How To Manage Cold Or Cough During Pregnancy? | Modasta

Your ability to fight diseases diminishes during pregnancy, because of which you may catch a cold or a cough at some point during pregnancy. In addition to this, the illness may last for a longer time due to decreased immunity. Therefore, it is crucial to take precautions to avoid getting infected with cold and cough. However, if you do get infected, you should know how to manage it or get treated as early as possible.rnHow can I avoid catching a cold?rnIt’s hard to prevent the common cold as it spreads very quickly. You can pick an infection from anyone who has a cold, or from an object which was contaminated by the secretions from an infected person. However, you can take the following preventive steps to reduce the risk of infection:rnTry to stay away from an infected personrnWash your hands regularly if you are around someone with coldrnAsk infected people to use a tissue while sneezing or coughing; request them to immediately throw the tissue in the bin and wash their hands properlyrnClean the surfaces at home especially door knobs, handles, taps, phone, etc.rnAvoid sharing utensils, cups, plates or glasses with anyonernNever share towels with anyone and wash your towel frequentlyrnMake sure you consume nutritious food, get proper sleep and exercise regularlyrnTake your prenatal vitamins and probiotics without failrnHow should I manage cold and cough during pregnancy?rnFollowing tips may help you in managing and treating cold or a cough during pregnancy:rnAdequate rest: Sound sleep of 7-8 hours and ample amount of rest plays an important role in keeping up proper immunity levels and in reducing the severity of symptoms.rnHydration: To add necessary fluids back into your body, drink enough water, juice or soup.rnEat well: Nutritious food always helps in improving immunity and speeding up recovery. So, eat small portions of healthy food frequently during the day.rnManage congestion: Stuffy or blocked nose can cause a lot of discomfort. Taking steam inhalations 2-3 times a day may give you relief from the blocked nose. You can also use saline (saltwater) nasal spray or a vapour rub.rnManage cough: To soothe your sore throat or a cough, you can do salt water gargles 2-3 times a day. Sipping on warm water or water mixed with honey and lemon also gives relief.rnMedications: It is best to avoid any medications during pregnancy as it may harm your developing baby. Always consult your doctor before taking any over the counter medicines for cold and cough. Your doctor may advise paracetamol to treat fever, headache and body ache; throat lozenges to ease a sore throat and cough syrup to reduce a cough.rnWill my baby get affected if I get cold or cough during pregnancy?rnFortunately, getting cold or a cough during pregnancy does not harm the health of your developing baby. Further, getting infected with the common cold is very common during pregnancy. Although, It causes a lot of discomfort to the pregnant woman, it is treatable and does not have any after-effects.rnWhen to see my doctor?rnYou should see a doctor if:rnThe symptoms are interfering with your sleeprnSymptoms are worsening or not improving after a couple of daysrnYou have a fever of 102o F or abovernDiscoloured mucus is coming out with a cough, or you have chest pain/ wheezing with a coughrnDepending on the severity of the symptoms, after a physical examination and other investigations, the doctor may prescribe those antibiotics, painkillers and decongestants which are safe to take in pregnancy.