What Happens if a Pregnant Woman Gets a Cold?

Colds during pregnancy are usually not a cause for concern.

Pregnancy is a time when there is a lot of change happening in a woman’s body. Hormone levels suddenly spike as the body starts preparing itself for hosting a new life. Due to this, pregnant women are susceptible to infections such as colds and the flu.

Most of the colds are self-limiting and do not need extensive interventions. Some women experience a stuffy nose due to hormonal changes, whereas others have a dry cough because of heartburn. These must be distinguished from colds and seasonal allergies.

Contact your doctor in case

• You have a history of asthma or tuberculosis.
• You have breathlessness.
• You have a history of diabetes or hypertension.
• You have been in contact with a person who has a COVID-19 infection.

Having an ordinary cold shouldn't be harmful to the baby or mother. Pregnant women are highly likely to pick up a cold at some time during pregnancy because it's normal to catch two or three colds a year. A healthy lifestyle is a must to keep the immune system strong and to prevent colds. Hygiene is another important aspect for cold prevention. Additionally, make sure that you do not expose yourself to extreme climate because that stresses the body and weakens the body’s defenses.

• Regularly wash hands with soap and water, which is the most common way for the microbes to travel inside a human body.
• Avoid spending too much time near someone who is suffering from a cold.
• Good sleep and a bit of exercise go a long way in keeping the immune system strong.
• Eat healthy and hygienic food and avoid eating out too much.
• Keep your surroundings clean, especially surfaces that you have to touch a lot like doorknobs, keyboards, phones, etc.
• Take your prenatal vitamins as directed.

When looking for a medication to treat a cold during pregnancy, choose wisely. Speak with your doctor before taking any tablets during pregnancy including

• Acetaminophen (pain-relieving medicine)
• Cough syrups with guaifenesin (mucus thinner)
• Chloraseptic spray (can be substituted with a saltwater gargle)
• Loratadine or cetirizine (used to treat allergies)
• Pseudoephedrine is used as a decongestant agent and it should only be taken in the second trimester. It is dangerous if taken in the first three months of pregnancy.

Home remedies may include

• Continuously hydrating yourself by drinking small sips of lukewarm water throughout the day.
• Eating fresh garlic, which is known to have many antiviral properties. You can add some to soup or consume a clove or two.
• Drinking ginger tea, which is a hot and pugnacious drink that will help clear up your throat.
• Drinking a turmeric latte (boiling turmeric in hot milk) is a good way to soothe the throat. Additionally, warm milk and turmeric is an age-old Indian solution that encourages good rest, which is important to fight cold symptoms.
• Using unmedicated saline sprays, nose drops and rinses can also help hydrate the nasal passages.
• Using a saltwater gargle is good for a sore throat.
• Taking honey is a good remedy for dry cough because it can be mixed with lemon and administered.
• Drinking flaxseed water with a bit of lemon and honey alleviates cough and cold symptoms.
• Drinking carrot juice is rich in vitamins and a good dietary supplement that helps fight cold viruses.
• Having a humidifier is a useful thing to have around because it helps moisten your nasal passages.