Getting a Cold During Pregnancy: What Medicine Can you Take? (Week 32)

I'm sick, and have been for the past few days. I have had the usual cold symptoms: runny nose, sore throat, and a mild headache from sinus pressure. Luckily I have no fever.

So what does one do when she is pregnant and has a cold or the flu? Is there anything that is safe to take to help alleviate symptoms? Although there is some debate as to what medicine is safe to take, and when it is safe to take it, there are some drugs that have not shown any harmful effects to the baby. Nevertheless, always consult with your doctor before taking any medications.

What You Can't Take

• Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil), or any kind of NSAID (non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug) can be harmful to the baby during any stage of pregnancy. Generally, anything labelled as an anti-inflammatory should be avoided.
• ASA (e.g. Aspirin). While shown to be relatively safe during the first trimester, it can cause labour complications and should be avoided later in pregnancy.
• Avoid cold remedies that contain alcohol. 
• Avoid the decongestants pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, which can affect blood flow to the placenta.

What you Can Take

• Acetominophin (e.g. Tylenonl) is perfectly safe to take while pregnant, and will not only offer some pain relief, but also help to bring down a fever.
• Guaifenesin, an expectorant (Hytuss, Mucinex, Naldecon Senior EX, Robitussin)
• Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant (Benylin Adult, Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough, Scot-Tussin DM, Vicks 44 Cough Relief)
• Guaifenesin plus dextromethorphan (Benylin Expectorant, Robitussin DM, Vicks 44E)
• Cough drops
• Vicks VapoRub

All in all, you can rest assured that it is safe to take over-the-counter cold medications on a short-term basis. These drugs, however, should not be used indiscriminately or for extended periods of time. In addition, use should be confined to only those products that are appropriate for the symptoms.


Non-Medicinal Aids

• Rest, and plenty of it
• Water, and plenty of it
• Lots of clear, decaffeinated liquids, such as teas and broths
• Orange juice or other juices with vitamin C
• Taking your prenatal vitamin, which contains vitamin C to boost your immune system and zinc to help fight off germs. And don't forget to get your vitamins and minerals the natural way — by eating food rich in nutrients. You can find vitamin C aplenty in citrus, strawberries, melon, kiwi, mango, papaya, broccoli, red cabbage, tomatoes, bell peppers, spinach, and a host of other delicious foods. Get your zinc from turkey, beef, pork, cooked oysters, yogurt, wheat germ, oatmeal, and eggs.
• Eating fresh garlic — known to have virus-fighting compounds (if you can actually get it down), or using anti-viral spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves in your cooking
• Humidifiers to keep the air around you moist (consider a warm mist humidifier)
• Saltwater gargles to relieve sore throat pain (try one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water to get the fastest relief)
• Steam inhalation or nasal lavage to relieve nasal congestion or sinus headaches (for lavage, dissolve a quarter teaspoon of salt and a tiny pinch of baking soda into eight ounces of lukewarm water, and use a nasal aspirator to irrigate — or clean — out your nasal passages)
• Saline sprays to moisten your nasal passages (but make sure not to use the medicated sprays)