With the onset of pregnancy, this is how the female body is physiologically structured, the immune system is suppressed, in simple words – the immune system is suppressed. This is necessary so that the mother’s body does not perceive the fertilized egg (zygote, embryo) as a foreign organism. In essence, an embryo is an object consisting of a foreign protein.

With the onset of pregnancy and during its course, the risk of developing a cold in the form of influenza, ARVI or acute respiratory infections increases. Therefore, expectant mothers are not recommended to visit busy places and use public transport.

• Cold on
• Runny nose - as a sign of pregnancy
• How does a cold affect the fetus?
• Cold symptoms in pregnant women
• Flu during pregnancy
• How to treat a cold? What is possible and what is not?
• Medicines to treat colds in pregnant women
• What can you do to lower the temperature?
  • Paracetamol
  • Analgin
• Recommendations for the treatment of colds during pregnancy (ARVI, influenza)

Colds as a sign of pregnancy

A cold during pregnancy may be the very first symptom of an “interesting situation.” Immediately after conception, the concentration of two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, increases sharply. In the early stages of pregnancy, this causes a moderate increase in temperature, its fluctuations from normal to subfebrile (37.5 ° C) - chills.

A woman may not suspect that she is pregnant, but hormonal changes are already making themselves felt. Along with elevated temperature, from the first days of pregnancy the following appear:

• body aches;
• general weakness;
• drowsiness and fatigue;
• lethargy and weakness;
• runny nose (rhinitis).

These “cold” symptoms can also occur against a background of normal temperature, even before a missed period, under the influence of a “hormonal surge.” In the early stages, a cold may turn out to be pregnancy.

In any case, you need to remember that a temperature up to 38° C does not require radical treatment; it cannot be brought down with paracetamol or any other antipyretic drugs.

Runny nose during pregnancy

Something as simple as a runny nose can be a manifestation of various diseases, not necessarily colds. For example:

• ARVI;
• rhinosinusitis;
• allergic rhinitis;
• vasomotor rhinitis;
• rhinitis of pregnant women;
• 3rd trimester – general edema syndrome.

In the third trimester, the body prepares for childbirth. In this case, swelling of the nasal mucosa and congestion are manifestations of edematous syndrome.

“Hormonal rhinitis” or runny nose during pregnancy can accompany a woman for the entire 280 days - until childbirth. And it does not require treatment. Allergic rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis (in pregnant women it has more pronounced manifestations than before conception) against the background of a rise in temperature to 37.2 - 37.5 ° C can be perceived by a woman as symptoms of a cold, but in fact they are not such.

Colds in early pregnancy may not be a symptom of the disease. Therefore, differential diagnosis should be carried out by a doctor and you cannot treat yourself; it is undesirable to take antipyretic drugs. The doctor will focus not only on complaints of a stuffy nose and fever, but also on test results and local manifestations.

Acute respiratory viral infections during pregnancy have similar symptoms, but the infectious damaging agent (virus) can be any of this large group: respiratory syncytial infection, parainfluenza, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, reoviruses, influenza viruses and others.

How does a cold affect the fetus during pregnancy?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to answer this question, it depends on:

• the woman's health status before pregnancy;
• from the period when the woman fell ill with a cold (the 1st trimester of pregnancy is the most unfavorable, susceptible and most delicate);
• the presence of aggravating somatic diseases.

There is no doubt that the fetus suffers from the mother's colds during pregnancy:

• he experiences oxygen starvation (hypoxia);
• the risk of birth defects cannot be excluded;
• a cold may be complicated by the threat of miscarriage;
• Secondary infections may occur.

Cold symptoms during pregnancy

A true cold during pregnancy manifests itself in the same way as in a “pre-pregnant” body. Among the symptoms of ARVI during pregnancy:

• runny nose;
• acute sore throat;
• sneeze;
• headaches and pain in the eyeballs;
• weakness, weakness, dizziness;
• joint and muscle pain, body aches;
• loose stools;
• temperature increase;
• enlarged lymph nodes.

Flu during pregnancy

Flu during pregnancy, unlike rhinovirus, adenovirus infection has more pronounced symptoms of intoxication (high fever, muscle pain, aching joints, severe fatigue). They prevail over catarrhal phenomena. Influenza is characterized by an acute onset against a background of complete well-being. A pregnant woman can clearly answer the question of when she got sick, down to the minute.

Influenza is dangerous due to the development of severe forms of the disease and the addition of a bacterial infection. Therefore, treatment of influenza in pregnant women must occur in a hospital.

How to treat a cold during pregnancy?

The first place in treatment is compliance with the regime: you need to get enough sleep, limit physical activity, be very attentive to yourself and changes in your condition. Because during illness there should not be any factors that require additional effort. All symptoms of intoxication during ARVI are relieved by drinking plenty of fluids. A cold during pregnancy with a temperature of more than 38.5° C requires the use of antipyretics.

In such a condition, when the nose is so blocked that breathing is difficult and the pregnant woman cannot sleep because of this, nasal decognestants (vasoconstrictor drugs) are prescribed. In most cases, they are safe, but if taken occasionally: no more than 3-4 times during the day in a short course. During pregnancy, due to increased blood circulation, more of the drug enters the bloodstream than in a non-pregnant body and systemic manifestations can be observed - increased blood pressure, vasospasms. Vascular spasm of the placenta leads to impaired blood supply to the fetus and hypoxia, increasing the baby’s heart rate.

Cold medicines during pregnancy

Practice shows that during pregnancy, women often prescribe treatment with antiviral drugs. But it has been proven that they “work” only for the flu. For other acute respiratory viral infections, they do not have an evidence base and their use is, at best, useless.

Effect of drugs for ARVI during pregnancy:

• Viferon suppositories for colds are prescribed quite often, but they are ineffective. This is a group of interferons, an analogue of Viferon - Biferon. It can be used as an adjuvant for the treatment of ARVI during pregnancy, but not as the main one.
• , since it is not reliably known how they affect the fetus. There is very little research in this area.
• The use of herbs and dietary supplements is highly discouraged. The generally accepted principle here is that what has not been thoroughly studied should not be applied.
• Vitamins are drugs that help the body fight disease. They are needed. But if antiviral drugs and other medications have already been prescribed, it is better to postpone taking them until the main treatment is completed. Several drugs in the blood plasma can interact and have different effects than expected.
• Previously, it was believed that vitamin C helped to recover and shorten the time of illness. Studies have been conducted that have proven that globally vitamin C does not affect the course of ARVI. For prevention, this biologically active vitamin should not be taken either. For this purpose, a larger dosage is used - 1 gram. At this high concentration, the vitamin crosses the placenta and could theoretically have an effect on the baby. What this impact will be has not been studied.
• Antibiotics - antimicrobial drugs - are not prescribed at the onset of colds (influenza and ARVI), since they do not act on the virus. Treatment with antibiotics at the onset of a viral infection does not prevent the development of subsequent bacterial infections. If a bacterial infection develops while taking antibiotics, you will have to change the tablets to another group of drugs. World organisms develop resistance - they become insensitive to the drug. Therefore, treatment with any antibiotics is prescribed only by a doctor based on the presence of a bacterial infection.

How to reduce high fever during pregnancy?

High temperature during pregnancy is one of the most unfavorable factors affecting the fetus. Experiments on animals have shown that high temperature in the 1st trimester can cause birth defects. The damaging effects of temperature begin when the temperature rises by more than 1.5 degrees and persists for at least 8 hours.

Paracetamol

In order to reduce the temperature during pregnancy, you can take medications that are suitable for your baby and you should not wait for it to decrease on its own.

At the beginning of pregnancy, the temperature may be 37.2 - 37.5 ° C - this is normal and does not require treatment. But if the temperature is 38.5° C, this temperature must be lowered.

The safest and most studied drug from the group of antipyretic drugs is paracetamol. It can be taken for pain of any location (head, throat,). However, like all medications, it has side effects. That is, there may be an adverse effect on the mother and, in high concentrations, on the fetus. Paracetamol is hepatotoxic - it can affect the liver. During pregnancy, for colds, you can use the drug in a dose of up to 2 grams, in extreme cases - up to 4. In the 3rd trimester, paracetamol is recommended to be taken in a dose of no more than 1 gram and in monotherapy (not in combination with other drugs, such as caffeine, vasoconstrictors).

Analgin

Side effects of analgin are very rare, despite this they are very significant: agranulocytosis, the risk of developing nephroblastoma (Williams tumor) and leukemia in a child increases. During pregnancy, metamizole (analgin) should not be taken if you have a cold; its use in the 3rd trimester is especially dangerous. The use of analgin is associated with the development of agranulocytosis in a newborn. Combination preparations of metamizole sodium should also not be taken.

Agranulocytosis is a sharp decrease in the blood of leukocytes and monocytes; the child’s body immediately becomes accessible to bacterial and fungal infections, since there are no cells in the blood that can resist diseases.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of colds in pregnant women in the 3rd trimester

Diclofenac, ketanal, ketarol, ibuprofen - according to indications and with the permission of a doctor, can be used in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. In the third trimester, only paracetamol is allowed for use again.

Risks for the baby when taking NSAIDs in the 3rd trimester:

• Premature closure of the ductus arteriosus, which leads to pulmonary hypertension. It is very difficult to treat.
• The use of NSAIDs can delay the date of birth and initiate post-term pregnancy.
• Increased blood loss during childbirth, as the mother's blood clotting function decreases.
• Formation of diaphragmatic hernias.
• Intrauterine growth retardation.
• Reducing the amount of amniotic fluid.
• When taking NSAIDs immediately before birth - at the end of the term - there is a higher risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn.
• Cerebrovascular hemorrhages in a child

The drug of choice for reducing fever during a cold during pregnancy is paracetamol. You should not take Analgin and its combinations with other active ingredients. Avoid for treatment in the 3rd trimester of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory diseases (after). It is not advisable to take any painkillers or antipyretic drugs before and without.

Preventing colds during pregnancy

With the help of preventive measures, you can prevent colds (flu and ARVI). During pregnancy, it is very undesirable to attend public events: theaters, exhibitions, concerts, especially during the period of colds (autumn, winter). Public transport should be avoided. These simple steps are also recommended for use when planning pregnancy, when spouses are trying to get pregnant.

It is necessary to treat yourself with great caution and observe those around you during a flu epidemic in order to notice and isolate yourself in time, or immediately exclude contact with a sick family member.

If someone is sick at home, and it is not possible to send the sick person to relatives, for example, a husband or child, it is necessary to “move” the patient into a separate room, provide separate utensils and regularly ventilate the rooms. If the house has a portable UV lamp for home use, be sure to “quartz” the premises.

If there are children of preschool age, then it is advisable to interrupt the child’s attendance at kindergarten, developmental classes, etc. Children at this age get sick often, they come into contact with peers, exchange microflora and get sick. The baby can get over the disease easily, but for a pregnant mother the infection can be quite serious.

A gauze bandage practically does not help a healthy person from getting sick. But if there is no other choice, it can and should be used, but it must be changed every 2 hours, washed and ironed. If there is a family member in the house who has a cold, everyone, healthy and sick, needs to wear masks.

During an epidemic, it is not advisable to visit a doctor at the antenatal clinic. If you have the opportunity to agree with your doctor for a certain time, do it. This will reduce your risk of contracting the flu while waiting in line. By order, pregnant women are received on certain days, when only healthy pregnant women come to the appointment (as in a children's clinic - healthy child day). This could be any day designated by the administration of the residential complex.

If a pregnant woman accidentally comes into contact with a sick person - on the street, in an elevator, then when she comes home she needs to wash her hands with soap, rinse her nose with saline solution, and gargle. This way you will reduce your risk of getting sick. The virus, getting on the mucous membrane, simply remains on the surface for some time and then penetrates the cells. If you wash your mucous membranes when you get home, your chances of developing colds are reduced. You can gargle with saline solution or chamomile decoction. Do not use soda for rinsing, it dries out the mucous membranes. It can be used when there is plaque on the tonsils and needs to be loosened. It is not advisable to add iodine. It will penetrate in high concentrations into the blood through the mucous membrane, and is dangerous for the fetus.

Before going outside, you can apply Oxaline ointment and Viferon ointment to the mucous membrane; it will not have an antiviral effect, but will become a mechanical barrier to the penetration of the virus. When you return home, you need to rinse your nose again.

To strengthen the immune system, a pregnant woman can take vitamin D in consultation with the doctor. You can compensate for its deficiency with the help of fatty fish and eggs.

What to do if a pregnant woman gets sick with ARVI or influenza?

If cold symptoms appear in the 1st-3rd trimesters of pregnancy, stay home and stay in bed. Be sure to contact a doctor from the antenatal clinic or a paramedic by phone and get a consultation over the phone. Do not take self-medication without your doctor's permission. The maximum you can do on your own is plenty of hot drink in the form of homemade chicken broth, tea with fresh or frozen raspberries or currants (not to be confused with jam, which after cooking has a minimum of nutrients). You can drink warm milk with honey if you are not allergic to bee products.

The liquid that enters the general bloodstream when drinking tea reduces overall intoxication and the effect on the fetus by increasing. Phytomictures - tinctures of chamomile, ginseng, licorice are extremely harmful to the fetus, as they are prepared with alcohol.

Folk remedies for treating colds during pregnancy

Healers recommend using a natural immunomodulator – horseradish – in the acute period. The root is grated on a fine grater, mixed in a 1:1 ratio with sugar, and left for 12 hours in the refrigerator. Take 1 teaspoon per hour.

Chicken broth made from homemade chicken with the addition of dill, pepper, and a lot of onions has a miraculous effect: it reduces cold symptoms and affects cellular immunity. The product gives strength, provides a feeling of comfort and satisfaction, increases the outflow of mucus from the nasopharynx and bronchi, stimulates the restoration of damaged cells, and restores the function of the ciliated epithelium of the nasopharynx. Broth made from concentrates does not have these effects.

An excellent antimicrobial agent. The root is crushed, 2 teaspoons are poured with boiling water and left for 10-20 minutes. You can add a slice to the drink.

Has bactericidal properties. It contains phytoncides that have an antiviral effect and vitamins. You can eat it or inhale its aroma.

Cold, rain, temperature changes and strong winds contribute to the active spread of infection among people, so you can get colds at any time of the year. What to do if a woman catches a cold during pregnancy? How to recover without harming your unborn child.

For most, the greatest concern remains the situation when a woman has a cold during pregnancy and what to do to improve the condition without harming the fetus. During the most important period of life for every girl, there is a danger of getting sick; this is due to a weakened immune system, which is not able to resist even the smallest viruses.

If a woman catches a cold during pregnancy, it is necessary to take all measures aimed at recovery with extreme caution and not allow the use of drugs that she used to save herself earlier.

Symptoms if a pregnant woman has a cold

• Runny nose (may indicate rhinitis, allergic rhinitis or ARVI);
• Painful sensations in the throat;
• Headache, watery eyes;
• Sneezing;
• Stomach upset;
• Body aches, general weakness;
• Increased body temperature, chills;
• Enlarged lymph nodes.

The most dangerous disease is FLU. During this period, similar symptoms appear, however, in a more pronounced form and with the presence of a high temperature (more than 38). It is necessary to fight such a disease in a hospital, forgetting about home treatment.

Treatment for colds during pregnancy

When a pregnant woman has a cold, how to treat it becomes the most difficult problem, since most medications are strictly prohibited for use. And folk remedies can cause no less harm than pills from the pharmacy.

For throat diseases, you can gargle with warm salt water several times a day. You can also dissolve baking soda and infusions of sage, eucalyptus and chamomile. This will not harm the embryo in any way and will help improve the patient’s condition. The only contraindication to these drugs is individual intolerance to the body.

When coughing, inhalation using boiled potatoes in their skins is considered effective. For expectoration, a decoction of coltsfoot, currant leaves, and plantain is suitable. If you have a runny nose, rinsing with saline and iodine solution and diluted aloe juice will help.

If you take pharmaceutical drugs, then Pinosol, Aquamaris and Nazivin are safe. Lubricating the nasal mucosa with oxolinic ointment helps a lot, which will serve as a kind of barrier to infection.

But with elevated temperature, things are much more serious. Linden, raspberry teas or beet and carrot juice are suitable as an antipyretic.

Remember, the first thing to do if a pregnant woman has a cold is to ensure peace and healthy sleep. Also reduce physical activity, eat regularly and properly, and take as many vitamins as possible. If a woman works, it is obligatory to take sick leave and not suffer from illness on her legs, to follow the regime. Do not forget that you need to drink as much fluid as possible, while monitoring the swelling of your legs so as not to overdo it. Feet should be kept warm and, of course, warm teas with lemon.

The solution to this problem should be approached with extreme caution. After all, any wrong decision, inappropriate medicine and the baby’s health are at risk. To prevent this from happening, it is imperative to visit a doctor and follow his recommendations.

Pregnant women with various diseases are strictly prohibited from using a certain group of drugs for treatment. This greatly complicates the treatment process.

Colds during pregnancy: causes and symptoms

Colds in pregnant women most often occur due to the development of viruses in the body. During this period, women’s immunity very often weakens, which makes her body sensitive to the effects of viruses. Very often, illness occurs as a result of communication with a sick person or with those who have recently recovered.

A fairly common cause of colds is hypothermia during the wet season. If a woman experiences stress very often, this leads to her developing. The disease occurs as a result of the development of allergic reactions. With active or passive smoking, the risk of developing a cold increases significantly.

With the development of colds, a female representative initially appears slightly unwell. Some women complain of headaches, fatigue or weakness.

• Sneezing
• Pain or sore throat
• Body Enhancements

If a cold occurs without complications, then its duration is from 2 to 4 days. After this time, a gradual decline in symptoms is observed. During the course of colds, complications due to secondary bacterial infection may occur. In this case, treatment should be carried out in a hospital.

There are a lot of causes and symptoms of colds; in order to avoid their occurrence, a pregnant woman must avoid factors that negatively affect her body.

When the first symptoms of a cold appear, it is imperative to seek help from an obstetrician-gynecologist with whom the woman is registered.

Cough treatment

Cough during pregnancy - safe treatment

If a woman develops symptoms during pregnancy, she needs to seek help from a doctor. During this period, taking medications is prohibited, as they can negatively affect the child’s condition.

In order to soothe and ensure complete discharge of sputum, it is necessary to take warm water. At the same time, a pinch of baking soda and a little butter are added to it. Plantain leaves, coltsfoot, black currant are characterized by the presence of an antitussive effect. That is why, when there is a cough, decoctions of these components are often used.

If the patient has a wet cough, then inhalation must be used to treat it.

To increase the effect of the effects, eucalyptus and tea tree oils are used. It will be enough to add just a few drops of oil to a glass of boiling water. To soften the larynx, decoctions based on plants such as sage, plantain, linden blossom, and chamomile are widely used.

When using all of the above remedies during the period, you can get rid of cough as quickly and effectively as possible.

Treatment for sore throat

When pain in the throat appears, one can judge the appearance of more serious diseases in female representatives than a cold. When the first sensation of pain or sore throat appears, it is produced.

For this purpose, decoctions based on plants such as:

• Chamomile
• Eucalyptus
• Sage
• St. John's wort

To alleviate sore throats and eliminate the possibility of spreading infection, it is necessary to use warm decoctions.

To prepare one of them, you need to take 1 teaspoon of rosehip syrup, which can be purchased at the pharmacy. Add 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed red beet juice and juice from half a lemon to it. The resulting medicine is necessary when the first signs of a sore throat appear.

If you take comprehensive medications for pain in the throat, you can get rid of them in the shortest possible time.

Temperature - what to do

If a female representative does not exceed more than 38 degrees, then taking antipyretic drugs is not recommended. Pregnant women are prohibited from taking most pharmaceutical medications when they have a fever. That is why in most cases folk remedies are used.

To relieve pain and make it easier to tolerate heat, cold ones are most often used. To do this, you need to soak a piece of cloth in water at room temperature and apply it to your forehead.

The most harmless way to lower the temperature is to wipe with vinegar. To do this, you need to dilute it with warm water in half and wipe the entire body of the pregnant woman. If a female representative has a high temperature, then vinegar compresses are applied under the large arteries.

Tea made from linden blossom is quite effective in combating high temperatures.

When it is used, the pores of patients open, which allows them to sweat and get rid of fever. Also, herbal teas based on coltsfoot, oregano, raspberry, etc. are used to combat the disease.

All these remedies give a high effect, which guarantees a decrease in temperature in pregnant women in the shortest possible time.

Vasoconstrictor drops or sprays are most often used for treatment. In this case, the female representative must strictly adhere to the dosage of the drugs. It is necessary to use drugs to treat a runny nose as rarely as possible. This is explained by the fact that the body of women who are in an interesting position very often gets used to the drugs, which negatively affects their health.

With frequent use of vasoconstrictor drugs, they can enter the esophagus and be absorbed into the blood. After this, the drug narrows the blood vessels of the placenta, which leads to disruption of the baby’s blood supply.

In order to eliminate it is necessary to use lightly salted water for. You can prepare it yourself or purchase it at pharmacies. To prepare the solution yourself, you need to use a glass of boiled water in which two grams of salt are diluted. Pharmacy analogues of this product are Salin and.

Useful video - colds during pregnancy.

What you can do for a sore throat during pregnancy: safe medicines and the best recipes

To combat a runny nose, massaging the points located near each nostril is often used. In order to enhance the effectiveness of this method, Eucabal, Zvezdochka, Doctor Mom and other similar drugs are used.

Treatment of a runny nose can be carried out using traditional medicine, the preparation of which is based on raspberries, sage, oregano, apples, beets, carrots, and violets.

All of the above drugs have a high effect in treating the common cold. But before using them, a woman should consult a doctor.

Traditional treatment

Today, there are a huge number of traditional medicines that can be used to treat pregnant women.

• Ginger is most effective in treating colds. Tea is made from it. To do this, you need to take fresh ginger, grate 1/4 cup and pour in 0.8 liters of water. The tea must be boiled for 10 minutes, allowed to brew and consumed with honey and lemon.
• Aloe can also be used for treatment, which is explained by the presence of bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties. During pregnancy, it must be used with extreme caution, as it negatively affects the tone of the uterine muscles.
• The most useful and fastest-acting remedies in the fight against colds are. Especially if they are prepared with eucalyptus. It is an effective expectorant, which helps clear mucus from the nasal passages and lungs, which has a positive effect on the healing process.
• Essential oil is used for inhalation. The procedure is carried out over a container of hot water, into which a few drops of oil are added. You can also use dry eucalyptus. To prepare the medicine, it must be boiled for 10 minutes.
• During pregnancy, colds can be treated with lemon and honey. This is not only a highly effective, but also a tasty way to treat colds. There are a huge number of recipes for preparing medicines based on lemon and honey. The simplest of them is adding lemon and honey to tea made from linden, coltsfoot, chamomile, etc.
• To treat colds in pregnant females, rose hips can be used, which is characterized by the presence of diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and hemostatic properties. With the help of this remedy, not only a full-fledged fight against colds is carried out, but also strengthens the immune system.

Traditional medicine is very strong in the treatment of colds. Despite this, it is prohibited for pregnant women to use it without consulting a doctor.

To avoid colds during this period, it is imperative to adhere to preventive measures. First of all, a pregnant female needs to avoid places where large numbers of people gather.

If an epidemic occurs in autumn or winter, then the pregnant woman must wear a gauze bandage. After going outside it is necessary and. This will prevent the virus from entering the body.

To strengthen the body of a pregnant woman, it is necessary to drink vitamins, natural juices and dietary supplements daily, which are permitted by doctors.

Following all these preventive measures will help pregnant women avoid colds.Treatment of colds in pregnant women is carried out using, which are made on the basis of natural ingredients. Traditional medicine is highly effective in this case.

The course of colds during pregnancy manifests itself in the form of cough, runny nose, sneezing, congestion, sore throat, malaise, headaches, and possibly elevated body temperature. Like everyone else, the exception is that a pregnant woman’s immunity is initially weakened. Therefore, the manifestation of all symptoms will most likely be more pronounced.

Expectant mothers are interested in whether colds are dangerous during pregnancy, how to protect themselves from colds, how and what to treat, what measures to take for a speedy recovery, what not to do, whether it is possible to take medications and which ones so as not to harm the baby. You will learn the answers to these questions from the material in the article.

Colds are the same as acute respiratory diseases or acute respiratory infections. Often a cold occurs due to a virus; the name of this condition is acute respiratory viral infection or ARVI.

It is dangerous because a cold can cause complications that are dangerous for both mother and baby. The most dangerous are viral infections (ARVI), especially influenza.

Often, a cold during pregnancy manifests itself as if a woman was a carrier of this virus before pregnancy, then the baby will be protected by the mother’s antibodies. If a woman first becomes infected during pregnancy, there may be various consequences.

However, it should be remembered that our body’s capabilities are high, so do not immediately panic. Sometimes even a severe flu can pass without serious consequences. According to statistics, 80% of women suffer from a cold, most at the beginning of pregnancy, and despite this, healthy babies are born.

Danger for baby

The most dangerous cold is considered to be in the first trimester, or more precisely, the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. After all, this is precisely the period when a little person is born and formed from a fertilized egg. If you get sick in the first trimester, the cold will either affect your baby or bypass it. In the first case, a spontaneous miscarriage will most likely occur, since the child may develop developmental defects incompatible with life. If, after a cold, the pregnancy proceeds well, and no pathologies are detected on ultrasound, then there is no need to worry.

In the second trimester of pregnancy, a cold is not so dangerous, although its occurrence can lead to feto-placental insufficiency, which can harm the developing baby due to disruption of the supply of oxygen and nutrients to it...

In the 3rd trimester, a cold can cause fetal growth restriction syndrome, intrauterine fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen, which can cause problems in the baby's brain), and also lead to premature birth.

Danger for the expectant mother

A cold for a pregnant woman can have extremely unpleasant consequences, such as polyhydramnios, the risk of spontaneous miscarriage, as well as premature birth, large blood loss during childbirth, complications of the postpartum period, and rupture of amniotic fluid ahead of schedule.

Cold prevention

It is much easier to follow simple rules to strengthen your immune system than to fight a cold.

In order to avoid catching a cold, preventive measures should be taken aimed at strengthening the immune system of a pregnant woman.

The expectant mother must follow the following recommendations:

• Walk outdoors for at least three hours a day
• Eat properly.
• Take vitamins. Drink vitamin teas, such as rosehip teas (rosehip contains vitamin C to improve the body's immunity)
• Avoid contact with sick people
• Avoid overcooling the body
• Don't get wet in rainy weather
• When visiting public places, you can lubricate the nasal mucosa with oxolinic ointment.
• If someone in your house is sick, you can chop onions and garlic and put them in the room
• It is necessary to ventilate the room daily
• You can use aromatic oils (tea tree, lavender, orange, eucalyptus).
• Rinse the nose and rinse the mouth after visiting public places
• Dress according to the weather

If you do get sick, here are a few recommendations you should follow:

• Reduce your physical activity and try to get enough sleep. During pregnancy, you should not suffer from a cold on your feet!
• You should not take antibiotics, especially Levomycetin and Tetracycline! Antibiotics cannot help with ARVI, since they do not act on viruses. Antibiotics should be considered only in extremely severe cases, with the development of severe complications that cannot be dealt with using traditional methods.
• Drink plenty, preferably tea with lemon, tea with raspberries, milk with honey, infusion of raspberry leaves and twigs. It is necessary to control the volume of fluid taken, as excess fluid can lead to swelling.
• Reduce your salt intake, as salt contributes to swelling and, as a result, increased nasal congestion.
• Reduce the consumption of fatty and heavy foods, as the body spends a lot of effort and energy on their absorption, which is better spent on recovery.

How to treat a cold during pregnancy?

Be sure to consult your doctor. After all, the choice of treatment should be approached very carefully and thoughtfully. After all, colds and flu are not the same thing. You cannot treat the flu on your own; it can lead to serious complications. If your cough does not decrease within a week, you should definitely see a doctor so as not to lead to pneumonia.

Predominantly, treatment of colds during pregnancy should be carried out through the use of folk remedies and methods.

Throat

You need to gargle more often, preferably every hour. Choose the option that suits you best.

• Rinsing with a decoction of chamomile, eucalyptus, calendula, oak bark, sea salt
• Rinse with water with added salt, soda and iodine. For a glass of water: 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of soda, a few drops of iodine.
• Rinse with water and add 1 spoon of propolis alcohol tincture.

Cough

• To soften a cough, you can use warm milk + internal goose fat or warm milk + butter + honey
• Raspberry, honey
• Inhalations with essential oils. Essential oils of eucalyptus, rose hips, chamomile, thyme, sage, and St. John's wort are suitable for such inhalations. Inhalation is carried out as follows: add a few drops of the selected essential oil (you should like the smell) to a pan of boiling water. Next, you should inhale the healing steam, bending over the pan and covering your head with a towel. Immediately after inhalation you should go to bed.
• It is also useful to breathe in the vapor of boiled potatoes in their jackets + 1 tablespoon of chamomile or sage or eucalyptus or black currant leaves.
• Mix honey and water in a ratio of 1:5 at a temperature of 50 degrees. You need to inhale the vapor either through one nostril, then through the other nostril, or through your mouth.

Runny nose

• Inhaling the smell of chopped onions and garlic 2 times a day for 10 minutes
• Using soda-tannin drops. Preparation: Brew 1 teaspoon of tea in a glass of boiling water, evaporate it over low heat for 15 minutes, strain, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Instill this solution into the nose, 1-2 pipettes into each nostril 2-3 times a day, after instillation, immediately blow your nose well.
• When sleeping, take an elevated position to reduce blood flow to the nasal mucosa.
• You can instill phytosolutions from freshly squeezed apple or carrot juice
• Soar your hands under a hot water tap
• Rinse with soda solution, saline solution
• Drip us with aloe juice

Temperature

If the temperature is less than 38.5 degrees, there is no need to bring it down.

• Wet wraps are used. To do this, you need to wrap yourself in a wet sheet made of natural fabric, and cover yourself with warm blankets on top. In this case, heavy sweating occurs and the temperature drops.
• Wiping with vinegar solution with water (2:1), vodka
• Drink more diaphoretic tea, linden infusion
• Drink cranberry juice

Headache

• Apply a leaf of white cabbage to your temples and forehead

Horseradish is an excellent immunostimulant. Horseradish root needs to be grated on a fine grater and mixed with the same amount of sugar, leave the mixture for 12 hours in a warm place, strain. During the acute period of a cold, take 1 tablespoon every hour.

Pregnant women are not allowed to have a cold:

• You can't steam your feet, you can't take a hot bath
• Do not use individual medicinal plants; be sure to read the package insert.
• Immunomodulators, alcohol tinctures, antipyretics, drugs that increase blood pressure and pulse are not allowed.
• You should not take vitamin C tablets, as in larger quantities it thins the blood and this can cause bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy.
• You can't take antibiotics
• Aspirin and drugs containing it (Coldrex, Efferalgan) are not allowed.
• You cannot go to the bathhouse or sauna

However, unfortunately, it is not always possible to do without medications. It is important to weigh every decision, every step, so as not to cause harm.

What medications can you take during pregnancy?

• Paracetamol, preparations containing paracetamol (Panadol) – to reduce fever, to reduce headaches
• Faringosept - to relieve sore throat. It is used if redness and pain in the throat do not go away for a long time. Used to treat stomatitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis.
• Furacilin - for gargling
• Bioparox is a local antibiotic in the form of a throat spray.
• Mucaltin, iodinol - to get rid of cough, if you cannot do without medication.
• Aqua Maris, Pinosol, Grippferon, Aqualor - nasal drops
• Doctor Mom, Gedelix – cough syrup
• Vasoconstrictor drops (Nazivin, Vibrocil, Sanorin, Farmazolin, Naphthyzin) can be used for 2-3 days 1-2 times a day if you cannot breathe at all.

It is better to avoid a cold using preventative measures than to treat it. If you do get sick, you need to properly organize your day, use traditional methods for treatment, and consult a doctor. If you need to take medications, read the instructions carefully and take those medications that are approved during pregnancy.

Have you been sick while in an interesting position? What were you treated with?

There is no more surprising and mysterious mystery of conception and birth of a child. And although science assures that it has studied the entire process of pregnancy and fetal development in detail, the origin of life remains the biggest mystery of the universe. It would seem that the mother’s body is designed to bear and give birth to a new person, but from the very beginning it tries to tear away the embryos from itself, like a foreign body. And the small embryonic embryo has to fight for its life already in the womb.

But it’s good that nature relaxed and allowed the mother’s immune system to not so violently reject the embryo from the very beginning of pregnancy. But it is precisely this relaxation that opens the gates to all kinds of infections, causing the pregnant woman’s body to become very weakened and susceptible to infectious diseases. Throughout the 270 days of pregnancy, a woman becomes a target for aggressive viruses and pathogenic microorganisms. And the most banal cold threatens to turn into considerable problems for her and the unborn child.

Why are colds dangerous during pregnancy? What consequences may pregnant women face? And what treatment for colds is indicated during pregnancy? We will try to answer these questions in this article.

What can a common cold mean for a pregnant woman and her unborn child?

As mentioned above, during pregnancy a woman’s immunity is significantly reduced, and her body is unable to effectively and adequately resist viruses and bacteria, which are the source of many acute respiratory viral infections and acute respiratory infections with possible further complications. All doctors agree that colds and flu during pregnancy are incompatible conditions. Colds pose a threat to the health and life of the unborn child, not to mention the fact that a woman has a much harder time enduring the most common manifestations of a cold.

And no matter how pregnant women try to protect themselves from diseases and take care of themselves so as not to catch a cold, 80% of expectant mothers still suffer from ARVI. And most often, women manage to catch a cold precisely at the beginning of pregnancy, when the influence of pathogenic microorganisms on the developing fetus is quite large and dangerous. Colds during early pregnancy are very common. But at this moment the main organs and systems of the future person are laid down and begin to develop.

But first, let's look at the main complications that can arise in the mother and fetus. So, due to ARVI, the expectant mother may experience:

• large blood loss during childbirth;
• inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system;
• premature rupture of amniotic fluid;
• complications of the postpartum period;
• chronic infections.

With a cold, the fetus can be seriously damaged, so the following are often diagnosed:

• intrauterine infection;
• fetal hypoxia;
• severe fetal malformations;
• fetal growth retardation syndrome;
• fetoplacental insufficiency;
• fetal death.

This list alone is terrifying, so it is very important to prevent colds during pregnancy by all possible methods and means. And most importantly, avoid the slightest cooling of the body and contact with the sick and those with colds. And if you had to catch ARVI, then every expectant mother should know in advance how to treat a cold during pregnancy so as not to panic and act as quickly, efficiently and prudently as possible.

>>We recommend: if you are interested in effective methods of getting rid of chronic runny nose, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis and persistent colds, then be sure to check out this site page after reading this article. The information is based on the author’s personal experience and has helped many people, we hope it will help you too. Now let's return to the article.<<

Why is a cold dangerous during pregnancy in the first trimester?

Many people know that the entire pregnancy is conventionally divided into 3 trimesters of 3 months each. This division is not conditional and not subjective. It was given by nature that during each trimester of pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes its own distinctive changes, as well as with the growing and developing fetus.

A cold in the 1st trimester of pregnancy is considered the most dangerous for both the woman and the small embryo or fetus. Therefore, there is no need to even raise the question of whether the disease is dangerous. There is only one answer here - dangerous, and even very dangerous. But colds occur very often in the early stages, out of place, out of time. But what kind of disease occurs in a timely manner?

In the first trimester, a cold is most dangerous not before 12 weeks, but up to 10 weeks, because it is during this period that all the systems and internal organs of the unborn baby are formed in the developing body of the fetus. With a viral or bacterial infection, it is very likely that the disease can negatively affect the process of embryogenesis.

After all, it is during this period that the formation of the nervous system, sensory organs, heart, esophagus, limbs, and so on occurs. By the 9th week, the embryo takes on the shape of a human being and is already called a fetus. It weighs 16 grams and is 7 cm long, its heart is already beating, and bone tissue begins to gradually appear in place of small cartilages, the circulatory system, liver, urinary system, and genitals begin to form.

And now imagine how these terrible viruses strike at this small creature. Yes, it is very difficult for this baby to resist such influence. There is no need to describe what defects and deformities of the fetus can be caused by viral diseases, but believe me, this is extremely dangerous if the disease occurs during early pregnancy. By the way, the greatest danger is the rubella virus, which successfully disguises itself as a common ARVI. Its distinguishing feature is the appearance of a rash. Only it can be so mild that even an experienced doctor cannot suspect rubella.

Treatment of colds in the 1st trimester is very problematic. A woman may not even suspect that life has begun in her womb, so she can uncontrollably use any medications to relieve the symptoms of a cold. But this is where the danger lies! A small fetus is afraid not only of the infection itself, but also of its treatment.

Most medications are contraindicated for use during pregnancy. The remaining part of the drugs requires special care in taking and individual dosage selection, and all this under the supervision of a doctor. Sometimes what’s scary is not the cold itself, or even its complications in the form of bronchitis, sinusitis, otitis media, etc., but the fact that you have to use potent medications. But they cause irreparable harm to the fetus, and the mother, without knowing it, harms her baby.

It is especially scary when a pregnant woman, having caught a cold, contracts such a complex and dangerous complication as pneumonia. Not only is the oxygen supply to the body disrupted, a bacterial infection migrates throughout the body, but one also has to use the strongest antibiotics, hormones, immunomodulators, and enzyme preparations. And much of the therapy is detrimental to the fetus... But we will talk about how to cure a cold during early pregnancy a little later.

The danger of colds during pregnancy in the second trimester does not decrease

The second trimester of pregnancy lasts from 12 to 24 weeks after conception. By this period, the placenta has already formed, which serves not only as a conductor for the supply of nutrition to the unborn child, but also as a kind of shield from all the dangers of the outside world. From the moment the placenta develops, you can breathe a little sigh of relief, because the unborn baby is largely protected. By week 24, the fetus weighs about 900 grams and is 33 cm tall. It can already open its eyes, its hair and eyelashes grow, i.e. the future baby is almost formed.

But even during this relatively prosperous period of pregnancy, women are not recommended to catch a cold. The fact is that a cold in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy can lead to feto-placental insufficiency, which, in turn, can cause serious harm to the developing fetus. When such a pathology occurs, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus is disrupted, and it begins to suffer greatly due to their lack. In this situation, the fetus is unlikely to experience any defects in its development, but hypoxia itself is very dangerous for it.

During the 2nd trimester, a cold can negatively affect the development of the fetal nervous system, which is actively maturing at this moment, as well as the development of the child as a whole. In addition, due to a cold that leads to pheoplacental insufficiency, the child may be born prematurely, with very low weight, with a high degree of dystrophy.

Another thing that is dangerous about a cold in the second trimester is the possibility of causing a miscarriage at 14 weeks and disrupting the development of the endocrine system. During the period of 16-17 weeks, a cold can negatively affect the formation of fetal bone tissue. Due to the fact that at 19-20 weeks the laying of eggs in future girls occurs, intrauterine oogenesis may be disrupted, and this is the path to future infertility of future women.

Sometimes expectant mothers do not think about how to treat themselves during a cold, and begin to use antipyretics and antibiotics, harming their baby. Therefore, we ask expectant mothers to exercise maximum caution and treat colds only with folk remedies.

What are the dangers of a cold during pregnancy in the third trimester?

The third trimester of pregnancy begins from 24 weeks until birth. During this period, the fruit is finally formed, develops and matures. It would seem that nothing can harm the unborn child, who is protected from the outside world by the placenta; no defects or malformations will occur. But it is during this period that the expectant mother needs to be as careful as possible and pay utmost attention to her health, because a cold in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy remains dangerous for the mother and child.

Even the most insignificant signs of a cold should already alert the expectant mother and force her to urgently take all measures to stop the pathological process of development of the disease. Otherwise, any disease can seriously undermine the immunity of a pregnant woman and disrupt the course of the birth process.

Firstly, it is very difficult for a woman in this position to endure the disease itself, coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing. It is already difficult for her to breathe, lie down, walk, and here intra-abdominal pressure also increases during coughing, and possible shortness of breath is also accompanied by nasal congestion. In a word, colds are subjectively very difficult for pregnant women to tolerate in the 3rd trimester.

Secondly, there is a high probability that at birth the child can become infected from the mother, so a cold after 38 weeks of pregnancy poses a serious danger. In any case, a woman will not have time to restore her immunity after suffering an illness, so pregnant women who become ill in the later stages are always hospitalized, and the newborn baby is temporarily isolated from the mother in order to prevent it from becoming infected with cold viruses. This situation is very undesirable, because the child cannot immediately receive colostrum, which is very useful for him, and it will be morally very difficult for the mother not to see her long-awaited child.

Viral colds during late pregnancy complicate the birth process itself. Giving birth with a high body temperature is very difficult and dangerous. Doctors have to resort to using strong cold medicines during the end of pregnancy, which is very undesirable. And although the placenta tries to protect the baby from the transmission of dangerous viruses, he can get sick. Therefore, if you happen to catch a cold late in life, you can’t sit at home; you need to urgently consult a doctor for help, advice and treatment.

Features of the course of colds in pregnant women

In principle, we can say that the course of colds in pregnant women is no different from other situations. The same symptoms - cough, sneezing, malaise, nasal congestion, severe runny nose, fever, sore throat. But the immunity of pregnant women is initially weakened, so the severity of all cold symptoms during pregnancy will be very high, along with a high probability of developing dangerous complications.

Due to the peculiarities of the state of the immune system in pregnant women, the body temperature against the background of ARVI may remain within normal limits, or slightly subfebrile. Cases of colds without fever during pregnancy are very often recorded. To understand why this happens, first let's remember what a temperature reaction is.

This is the body’s response to foreign viruses and bacteria with the production of a special substance – interferon. This antiviral substance stops forming in the body of a pregnant woman at a body temperature above 38.5°C. And with a greatly weakened immune system during pregnancy, a temperature of up to 37°C during a cold is quite common, but the production of interferon does not occur in this situation, which means there is no full fight against viral aggression.

Therefore, at the first signs of a cold, you should immediately begin treatment, but only under the supervision of a doctor.

Treating colds during pregnancy is not an easy task

As mentioned above, during pregnancy, taking many medications is contraindicated because they can cause irreparable harm to the developing unborn child. In this regard, treating pregnant women for colds is not an easy task. And this puzzle has to be solved in a new way every time, because each pregnant woman needs an individual approach.

When choosing medications for colds, you should be guided by the principle - less is better than more, even if some medications are allowed to be taken by a pregnant woman. You need to weigh each step carefully and scrupulously, constantly consult with your doctor, carefully study the instructions for medications and not follow the advice of your friends, because it is very important in this situation not to harm the child.

What medications are contraindicated

If drug therapy is undesirable or contraindicated, then the main emphasis is on folk remedies when treating colds during pregnancy. But if you can’t do without medications, then you need to know which of them are prohibited from taking. It is strictly forbidden to take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, especially Streptomycin, Levomycetin and Tetracycline, immunomodulating drugs, alcohol tinctures that increase blood pressure and pulse rate, as well as many antipyretics.