Cold treatment while pregnant

Which Cold & Flu Medication Is Safe to Take During Pregnancy? | UNM Health Blog

By Maria Montoya, MD | February 04, 2022

You are pregnant and start feeling sick. Before you reach for that bottle of cold or flu medicine, are you certain it is safe for your baby?

When you are pregnant, your baby will be exposed to everything you are exposed to. This means that when you are sick with a cold or flu your baby will not only be exposed to the cold or flu virus, but also any medication you may take.

Typically, with most viruses, you must wait for your immune system to fight the infection. Over-the-counter medications can help soothe your symptoms while you wait.

However, not all over-the-counter medicines are safe to take during pregnancy. Certain medications may hurt the baby or cause problems for you, such as increasing your blood pressure.

Use this quick list of pregnancy-safe natural cold and flu remedies and over-the-counter medications as a starting point. Remember, read the directions on the package for any medication you might take. It’s also a good idea to talk with your doctor or midwife before taking a cold or flu medication.

Natural, Pregnancy-Safe Remedies

Before you try any medications, there are natural remedies you may find adequate relief from first. Here are a couple of safe, natural remedies to try:

• Gargle warm salt water
• Get as much restful sleep as possible
• Sip honey in hot water
• Stay well hydrated
• Use nasal saline sprays
• Try a humidifier

While not all herbs and supplements are safe in pregnancy. You may be able to safely take:

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Manuka Honey
• Elderberry

Talk with your doctor or midwife before taking any supplements or trying at-home remedies or essential oils during pregnancy.

If natural remedies don’t provide enough relief, consider these pregnancy-safe medications.

Pregnancy-Safe Cold & Flu Medication

It is best to avoid taking medications when possible. If you do need to take something, follow the package directions carefully. Talk with your doctor or midwife before taking medication during pregnancy.

These over-the-counter medications are considered safe for most pregnant patients:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • Safe during the entire pregnancy.
  • Take only as needed.
  • Try to limit regular exposure.
  • Not safe if you are allergic to it or have liver problems.
• Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
  • Safe in the second and third trimester
  • Not safe in the first trimester due to a small risk of abdominal wall birth defects
  • Not safe if you have high blood pressure (hypertension) or a history of heart disease
• Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
  • Safe during pregnancy.
  • Not safe while breastfeeding.
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  • Safe throughout pregnancy.

Watch out for extra ingredients. Many cold and flu medications treat more symptoms than you may be experiencing. For example, Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom treats headaches, fever, body aches, cough, chest congestion, stuffy nose, and more. If you just have a stuffy nose, this is more medication than you need.

A word about antibiotics. Some sinus infections are treated with antibiotics. In general, pregnant patients should not take antibiotics unless it is necessary. Make sure your health care provider knows you are pregnant if they prescribe antibiotics.

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Medications to Avoid in Pregnancy

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications can hurt your developing baby. Do not take NSAIDs such as these when you are pregnant:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Naproxen (Aleve, Midol)
• Celecoxib (Celebrex)
• Aspirin (Bayer), unless your doctor or midwife prescribes daily low-dose aspirin.

Do not take these medications during pregnancy. These drugs can hurt the developing baby:

• Benzocaine (throat lozenges/throat sprays)
• Codeine (a pain and cough medication)
• Phenylephrine (i.e., Sudafed PE): it not considered safe while pregnant because studies with animals showed adverse effects to the fetus.

When you don’t feel well, the last thing you might want to do is read a medication label. However, it is worth taking a few extra moments to read the label and avoid additional risks. If you’re not sure what medicine is safe to take, call us. We are always here to help you.

To find out whether you or a loved one might benefit from Ob/Gyn care

Call 505-272-2245.

Categories: Women's Health

Treating a Cold or Flu When Pregnant

When you become pregnant, everything that happens to you can affect not just your body but the fetus, too. This can make dealing with being sick more complicated. Before pregnancy, if you got a cold or became sick with the flu, you may have taken an over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant. Now that you’re pregnant, you might wonder whether it’s safe. Although medications can relieve your symptoms, some may harm a developing fetus. But treating a cold or flu during pregnancy doesn’t have to be a stressful experience, and you can take many medications while pregnant.

Medications

According to most OB-GYNs, it’s best to avoid all medications in the first

of pregnancy. That’s a critical time for the development of a fetus’s vital organs. It’s a good idea to speak with your doctor if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant and currently taking medication or considering taking medication. Several medications are considered safe after 12 weeks of pregnancy. These include:

• topical menthol
• nasal strips
• cough drops or lozenges
• acetaminophen (Tylenol) for aches, pains, and fevers
• cough suppressant at night
• expectorant during the day
• calcium-carbonate (Mylanta, Tums) or similar medications for heartburn, nausea, or upset stomach
• plain cough syrup
• dextromethorphan (Robitussin) and dextromethorphan-guaifenesin (Robitussin DM) cough syrups

Avoid all-in-one medications that combine ingredients to tackle many symptoms. Instead, choose single medications for the symptoms you’re dealing with. You should also avoid the following medications while pregnant unless your doctor recommends you take them. They increase the risk for problems:

• aspirin (Bayer)
• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
• codeine
• Bactrim, an antibiotic

Home remedies for cold and flu during pregnancy

When you get sick while pregnant, your first steps should be to:

1. Get plenty of rest.
2. Drink a lot of fluids.
3. Gargle with warm salt water if you have a sore throat or cough.

If your symptoms worsen, you might want to try:

• saline nasal drops and sprays to loosen nasal mucus and soothe inflamed nasal tissue
• breathing warm, humid air to help ease congestion; a facial steamer, hot-mist vaporizer, or even a hot shower can work
• chicken soup to help relieve inflammation and soothe congestion
• adding honey or lemon to a warm cup of decaffeinated tea to relieve a sore throat
• using hot and cold packs to alleviate sinus pain

Is it a cold or the flu?

The common cold and the flu share many symptoms, such as a cough and runny nose. However, a few differences can help you tell them apart. If your symptoms are generally mild, then you likely have a cold. Also, chills and fatigue are more likely with the flu.

Things you can do to reduce your risk

When you’re pregnant, your body’s immune system becomes weaker to prevent your body from rejecting the fetus. But, it also leaves you more vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections. Pregnant people are also

than nonpregnant folks their age to have flu complications. These complications may include pneumonia, bronchitis, or sinus infections. Getting a flu vaccination can reduce your risk of infection and complications. Other things you can do to reduce your risk of getting sick include:

• washing your hands often
• getting enough sleep
• eating a healthy diet
• avoiding close contact with sick family or friends
• exercising regularly
• reducing stress

When should I call my doctor?

Although most colds don’t cause problems for a fetus, you should take the flu more seriously. Flu complications increase the risk of premature delivery and birth defects. Get immediate medical help if you experience the following symptoms:

• dizziness
• difficulty breathing
• chest pain or pressure
• vaginal bleeding
• confusion
• severe vomiting
• high fever that isn’t reduced by acetaminophen
• decreased fetal movement

The

recommends treating pregnant people with flu-like symptoms immediately with antiviral medications. Call your doctor’s office if you have any questions or you’re not sure your symptoms are worrisome.

Takeaway

Getting sick while pregnant can be particularly unpleasant, and you might wonder whether it’s safe to take OTC medications to ease your symptoms. Generally, doctors recommend avoiding medications in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you’re currently taking medication for a condition or it’s after 12 weeks, and you want to take something to reduce cold or flu symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk with a doctor about what’s safe and what you should avoid.

Sore throat during pregnancy

What to do if the mother-to-be gets sick? Consider acceptable methods of treating a sore throat during pregnancy.

The appearance of pain in the throat, perspiration during the period of bearing a baby often causes a lot of unrest in expectant mothers. This is not at all surprising, because any infection suffered by a woman during pregnancy can adversely affect the development of the fetus in the womb. Why do sore throats occur during pregnancy? Consider the most likely reasons.

Causes of sore throat

The main cause of discomfort and sore throat during pregnancy is bacterial or viral flora on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx or exacerbation of existing chronic diseases. Sometimes perspiration can be observed against the background of problems with the stomach, when the contents of the stomach are thrown into the oropharynx. Very rarely, the cause of pain when swallowing can be a foreign body.

If, in addition to sore throat, you also have an elevated body temperature and swelling of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, then most likely that you develop acute inflammatory process. This condition requires a woman to immediately consult a doctor, because many pathogenic microorganisms can freely penetrate the placental barrier, thereby causing developmental abnormalities in the baby. No need to try to treat a sore throat on your own at home, or even worse, ask for recommendations about treatment at the nearest pharmacy. Only the gynecologist leading the pregnancy can prescribe the drug that is most safe for the fetus in the womb, and, if necessary, refer to other specialists.

First aid for sore throat

During pregnancy, it is especially important not to start the disease and to eliminate all its clinical signs at the initial stage. So, if you feel a sore throat, not very pronounced pain when swallowing and discomfort while eating, but the body temperature remains within the normal range, then you can try alternative methods of treatment and local antiseptics.

Excellent help at the initial stage of a sore throat inhalation with the addition of a decoction of sage or chamomile. These medicinal plants have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect and do not cause any side effects on the fetus growing in the womb.

Raspberries, cranberries and lingonberries are natural antibiotics. For sore throats, warm raspberry tea or freshly prepared lingonberry and cranberry juice helps well. Perfectly relieve pain, perspiration and swelling of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, gargling with infusions of medicinal plants (oak bark, chamomile, sage).

In addition to the traditional treatment of sore throats during pregnancy, try to avoid eating too hot or cold food and liquids. Compliance with a certain temperature regime is necessary so as not to additionally injure the inflamed mucous membrane of the pharynx. As a rule, if treatment with folk remedies was started immediately, then the mucous membrane of the pharynx is restored after 2-3 days.

Folk remedies

Milk with honey

For sore throat accompanied by difficulty in swallowing, warm milk with honey is very helpful. It is better to drink such a drink before going to bed and immediately cover yourself with a warm blanket. Until the morning, the pain in the throat will be almost imperceptible. In addition, warm milk with honey has a calming effect on the nervous system and helps the expectant mother fall asleep quickly.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a very effective folk remedy for the first symptoms of pharyngitis, tonsillitis. This plant has strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. To prepare herbal infusion, add 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers to 1 liter of hot water. Put this mixture in a water bath and boil for 15 minutes, then strain and pour into a thermos. Use a warm infusion for gargling. Sage grass and oak bark have similar properties.

Prevention of viral infections during pregnancy

To prevent diseases during pregnancy, it is often recommended to spend time outdoors, eat healthy and healthy, and avoid crowded places. In the apartment, ventilate the room more often, maintain the optimum temperature regime - 22 degrees, air humidity in the room - 70-80%. Daily wet cleaning.

To prevent vitamin C deficiency during pregnancy, you can drink rosehip broth, cranberry fruit drinks. Thus, you not only maintain your immunity, but also strengthen blood vessels.

Essential oils are an excellent way to prevent many viral diseases. Only gynecologists do not recommend the use of aromatherapy in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Oils such as fir, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, grapefruit have a pronounced antiseptic effect. You can add 3-4 drops to a container of water and place near heating appliances or drip into an aroma lamp.

Consequences of a sore throat for an expectant mother

No matter how sad it may sound, in most cases we take our health very lightly. It is especially sad when pregnant women do not monitor their health. After all, they are responsible not only for themselves, but also for the baby growing in the stomach. When the first symptoms of the disease occur, including sore throat, the expectant mother should be aware of the possible consequences if treatment is not started in a timely manner. For example, bacterial throat infections left untreated during pregnancy can lead to threatened miscarriage or premature birth. It is unlikely that a sane expectant mother would risk the life of her baby like that simply because there was no time and desire to see a doctor.

Drug treatment of a sore throat during pregnancy

What to do if local antiseptics are ineffective or the woman has already started an inflammatory process? First of all, you should immediately consult a doctor, and not self-medicate at home. Delay can lead to the progression of the inflammatory process, which can result in severe tonsillitis. With the development of complications of inflammation of the pharynx, with streptococcal infection, antibiotics are often necessary, you should not worry about this, since antibiotics are always prescribed, which are allowed during pregnancy and cannot harm the health of the baby in the womb.

Antiseptics in the form of sprays or lozenges for resorption can reduce sore throat and relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane. They have proven absolute safety for pregnant women and the baby in the womb. What drugs, your gynecologist will advise you.

If white plaque or purulent plugs appear on the tonsils, do not wash the plaque or squeeze out the plugs on your own, you should immediately consult a doctor.

What can I take if I have a high temperature?

Pregnancy is a burden for a woman's body, there is a restructuring of many body systems, first of all, the immune system is suppressed. Due to a decrease in immunity in the future mother, viral infections and colds are often observed. For sore throats, as mentioned above, some medicinal plants, essential oils and antiseptic solutions help well. But what should a pregnant woman do if an increase in body temperature is added to the general symptoms of a viral infection? After all, many drugs can not be taken during the period of bearing a baby, so as not to expose the fetus to unjustified risk. So, consider what to do if the disease progresses.

First of all, if the pain in the throat is accompanied by increased body temperature, put aside all your affairs and call the consultation to call a doctor at home. Now you absolutely do not need to go to the clinic on your own, wait in line for an appointment and put your child at risk.

Drugs such as analgin, ibuprofen, coldrex, antigrippin, acetylsalicylic acid are categorically contraindicated during childbearing, regardless of the duration of pregnancy! Such drugs not only adversely affect the overall development of the fetus, but can also provoke uterine bleeding in the mother and impaired placental circulation.

Paracetamol is a relatively safe drug for reducing fever during pregnancy. It is allowed at any stage of pregnancy, but not more than 2000 mg per day. Paracetamol and its analogues not only reduce body temperature, but also relieve muscle aches, headaches and malaise.

However, it is very important not to bring down the body temperature if the thermometer does not exceed 38 degrees. It is with an increase in body temperature above this mark that the body begins to actively produce interferon, a substance that fights viruses and strengthens the immune system.

A cold compress can be applied to the forehead to help reduce fever. This procedure helps to more easily endure elevated body temperature and relieves headaches a little. For such a compress, a gauze bandage is moistened in cold water, squeezed out and applied to the forehead. As the compress heats up, the gauze is moistened again. Instead of a moistened handkerchief, you can use an ice pack, but first you need to wrap it in several layers of fabric so as not to cause frostbite on the skin.

To reduce elevated body temperature, cold compresses can be applied to the main blood vessels (popliteal arteries, inguinal arteries, elbows).

If the body temperature of a pregnant woman does not exceed 37.5 degrees, it is highly recommended to drink hot linden tea. Linden has a diaphoretic effect and lowers body temperature. The main thing - do not forget about drinking plenty of water, this is 2.0-2.5 liters of fluid per day.

Remember that at the slightest symptoms of illness, it is best to see a doctor right away. After all, any viral infection, even without an increase in body temperature and severe ailments, transferred during pregnancy can end very badly for the woman herself and her baby growing in her stomach.

Make an appointment with a gynecologist

For more details, consult a qualified specialist at the Semeynaya clinic.

To clarify the prices for a gynecologist's appointment or other questions, follow the link below:

Cryotherapy

COLD HEALING

The main postulate of cryotherapy is healing with cold. But our very nature is afraid of low temperatures. Yes, people are afraid of the cold. Indeed, over the course of evolution, we have developed a system of biological protection against frostbite, as one of the strongest threats to life. But let's remember that there are also ancient traditions of cold treatment: bathing in ice water, rubbing with snow, cold dousing, our ancestors knew for sure that who is not afraid of the cold, do not take any ailments . And modern scientists, studying the adaptive capabilities of a person, have proved that when exposed to ultra-low temperatures in the body, the mechanisms of self-regulation and healing are launched.

Our body is able to independently correct many of its failures and establish the smooth operation of the main body systems. Activation of immunity through cold leads to improved well-being and real healing. It is this mechanism of training the immune system that underlies one of the most effective methods of treatment - cryotherapy.

What happens during a cryotherapy session?

During the cryotherapy procedure, the patient for a short time (2-3 minutes ) is immersed up to the shoulders in a cryo pool or cryo cabin ( cryosauna ) in a layer of cooled gas - a mixture of liquid nitrogen vapor and air. During the procedure, only a thin surface layer of the skin, in which thermal receptors are located, is cooled, and the body does not have time to overcool - the patient does not even feel discomfort .

Therapeutic effect is exerted on the entire body, including organs that have not been cooled, but its intensity and duration are directly related to the area of ​​contact between the body and the cooling gas. Since it takes at least 90 seconds to cool the skin surface to a temperature below +2 °C, the treatment time should be from 2 to 3 minutes .

The basis of cryotherapy is the effect of auto-correction, so the negative effect of the procedure is practically excluded .

Cryotherapy (or cold treatment ) is a therapeutic and general health procedure based on short-term contact of the skin surface with cooled to -150 - 180 °C (degrees Celsius) gas .

Cryosauna.

Cryosauna looks like a vertical solarium, simple and reliable in operation. And the session itself goes like this: you go into the bath, where a dry cold mixture of nitrogen and air is supplied. The effect of cold is only on your entire body. After 15 seconds, the temperature in the cabin is set within - 130 degrees. C. There is a short-term extreme cooling of the entire surface of the body without hypothermia of its internal organs. That's why it is impossible to catch a cold in a cryosauna . Feelings you have very comfortable - in the cockpit dry cold mixture, not ice water. And you are in the cockpit for only two or three minutes. During this time, receptors on the surface of the skin give the body an alarm signal, but by that time the procedure is already over: you leave the cabin.

The first effect of cryosauna is an increase in peripheral blood flow. A warm wave sweeps over you from within. And then there is a release of endorphins into the body, which block the pain syndrome. This is very good, as it allows people to get rid of pain for 4-6 hours without painkillers. Thus, neither the liver nor the digestive organs suffer, and most importantly, the immune system is not inhibited. The key difference between cryotherapy and conventional medical pain relief is that during pain blocking, active self-correction processes are carried out by our body. The healing course is 10-15 sessions for 2-3 weeks.

The doctor determines the number of procedures and courses according to indications.

Indications for general cryotherapy:

Rheumatology and vertebroarthrology:

• rheumatism and rheumatoid diseases of soft tissues
• collagenosis, spondylitis
• Bechterew's disease
• arthritis, arthrosis
• osteochondrosis and other pathological changes in the spine (including hernias)
• sciatica
• Shoulder-shoulder periarthritis.
• Pain in the knees. Arthritis, arthrosis of the knee joint.
• Coxarthrosis, arthrosis of large joints.
• Arthritis, arthrosis of the hip joints.

Cosmetology

• General cryotherapy significantly rejuvenates the external aesthetic condition of the skin, leading it to a figurative expression: “Blood with milk”.
• Treatment of cellulite and overweight. Depending on body weight and temperature inside the chamber, the patient loses from 1000 to 3000 kcal during the procedure.
• skin rejuvenation of the entire body surface
• improvement of facial skin metabolic processes, smoothing wrinkles

As a rule, in cosmetology, cryotherapy is used to accelerate the processes of skin rejuvenation, give an aesthetic appearance and increase surface blood flow, which contributes to fat burning. 15 - 20 sessions, every other day or once a day - these are our recommendations for the treatment of cellulite and overweight. Depending on the temperature inside the cryochamber and the patient's body weight, from 1000 to 3000 are burned per session. Practice shows that in some cases the patient can get rid of 7-10 kilograms of weight in just 20-30 sessions, the combination of cryotherapy with a course helps to get the best results. anti-cellulite massage. The required number of courses is determined by the attending physician.

Dermatology

1. Psoriasis. Even 1 course of general cryotherapy out of 25 procedures significantly improves the prognosis of achieving remission in psoriasis.
2. Atopic dermatitis (diffuse neurodermatitis)
3. Complex therapy of seborrhea, acne, rosacea, eczema

In the treatment of psoriasis, three courses are prescribed, 15-25 sessions over a period of 6-8 months. As practice shows, the passage of 1 course of 20 sessions of general cryotherapy significantly improves the prognosis for achieving remission. Cryotherapy also provides excellent results in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. The course involves the passage of 30 sessions. The frequency and regimen is determined by the attending physician. Complex cryotherapy (local and general) for seborrhea, rosacea, acne involves 1 course of treatment, consisting of 15-20 sessions.

Neuropathology, vertebrology:

• Migraine
• Tension headache
• Pain syndromes (muscular, joint, after trauma, etc. )
• Osteochondrosis
• Herniated discs
• Discogenic radiculopathies
• Recovery after diseases of the nervous system
• syndrome xr. Fatigue
• sleep disturbance (insomnia)
• withdrawal symptoms
• asthenic syndrome
• depressive syndrome
• neuroses
• cerebral palsy, RS

Endocrinology:

• obesity
• diabetes mellitus
• diseases of the thyroid gland

Gynecology:

• menstrual disorders
• ovarian dysfunction
• climacteric syndrome
• reproductive dysfunction
• infertility
• pregnancy planning
• PMS
• endometriosis

For these diseases, it is recommended to take 3-5 courses, consisting of 25 sessions each, with breaks of 2-3 months.

Sexology and urology: