Cough & Cold: Symptoms & treatments during pregnancyLine

Catching cough and cold is never pleasant especially when you are pregnant. During pregnancy your immune system may work lower than usual making you vulnerable to common ailments like cough and cold. In a normal scenario you can still reach out for your go-to medications but during pregnancy you have to be extra cautious and can’t just gobble down medicines at your fancy. But that does not mean you should suffer from stuffy nose or cough just because you are not allowed to take medicines. There are several alternate and natural treatments that you can restore to, to give yourself instant relief and the much required good night sleep.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of cough and cold last anywhere between 1-2 weeks. It is common to come down with cough and cold at least once during your pregnancy so no need to hit that panic button just yet. Besides, an ordinary cold though can make you feel miserable about yourself and the condition you are in, it does not affect your child. Just in case you are starting to feel the sick, keep an eye on these symptoms that will help you determine if you are about to get cough & cold or not:

-Sore throat
-Cough
-Stuffy nose
-Headache
-Mild fever

Try to:

- Wash hands often to keep them germ-free
- Keep your surrounding clean by cleaning them with a disinfectant
- Do not touch dirty tissues, if you have, just wash the germs off your hand with soap. Carrying an alcohol based sanitizer can be a good choice
- Eat a healthy & balanced diet
- Avoid- sharing cutlery or towels with people infected with the virus
- Get flu shots as it protects the mum-to-be and the baby from getting infected up to 6 months after the birth
- Wear protection mask to stop inhaling germs

Treatment:

No matter how conscious you’d like stay of not getting infected with the virus there are slight chances that you still may get it. Afterall, common cold is not called common for no reason! But there is nothing to worry. Agreed, antibiotics won’t help you much if you have cold but there are natural and alternate remedies that you can try at home to rid yourself from the symptoms.

- Drink herbal tea: Herbs are known to have germ-fighting properties and are also considered safe for consumption during pregnancy. Drinking plenty of tulsi, ginger, chamomile and lavender based teas will not only soothe your throat and refresh you and can help boost your immunity. You can add a teaspoon of Dabur Honey to sweeten your tea and increase its medicinal value.

- Sip lemon & honey water: Honey and lemon mixed in warm water is the best remedy you can try to soothe sore throat and cough. In a glass of warm water mix a teaspoon of Dabur Honey and few drops of water and sip the mix through the day.

- Go strong on gargles: Salt water gargle help reduce irritation in the throat thus alleviating the problem of sore throat and cough. To rid yourself off coughing incessantly, add a pinch of salt to warm water and gargle at least 3-4 times a day.

- Take pleasure in eating garlic: To clear congestion and open clogged nasal passages, you may include herbs and spices like garlic, cinnamon, clove & cardamom in your meal.

- Steam inhalations: Steam is an effective home remedy for treating cough and chest & nasal congestion. Just add a few drops of essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus etc., to improve its effects.

- Root for herbal remedies: During pregnancy you have to be careful of the medicines you take as they can have adverse effects on you and your baby’s health. Herbal or Ayurvedic medicines for treating cough and cold as these medicines are made using natural ingredients and can be a good alternative.

Dabur Honitus Cough Syrup and Madhuvaani are made using traditional herbs and natural ingredients like honey, tulsi, sitopaladi, mulethi etc. that not only provide quick relief from cough but also give you the strength to further fight the illness by boosting your immune system. Dabur Hot Sip and Cough Drops are other two remedies that you can try to relieve yourself from the effects of cough and cold without risking your health.

Pregnancy is sensitive phase in a woman’s life and anything and everything done has chances of directly affecting the health of the mother and the child. Therefore, if you have any doubts regarding the safety of any type of traditional or alternative medication, you must consult your doctor first!