Before you get pregnant, cold and flu isn’t something that you’d take seriously, and you would mostly go for over-the-counter medications that would provide you with some relief or some herbal tea that would soothe the coughs. Now that you’re pregnant, you’re probably overthinking everything and wondering whether whatever you do or eat is safe for the baby and whether it would cause problems or it is helpful in this condition.
You should be careful with what medications you take, as some medicines may provide you with relief, but it might prove to be harmful to your baby. We would recommend that you opt for home remedies for cold during pregnancy that would help relieve your cold symptoms rather than going for medications that can not only be a risk but also cause you to be in stress thinking about whether it would harm your baby or not.
In this article, we will explain some home remedies for cold during pregnancy in detail, which would help you.
Home Remedies for Cold during Pregnancy:
Out of many, we have selected the top 10 home remedies that you can try at home for colds during pregnancy. These are as follows:
Being Hydrated:
You’re asked to keep yourself hydrated in almost every precautionary measure during pregnancy. Note that you should always keep your body hydrated enough as it reduces congestion, dilutes the secretions, and thins out the mucus. During a cold, you may also have a sore throat, making it difficult to drink water, so keeping yourself hydrated is important. Some tips on keeping yourself hydrated are as follows:
- Opt for lukewarm water instead of cold, and try to take 8-12 glasses of water throughout the day.
- Go for ginger tea mixed with honey. This will also soothe the sore throat.
- Have fruit juices, clear broths or vegetable soups to hydrate you and help relieve symptoms.
Homemade Chicken Soup:
Chicken soup is rich in vitamins and nutrients, which help strengthen your immunity and fight off infections, as it contains anti-inflammatory properties. It contains magnesium, phosphorous, vitamins A and C, gelatin, and anti-oxidants, all of which contribute to strengthened immunity. The hot chicken soup thins out the mucus, which helps in relieving you from the sniffles, and the sodium and potassium contents regulate the electrolyte balance. Even though it contributes to keeping you hydrated, you should also consume other fluids to keep a balance.
Pre-natal Vitamins:
Pre-natal vitamins are rich in all the essential nutrients and minerals that are needed by your body and your growing baby. It also consists of antioxidants that enhance the immune response and help in fighting off infections and foreign bodies. A daily supplement of pre-natal vitamins is an entire package of iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, D, and E, which boosts immunity.
All of these nutrients can also be found in carrots, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, cantaloupes, mangoes, strawberries, asparagus, lentils, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and almonds which can easily be incorporated into your daily diet in order to meet your daily requirements. Consumption of these foods can help you deal with colds with a strengthened immune system.
Humidifier:
During pregnancy, you can’t just go for over-the-counter medications to relieve the symptoms of cold, which can be pretty annoying, and in low temperatures with low humidity, you might feel really dry and stuffy. For such situations, going for a humidifier would be a good option. It could be one of the best ways to cope with the cold and cough as it elevates the humidity level by adding moisture to the environment and can significantly help you with your stuffy nose.
So now you know that when you’re sick, keep a humidifier on your bedside so it adds moisture to your skin and help you with the congestion. For enhanced soothing effects, you may add a few drops of essential oils such as tea tree or peppermint oil. However, make sure that your humidifier is regularly cleaned and you use distilled water to prevent bacterial growth.
Pineapple Juice:
Pineapple juice consists of bromelain, which has strong anti-inflammatory properties and helps in relieving and soothing cough. Bromelain is an enzyme that positively affects respiratory problems and helps in soothing a sore throat. Although it can break up and expel mucus, drinking enough fluids is essential to make the process easier. During pregnancy, it can be used as a natural cough suppressant and can be consumed in various forms.
Ginger:
Ginger has a long history of being used in herbal medicine to relieve different health problems, including nausea, sore throat, and cold. Ginger contains anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant properties due to the compounds called gingerols and shogaols. Among pregnant women, it is one of the ideal home remedies to soothe coughs and colds as it doesn’t come with any health risks and, in fact, is quite beneficial for both the mom and the baby.
Turmeric:
Like ginger, turmeric has a history of treating problems like nasal inflammation, colds, and coughs. It contains an active ingredient, curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties and, in fact, is a very strong antioxidant. It strengthens the immune system to fight off viruses that can harm the body. A combination of ginger and turmeric can be helpful in further strengthening the immune system and decreasing inflammation.
Many people have turmeric when they observe signs of a cold or cough. There are many ways in which you can have turmeric. One way is that you can add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a cup of milk and drink.
Bed Rest:
During pregnancy, having a cold can be exhausting and tiring as it drains your energy. Having some rest in such cases is the best option. During pregnancy, you’re already advised not to overdo your body and take proper rest, so staying in bed and giving your body the time and energy to fight off the virus is definitely the best option.
Apple Cider Vinegar:
Opting for apple cider vinegar when having a cold is a good choice as it contains good bacteria. These bacteria alkalinize your body, creating a non-ideal environment for the virus to thrive in and so fight off the infection. As soon as you feel the first symptoms of a cold, you can take some apple cider vinegar, and it will immediately start its duty.
A tip for consuming apple cider vinegar is to mix a spoonful of the vinegar with a glass of lukewarm water.
Saltwater:
We’re pretty sure that you might have an idea about the use of saltwater and gargling during a cough and cold and let us tell you that, yes, it is a good choice. Dealing with a sore throat during pregnancy can be painful and even make simple activities like swallowing painful. Gargling with warm salt water helps wash out the virus and provide symptomatic relief. You can carry out the process 2-3 times a day for relief from burning and pain.
Preventing Cold:
You’ve heard that prevention is better than cure, and that’s right, cold and flu can potentially have further complications during pregnancy, so why not prevent having a cold rather than looking into treatments later? Following are some preventive measures that you can look into in order to avoid getting a cold.
- Remember to wash your hands often before touching your face or eating food.
- Stay at a safe distance from those who already have a cough or cold.
- Avoid touching your face frequently, as germs can make their way.
- Keep yourself hydrated and have fluids throughout the day to eliminate toxins.
- Have a healthy diet with all the nutritious fruits and vegetables.
- Go for pregnancy-friendly exercises as it keeps the immunity strong.
- Do not share your cutlery or bottles with someone who has a cold.
When should you see your Doctor?
Although flu doesn’t necessarily cause any complications, you should stay alert and look out for the signs and symptoms, and if you observe any of the following, immediately seek medical attention:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Chills
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Breathing difficulty
- Vaginal bleeding
- Fetal movement decreases.
The Bottomline:
Having a cold during pregnancy can be annoying as your body is already going through enough, and having a cold can be further exhausting. We have explained some of the home remedies that are helpful for a cold during pregnancy and would be beneficial to a great extent.
However, you should also take care of your diet and adopt a healthy lifestyle by having all the nutritious foods necessary for your baby’s good development and growth. Over-the-counter medications can be harmful and should be avoided, so home remedies are a safer option. In some cases, if you observe any unusual symptoms, immediately call your doctor, as, at times, a cold can have some complications during pregnancy.
