While pregnancy is a lovely experience, you are growing a teeny tiny human that will eventually be yours to keep, it also comes with a rule book that I swear is longer than War and Peace. Most things don’t seem to bother me, and really don’t affect me day to day. Alcohol is not an issue, I can survive without rollercoasters for 9 months and cleaning the oven? Well lets just say I am glad for the excuse to have someone else do it!
The one thing I do miss is what I refer to as “the good stuff”. A good decongestant, to be exact!
Having a cold sucks – no one can deny that. When I am not pregnant I’m not too bad at just taking some form of decongestant and just powering through. In pregnancy though, all you are advised to take is a plain paracetamol and it can be really tough going. I find it hard to breath, hard to get to sleep, hard to wake up. The running of snot down my throat in the morning triggers my morning sickness and I would vomit almost immediately (too much information?!)
Colds always seem to last a bit longer when you’re pregnant, without the help of extra medication yo alleviate your symptoms. It can feel a bit never ending, but there are a few things you can do to make yourself feel better.
Table of Contents
How To Feel Better When You’re Pregnant With A Cold
Rest
You’ve probably heard it a million times, but one of the best things to do when you’re ill is rest. A cold can take it’s toll when you’re pregnant so get a good nights sleep and take it easy.
Plenty Foods And Fluids
Vitamin rich foods are important when you’re ill, but if you don’t have much of an appetite try to ensure you at least keep hydrated. Focus on vitamin C rich foods such as citrus fruits, peppers and spinach to boost your immune system to fight the cold.
Drink Gold Milk
Gold milk is warm milk with turmeric and honey. It is soothing when you’re not feeling well and turmeric has natural anti inflammatory properties. However, be sure to only drink it in moderation as while small amounts of turmeric can be beneficial in pregnancy, too much can have adverse affects on your baby.
Alternatively, honey and lemon in hot water can also work nicely.
Chiropractic Care
Visiting a chiropractor is not only great for you and your baby during pregnancy but a healthy nervous system helps a healthy immune system so when you catch a cold it’s no where near as terrible.
There is lots more information on visiting a chiropractor while pregnant and how they can help you stay comfortable
Olbas Oil
A few drops of Olbas Oil on a muslin near to you can help clear your sinuses and ease your breathing. As with a lot of other things, you need to be conscious of the volume of Olbas Oil in pregnancy. Use small quantities and be conscious of how close it is too you. Consult your midwife if you have any questions.
Cool Mist Humidifier
Humidifiers raise the room’s moisture level, making it easier for you to breathe, so pick one that is for use overnight. A cool mist humidifier is safe to use in pregnancy and also with children, which can be very useful when the baby arrives too. Essential oils can be added to your humidifier in small doses to help ease congestion.
Are Colds Worse When You’re Pregnant?
The average person gets around 2-3 colds per year. However, a pregnant person has a less robust immune system which makes them more susceptible to a catching a cold.
A cold typically lasts 7-10 days, but there is nothing to stop you catching another cold just as the first one ends. This can leave you feeling like you’ve got a never ending cold that is much worse than you’re used to.
How To Avoid Colds While Pregnant
There are a few things you can do to try and stop yourself getting as many colds while you’re pregnant. First of all, make sure you wash your hands with soap regularly. Soap is the best defence against simple germs. Avoiding seeing other people who are unwell is also helping, but this isn’t always practical. Especially in a work setting or if you have older children at school or nursery.
Ultimately there isn’t much that can be done about a cold when you’re pregnant. You are likely to get them, but they will pass and once baby is here your immune system will pick up again.
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