What helps pregnant women with colds. Colds in pregnant women - prevention and treatment. How to treat a cold during pregnancy

Unfortunately, almost every pregnant woman faces this problem. During the 9 months of pregnancy, it is almost impossible to avoid cold or damp weather, as well as contact with an infected person, especially if there are already small children at home.

Due to hormonal changes and reduced immunity, the expectant mother’s body does not cope well with viruses. ARVI should not be taken lightly; any infection can harm the baby, so treatment should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Colds during pregnancy: causes and signs

How to reduce fever during pregnancy:

• . During pregnancy, Paracetamol and drugs based on it are allowed. Paracetamol is included in various powders for both symptoms and. However, it is not recommended to get carried away with them during pregnancy; it is enough to take Paracetamol itself if the temperature is above 38 degrees. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a fever; some cases require hospitalization. Paracetamol is taken no more than 4 times a day. If the temperature continues, consult a doctor immediately. You should not take aspirin or medications containing it, as it can provoke.
• Rest and drink plenty of fluids. These seemingly outdated recommendations remain very effective for colds and fever. A woman should rest and drink more, especially warm drinks. It is worth remembering that during pregnancy you should not exceed the permissible fluid intake due to the heavy load on the kidneys. If you drink a lot of water and warm tea, milk, limit the amount of other liquids you consume such as juices, yoghurts, soups, etc. If swelling occurs, consult a doctor.
• Don't overheat. In extreme heat, chills sometimes occur; a pregnant woman seeks to cover herself with a warm blanket and begins to dress warmer. This could trigger an even greater rise. You need to drink more warm fluids, sweat profusely, but not overheat.
• Rubbing. Rubbing with vinegar during pregnancy can be done, but after consulting a doctor. Under no circumstances should you take hot baths or steam your feet, as this can cause miscarriage or premature birth.

Runny nose during pregnancy

Useful video - Colds during pregnancy: treatment and prevention.

Treatment during pregnancy can be difficult, especially in the first trimester, when almost all drugs are prohibited, so it is best to take care of your health in advance.

Prevention measures:

1. If the pregnancy is planned, then you need to start strengthening your immune system even before conception. Doctors recommend getting examined before pregnancy, taking vitamins, folic acid, temper, abstain from bad habits. All this contributes to the fact that during pregnancy a woman tolerates unpleasant phenomena such as toxicosis much more easily, and is also less susceptible to viral diseases.
2. Proper nutrition during pregnancy means a lot not only for immunity, but also for the normal development of the child, as well as for the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. If you eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables, eat fish, lean meat and avoid chemical additives, you can avoid a number of problems: fetal hypoxia, constipation and hemorrhoids, heartburn, colds and even severe toxicosis.
3. The expectant mother should dress according to the weather. In the cold season, there is no need to be embarrassed to dress warmer. The expectant mother's wardrobe may include gaiters and fleeced tights, warm hats and scarves. This will help avoid viral diseases and hospitalization.
4. Don't forget about safety. The expectant mother must take care of herself, so it is necessary to reduce all contacts with infected people. However, it is not always possible to determine from the first time that a person is infected, so avoid kissing girlfriends, do not try cosmetics in stores, especially lipstick, wash your hands after public transport, try to use public toilets as little as possible.

Despite the fact that the body deliberately lowers immunity to maintain pregnancy, it can be strengthened within reason. You can only take serious medications to strengthen your immune system, as well as multivitamin complexes, with your doctor’s permission.

Text: Evgenia Bagma

It is very important to protect the baby and his mother from diseases - for example, from ARVI and influenza, which are dangerous not only in themselves, but also have severe symptoms. The question arises: how to treat a cold during pregnancy if most of Should an expectant mother simply not take medications?

Help with colds during pregnancy

How to treat a cold during pregnancy? First of all - immediately, no matter what month the woman is in. After all, not only the virus can harm a child, but also the symptoms of the disease themselves - fever, aching joints, loss of appetite, runny nose, etc. The placenta protects the unborn baby from the mother’s illnesses, but only if it is properly formed. This is why a cold in the first months of pregnancy is more dangerous for the baby than in the later stages.

The use of medications will have to be kept to a minimum. How to treat colds during pregnancy without medications? Bed rest, folk remedies, home treatments and those medications that are not prohibited during pregnancy and recommended by your doctor.

To lower a pregnant woman's temperature, you can drink tea with raspberries or linden. You need to reduce the heat only after 38 degrees. If you cannot cope with the fever using home remedies, you can take paracetamol, reducing the standard dosage by half.

Symptoms of the disease, such as a sore throat, cough or runny nose, can also cause discomfort. Since medications for these symptoms are also prohibited in most cases and can harm the baby, it is better for pregnant women to treat colds with other means. Gargle with herbal decoctions (chamomile, eucalyptus, sage), do inhalations, clear your nose with saline solution or Pinosol. Usually these remedies are enough to relieve symptoms.

How to treat colds during pregnancy without causing harm

It is very important to treat a cold so as not to harm the mother and her unborn child. Therefore, only the attending physician can weigh all the risks and say exactly how to treat a cold during pregnancy. Before consulting a doctor, you should follow some rules.

• Pregnant women should not take aspirin - it causes fetal malformations.


• A pregnant woman should not wrap herself up or overheat, especially if she has a high body temperature.


• You should not steam your feet or take a hot bath - this is dangerous for the unborn child and can cause a deterioration in the patient’s condition, including miscarriage.


• You should not take antibiotics without a doctor's recommendation - especially since antibiotics are powerless against viral infections, such as colds and flu.

Do not self-medicate, because only the attending physician can tell how pregnant women should treat a cold in each specific case. After recovery, you will need to do an ultrasound to make sure that the pregnancy is progressing well and the infection has not caused any harm to the baby.

A woman expecting a child needs to be careful not to get sick. After all, the treatment method for expectant mothers differs from that used in other cases. If the pregnant woman still failed to avoid ARVI, in this case it is important to know how to treat a cold during pregnancy so as not to harm your health and the fetus.

Use remedies effectively to treat colds traditional medicine, but only after the doctor's permission. Here they are:

• The most in an efficient way To combat colds is the use of horseradish root. You will need to take one horseradish root, chop it, then mix it with the same amount of honey. Move the resulting composition to a warm place for a day, then strain it through gauze and take the medicine every hour, 1 small spoon.
• If you have a cough, it is recommended to use inhalations that contain chamomile and sage. These herbs can reduce a runny nose and relieve pain from an inflamed nasopharynx.
• For throat diseases, it is necessary to gargle with the herbs of calendula, sage, and chamomile. Prepare decoctions from these herbs to gargle with. Decoctions should be warm.
• In most cases, natural honey helps get rid of all the symptoms of a cold. It can be consumed either alone or added to tea with lemon. If desired, honey can be added to the rosehip and lemon tincture. You should not overuse honey recent months pregnancy, as it can cause allergies in the child, and the pregnant woman herself will develop diabetes.
• If you have a severe runny nose, it is not recommended to use vasoconstrictor drops. If you cannot refuse them, then strictly follow the instructions for the drug. After all, the composition of the drops can have a negative impact on the blood supply to the placenta, which in the future can cause a delay in the development of the child in the womb.
• Nasal drops should be used in rare cases and only in case of strong discharge from the nasal cavity.
• If you have a runny nose, it is advisable to rinse your nose with saline solution. To prepare it you will need half a small spoon of salt per glass of water. You can also purchase special drops based on sea salt at the pharmacy.
• If you have agave, you can use it to treat a runny nose. To do this, you will need plant juice, which must be dripped into the nose, 2 drops at a time.
• To quickly get rid of the disease, stay in bed and avoid visiting crowded places until you have fully recovered.

By the way, it is useful to take it, because it treats many diseases.

What you need to know about colds by trimester

In the cold season, the question of how to treat colds during pregnancy becomes relevant. But before treatment, it would not hurt to know what a common runny nose or sore throat can lead to, depending on the trimester of pregnancy.

If before conception the fairer sex is not particularly worried about how to treat this or that disease, then during pregnancy the situation changes.

The first trimester is considered the most dangerous, since at this time any illness can negatively affect not only the fetus itself, but also the woman. A cold in the first 10 weeks after conception can cause severe harm to the fetus, since it is at this time that formation occurs. internal organs fetus In this case, the viral infection disrupts the normal course of pregnancy.

It is important to be treated correctly in the first trimester, since many women do not know about their interesting situation and begin to take medications that are contraindicated during pregnancy. You should not self-medicate; it is best to consult a specialist.

In the second trimester, the fetus is more protected, but colds in a pregnant woman are still undesirable. A cold between 12 and 24 weeks can cause the formation of FNP, which negatively affects the development of the baby. With FNP, the fetus in the womb does not receive a certain amount of microelements necessary for proper life support, and also suffers from a lack of oxygen.

Also, diseases at this time can affect the development nervous system fetus In some cases, colds can contribute to miscarriage. At this time, it is advisable to treat the disease using folk remedies.

In the third trimester, a cold can cause complications during childbirth. If a pregnant woman does not have time to recover, the child may contract an infectious disease from the mother immediately after birth. Also, women who become ill in later stages are sent to hospital for treatment.

If a woman suffers from a cold during childbirth, the child is isolated from her after birth until the mother is completely cured. In addition, increased temperature in the later stages affects the woman’s well-being; she feels tired, so during childbirth she does not find the strength to push. It is worth noting that if the placenta at this stage has already completely matured or has begun to age, then it will not be able to provide any protective functions for the baby.

Video: How to treat snot and throat during pregnancy

Although our nature is incredibly wise, it still missed many points. Whether it was intentional or accidental is unclear. However, the fact remains. For example, pregnancy. A mysterious mysterious process when, in a relatively short period of time, a full-fledged person, with the most complex structure of organs and systems, develops and grows from a small cell. But the mother’s body rejects the embryo as a foreign body, so from the very beginning of conception it is forced to fight for its existence. No, here everything is just thought out: in addition to the fact that natural selection takes place, the mother’s immunity naturally weakens in order to give the unborn child a chance to survive. But at the same time, a decline in immunity opens the door to all possible viruses and diseases: even elementary... Doctors say that these diseases are incompatible with pregnancy, because they pose a potential threat to the fetus and the mother. However, more than 80% of women manage to catch a cold during pregnancy.

In addition, expectant mothers most often catch a cold precisely when all the vital organs and systems of the baby are developing, forming and intensively developing. And it is during this period that any disease, including colds, can be especially dangerous for him. And mom is also at risk. Complications of a cold can be:

• fetal growth retardation syndrome;
• fetal malformations;
• intrauterine infection and even fetal death;
• premature rupture of amniotic fluid;
• increased blood loss during childbirth;
• development of inflammatory diseases of the internal genital organs;
• fetoplacental insufficiency;
• complications in the postpartum period;

The degree of threat posed by a cold cannot be assessed. Here one can only guess how it will all end. But the main thing is to act correctly and in a timely manner as soon as the first signs of a cold appear or only with suspicion of one. And then everything will happen with minimal risks for you.

It should be noted that there is no such diagnosis as a “cold”. In this article we are talking about colds in the context of hypothermia or getting wet, which led to illness in the pregnant woman. Doctors usually diagnose acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections. Therefore, bacterial and viral diseases during pregnancy are described in the relevant topics: and. Although popularly they are also called colds - due to the similarity of manifestations.

A cold during pregnancy threatens the development of many complications. Therefore, the most reasonable thing would be to protect yourself from the disease as much as possible. To do this, the most important thing is to avoid sudden cooling of the body, because this is where colds begin.

Preventing colds during pregnancy

1. Try to avoid hypothermia, especially in the lower extremities.
2. In rainy weather, it is important not to get wet or chilly.
3. Drink natural vitamin teas, but do not overuse them: hypervitaminosis is no less dangerous for you now than a cold. The same applies to multivitamin complexes for pregnant women.
4. Many people like the use of aromatic oils for preventive purposes. Oils of lavender, tea tree, rosemary, fir, mint, eucalyptus and others are perfect for this. But always consider possible allergic reactions.
5. Or you can use a less poetic method: place chopped garlic and onions in all rooms. If there are no contraindications, it is also useful to eat them.
6. Take more walks in the fresh air.
7. Ventilate the room several times a day - in any weather!
8. It’s good if you have the opportunity to do wet cleaning every day.
9. Always dress for the weather. You don't need to wrap yourself up too much, but you don't want hypothermia either. Moderate warmth and dryness will help avoid colds.

Treatment of colds during pregnancy

Treating a cold during pregnancy is not an easy process, but it is necessary. Due to the great danger of complications for mother and child, treatment must be done immediately.

The first thing you should do is consult your doctor. In your situation, traditional anti-cold artillery is contraindicated, so the choice of treatment methods should be approached with extreme caution. If for some reason you were unable to contact your gynecologist, the main rule that you must adhere to in treatment is: do no harm. Less is better than more. Therefore, carefully weigh your every step.

Start with plenty of warm (but never hot) drinks: juice, teas, water, fruit drinks, milk with butter and honey, herbal infusions (linden blossom, chamomile, rosehip). When you have a cold, this is the first salvation. But keep in mind that excess fluid can lead to swelling, so you should still control its amount.

Please take into account that antibiotics, immunomodulators, alcohol tinctures, drugs that increase blood pressure and pulse, and antipyretics are currently contraindicated for you. You should not take vitamin C tablets separately. Among the medications, you can use, for example, (to reduce fever and for headaches), (for a sore throat), (for gargling). In general, the choice should be made on homeopathy. Only, as in any other case, all appointments must be made by a specialist.

For the rest, it is better to turn to traditional medicine. But keep in mind that you may have an allergic reaction to many of the components of the recipes she offers. So choose the most harmless of recipes. Horseradish helps very well during colds during pregnancy: grate its root on a fine grater, mix with the same amount of sugar, leave in a warm place for 12 hours, strain and take 1 tablespoon every hour during an acute cold. This product does not have side effects, is completely safe in your situation and is an excellent natural immunostimulant.

In general, all therapy will include treatment of cold symptoms: , . Other symptoms include headache, sneezing, general malaise, fatigue, and wheezing when breathing in through the nose.

Inhalations using chamomile and St. John's wort will help avoid coughing, as they are excellent at soothing an inflamed nasopharynx, and inhaling the vapors of onion and garlic effectively treat a runny nose. Aromatherapy helps a lot, especially pine oils. An excellent medicine is honey during pregnancy.

They should be mentioned separately, since they often significantly alleviate the condition of a pregnant woman with a cold. It is recommended, for example, to breathe in vapors baking soda, boiled jacket potatoes, adding a tablespoon of chamomile or sage, black currant leaves, eucalyptus, oak, birch. It is useful to inhale the vapor of a grated large raw onion through your nose and mouth for about 10 minutes, but no more than 2 times a day. You can try inhalations with rosehip, thyme, hyssop or chamomile oil. Heat the water, add a few drops of oil. Cover yourself with a towel and breathe for a few minutes over the “magic” saucepan. And straight to bed! Individual intolerance to aromatic oils and herbs is common. Therefore, be attentive to your feelings. And it is better to consult your doctor before starting inhalations during pregnancy.

Thermal procedures are contraindicated during this period. However, if things are really bad, and the tried methods have little effect, you can apply dry mustard plasters to your feet and put on woolen socks. It is not recommended to steam your feet, but if you are very cold (if your feet are numb), when you come home after unsuccessful adventures, you definitely need to warm up your feet. This method is used even if there are no cold symptoms yet - for preventive purposes. But hot water cannot be used! But the hands under the tap with hot water An expectant mother can vape - it’s an excellent remedy for a runny nose and sore throat! Dry heat won't do any harm either. At the first feeling of a cold, wrap a warm scarf around your neck, put on woolen socks, warm pajamas and go to bed. If you take such warming measures in time, often the next morning there will be no trace of a cold left.

Don't forget about your menu. It should include light dishes that are easy on the stomach and contain all the necessary substances and microelements. During your illness, avoid heavy meat foods, thick rich broths, spicy, smoked and confectionery products.

If you try all the allowed methods, but relief still does not come, be sure to tell your doctor about it. But if at the same time you are rapidly getting worse, you should under no circumstances hesitate. The risks of a deteriorating condition are too great. Therefore, call an ambulance immediately.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

ARVI(acute respiratory viral infections) is a set of diseases that are characterized by damage to the respiratory system and have a similar clinical picture. Flu is an acute viral disease that affects the respiratory tract, is accompanied by severe intoxication and can lead to serious complications. Influenza and ARVI are diseases close to each other in terms of infection methods and clinical picture, but influenza is more severe, causes serious intoxication and can even lead to fatal outcome in the absence of treatment.

Source of infection of these diseases is a sick person, especially in initial period illness when there are no signs of a cold yet. Main route of transmission ARVI and influenza are airborne, the infection spreads with small drops of saliva and mucus that are released when coughing, sneezing, or talking. It is also possible to spread viruses through food (through dirty hands), but this route of transmission is rare.

Not all people are highly susceptible to viruses that cause colds, because... a good level of immunity does not allow pathogens to penetrate and develop in the body. With great physical and mental stress, poor nutrition, hypothermia, exacerbation of chronic diseases, the reserve of the body's defenses sharply decreases, and the person falls ill. Unfortunately, pregnant women are also at increased risk of contracting ARVI and influenza due to a significant decrease in immunity during pregnancy.

dangerous Colds are dangerous for both the mother and the development of the fetus. The greatest risk of infection with influenza ARVI is in first trimester of pregnancy, when all the vital organs and systems of the child are formed.

Complications of a cold

TO main complications viral infections in early stages include:

1. Spontaneous miscarriages;
2. Formation of fetal malformations;
3. Intrauterine infection and fetal death.

A special feature of colds in the first trimester is that pregnant women often have a hard time suffering from the disease. Such periods are typical:

• Difficulties in reducing temperature due to the ban on taking many antipyretic drugs;
• High risk of bacterial complications.

In the second trimester the level of a woman’s defenses increases, and a pregnant woman tolerates ARVI and influenza more easily, but the influence of infectious agents on the child still remains significant. The formation of the fetus is already completed by 12 weeks, so exposure to viruses does not lead to severe malformations. The main impact of the infectious disease falls on the growing placenta, which makes its blood circulation and supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby difficult. TO complications of a viral infection in the second trimester include:

• Premature termination of pregnancy;
• Development of fetoplacental insufficiency (decreased ability of the placenta to provide adequate exchange between the organisms of the mother and fetus);
• Fetal hypoxia (oxygen deficiency);
• Intrauterine infection of the fetus;
• Premature rupture of amniotic fluid.

Information In the third trimester Colds occur similarly to the second trimester and also have a negative effect on the placenta. The most dangerous infection of the mother is in the last weeks of pregnancy, especially before childbirth, because at the same time, the risk of infection of the child viral infection increases significantly.

Complications of ARVI and influenza in the third trimester:

1. Premature rupture of amniotic fluid and termination of pregnancy;
2. Fetal hypoxia (especially pronounced when infected before birth: the child is born lethargic with breathing problems);
3. Increased risk of birth trauma and increased blood loss during childbirth;
4. Development of postpartum infectious diseases of the internal genital organs.

Treatment of colds

At the first signs of ARVI and influenza, due to the high risk of complications, it is necessary to begin treatment immediately. It should be remembered that many medications are strictly contraindicated during pregnancy and can cause irreparable harm to the child. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate; you should seek advice from a general practitioner who will adequately assess the pregnant woman’s condition and prescribe appropriate treatment.

It is optimal to begin treatment of colds during pregnancy with the use of traditional methods and only if they are ineffective, proceed to taking medications.

The main task for ARVI and influenza in pregnant women is to reduce. Fever dangerous for both the mother and the development of the child. Prolonged hyperthermia (two days or more) can lead to the following: complications:

1. Formation of fetal malformations (this applies only to the first trimester);
2. and premature termination of pregnancy;
3. Impaired blood circulation in the placenta, which impairs its functioning and leads to developmental delay and fetal hypoxia;
4. Disruption cardiovascular system mother.

To the main and most effective methods of reducing high fever include:

• Drink plenty of fluids (with lemon, cranberry juice, decoction of chamomile, linden, raspberry, ). The drink should be warm, but not hot;
• Cool compresses on the forehead;
• Drying with a damp towel cold water, places of pulse (axillary and popliteal cavities, wrists, elbows);
• Rubbing with a vinegar solution (take 3 parts water for one part vinegar);
• half a tablet no more than twice a day (only as prescribed by a doctor!).

A common symptom of a cold is nasal congestion. It is necessary to treat a runny nose, because... The mother's difficulty breathing can cause insufficient oxygen supply to the baby.

Runny nose

Basic methods of treating runny nose in pregnant women:

• Regular ventilation and humidification of the room;
• . For a runny nose, inhalations based on medicinal herbs(chamomile, sage, thyme), based on aromatic oils (mint, eucalyptus). In the absence of a special device (nebulizer), you can use any wide container. During the procedure, you cannot talk; you must breathe freely through your nose without straining. Inhalations can be done 2-3 times a day for 7-10 minutes;
• Nasal rinsing. For these purposes, you can use a saline solution you prepare yourself (add a small pinch of salt to a glass of warm boiled water) or buy ready-made preparations based on sea salt and water at the pharmacy (Salin, Aquamaris). You can also rinse your nose with freshly brewed infusions of chamomile or sage. The procedure can be repeated 3-4 times a day;
• Using homemade drops. For these purposes, you can use independently squeezed beet or carrot juice, herbal infusions (chamomile, sage). The procedure can be repeated up to 4 times a day;
• Vasoconstrictor drops ( Sanorin, ). They can be used only as prescribed by a doctor in case of a severe runny nose and no effect from treatment with folk remedies. When taking them, it is necessary to carefully read the instructions and strictly adhere to the dosage.

Sore and sore throat

Influenza and ARVI are often accompanied by tickle And sore throat. If painful sensations appear, you should consult a doctor for an examination so as not to miss the onset of acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis), which requires more serious therapy. To the main methods treatment include:

1. Drink plenty of warm drinks (never hot, high temperature fluids will aggravate the swelling and increase the pain);
2. Frequent gargling. For these purposes, you can use herbal infusions (chamomile, eucalyptus, mint, oak bark), a mixture of salt and iodine (1 teaspoon of salt or soda and two drops of iodine per glass of warm water). You need to gargle every hour until you feel better;
3. Taking warm milk with honey and (per glass of milk one tablespoon of butter and a teaspoon natural honey). The prepared solution must be drunk in small sips; the dose can be repeated 4 times a day;
4. Inhalations with medicinal herbs (chamomile, thyme, sage, mint). The procedure is carried out for 10 minutes and repeated 3-4 times a day;
5. Use of ready-made medications (use only after consulting a doctor!): n, Chlorhexidine.

Cough

With colds, pregnant women often complain about. Cough can be of two types: dry (without mucus discharge, painful) and wet (with copious sputum production).

Cough often causes severe discomfort to a pregnant woman and can also be dangerous for the further development of pregnancy. During frequent coughing attacks, the muscles and ligaments of the abdomen become very tense and contract, which can lead to the threat of miscarriage, and in more severe cases, provoke bleeding.

Treatment cough:

• Inhalations. For a dry cough, you can use steam from boiled potatoes or a solution for the procedure. baking soda, herbal decoctions (chamomile, St. John's wort, linden, sage). When sputum begins to be discharged, it is necessary to switch to herbs that have drying and expectorant effects (yarrow, wild rosemary). The procedure is done for 10 minutes up to 5 times a day;
• Drink plenty of herbal decoctions with honey, warm milk with honey;
• Gargling with infusions of medicinal herbs (mint, oak bark, eucalyptus) every two hours;
• Regular ventilation and humidification of the air in the room (if there is no humidifier, you can simply place dishes with water around the room);
• Drug treatment (Bronchipret). Use only as prescribed by a doctor!

Preventing colds during pregnancy

Any disease, including colds, is easier to prevent than to treat. Prevention of colds should be constant throughout pregnancy. To the main preventive measures include:

• Taking multivitamin preparations for pregnant women, drinking herbal infusions rich in vitamins (tea, cranberry juice);
• A balanced diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, taking natural phytoncides (onions, garlic);
• Frequent walks in the fresh air;
• Regular ventilation of the room;
• Avoid hypothermia and overheating;
• Minimizing stay in crowded places and contact with sick people;
• before every going out during ARVI epidemics.