Once you are pregnant, everything you consume will have an impact not only on you but also your baby. This means that if you come down with a cough or cold then that over the counter cough medicine with alcohol in it might not be a great choice.
Other medications may also have ingredients that may not be the best choice for your baby. Here we’ll take a look at some real natural cough and cold remedies that you can safely use when pregnant.
Please read: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
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Typical Medications That Should Be Avoided When Pregnant
There are a number of common medicines that you might take for various aches and pains and conditions such as a cough or cold that you might want to avoid when pregnant.
The Aspirin is one of these. Some doctors also are particularly concerned about the brand Bayer because of the special coating that is used and the concern of how it might affect the baby. Aspirin is a known blood thinner, and should not be used during pregnancy unless your doctor specifically tells you to – there are some clotting conditions where aspirin is considered useful.
Other medications a doctor will typically shy away from during pregnancy include codeine, ibroprofen and antibiotics.
Obviously, it’s quite common these days for a doctor to prescribe antibiotics for a variety of different conditions.
According to many OB-GYNs, it’s better to avoid antibiotics when pregnant.
In fact, most doctors recommend especially during the first 12 weeks that to the extent possible, over-the-counter and prescription medications be avoided unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
They also recommend that during the first 28 weeks that you consult with a health care professional before taking medication of any kind.
Natural Cough And Cold Remedies That Are Safe To Take When Pregnant
It is always best that if you have any concern at all about something you’re considering taking that you consult with a healthcare professional before you do take it.
There might be circumstances which make something that is otherwise safe, risky under your particular situation.
Take care of yourself
There are lots of things that you can do that can reduce your chances of getting a cough or cold while pregnant.
One of the big things is to make sure you get enough rest. When you fail to get enough rest then you weaken your natural immune system and this makes you more susceptible to things like coughs and colds.
It’s also very important that you drink enough water and eat well. I recommend a whole foods diet that is shown to reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy – like this one.
Salt Gargles
If you feel a cough coming on then you want to try to address it as soon as possible. A great way to help a cough is by gargling with warm salt water or consuming umeboshi.
Half a teaspoon of sea salt mixed in with some warm water is something that almost anyone can easily have available, simply gargle it 3-4 times a day to help kill the cold causing bugs in your throat.
Umeboshi is a fermented and salty fruit that is very good for healing sore throats and reducing coughing as well as easing upset stomachs.
Because it’s simply a fruit that has been fermented and is salty it is completely natural and under most circumstances would be safe for anyone to consume, but as usual, check with your health care professional first.
Humidifier
Breathing in warm, humid air by using a steamer or vaporizer can often relieve congestion.
It’s even possible to just take a good hot shower as it can have a similar effect. Breathing in warm humid air is totally natural and something that should be completely safe for the mother and her baby.
Honey
Honey has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a number of ailments. It can greatly reduce coughing by soothing the throat.
It has natural components that can help heal some of the aspects that cause sore throat and coughing. Slowly sucking on a teaspoon of honey can help stop those horrible coughing fits.
Lemon
Lemon is very high in vitamin C and this can help support the strength of your immune system and help heal colds and coughs. It is also helpful in boosting the body’s immune system to keep cold away.
When the immune system is strongest it is capable of healing itself.
Add lemon juice to hot water with a little honey for a soothing drink.
Chicken Soup
It surprises a lot of people to hear that grandmas solution to colds and coughs actually works.
There are components in old fashioned, traditional chicken soup that not only soothe and refresh you but can help your body heal.
Chicken soup is completely natural and healthy and safe to consume for the mother and the baby. Because it can add a lot of great nutrition it is a terrific choice to use as both a preventative measure and as a way to heal once you have a cough or cold.
Canned soup is not the same!
Traditional chicken soup recipe
To make traditional soup get some chicken frames/bones from the butcher and place them in a pot.
To the pot add 2 chopped onions, 4-6 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed, 1 inch of ginger sliced, 1 tablespoon of black peppercorns, and 4 quarts of water.
Simmer for 12-36 hours, topping up with water as required. Strain out the bones and vegetables and return the bone broth to the pot.
Add the meat off of the bones and 2-3 chopped carrots, 2-3 stalks of celery and noodles if you want them and simmer until tender.
Salt to taste.