absolute no no for a developing fetus and should be avoided as not enough is known about the effects of many herbs on a fetus. This is especially true of smaller brand teas or homemade tea brews where the herbs used can be toxic. Non-herbal teas contain a great deal of caffeine which crosses the placenta and the baby cannot metabolize in the way an adult can and should also be avoided for this reason.