When you're expecting, your immune system runs at a lower speed than usual — which is really a skillful thing, since it keeps your growing baby protected and stops your body from thinking that the fetus is a foreign entity. The downside of this immune suppression, though, is that your body doesn't ward off many of the viruses that crusade the cold, which can make you more vulnerable to symptoms including a stuffy nose, cough and sore throat.

The upside to even the nastiest cold symptoms is knowing your baby isn't experiencing any of them. In fact, the womb'due south environment keeps baby completely sheltered from cold bugs.

As for you, colds are mostly an uncomfortable badgerer all-time managed with remainder, fluids, patience and a quick call to your practitioner to brand certain he or she is aware of all your symptoms, including any fever. If necessary, your dr. can also steer you towards cold medications that are considered prophylactic during pregnancy. Here's what y'all need to know to feel better.

What are the symptoms of a cold during pregnancy?

A cold usually begins with a sore or scratchy throat that lasts for a 24-hour interval or two, followed by the gradual appearance of other symptoms, including:

  • A runny, then later stuffy, nose
  • Sneezing
  • Mild fatigue
  • A dry coughing, particularly near the cold's end, which may continue for a week or more after other symptoms have subsided
  • Low-grade fever (usually nether 100 degrees Fahrenheit)

Surprising Pregnancy Symptoms

What causes colds during pregnancy?

Colds are well-nigh normally caused by a type of virus known as a rhinovirus, which is easily passed from person to person. There are 200 or more cold viruses, which is why may get them ofttimes.

How long does a cold during pregnancy concluding?

Cold symptoms more often than not last 10 to 14 days. And yeah, sad to say, you can get a make new cold just every bit the last one is ending, so if it feels like you always accept the sniffles, you may be right.

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Still, if your symptoms persist past 10 to 14 days, or seem to exist getting progressively worse, let your practitioner know. He or she volition want to make sure your never-catastrophe cold isn't evolving into something more serious, like COVID-19 or the influenza.

Is it a common cold — or the flu?

You lot can commonly tell the difference betwixt a cold and the flu by taking stock of the symptoms:

  • A common cold, even a bad one, is milder than the flu. Its symptoms come up on gradually, and in that location's ordinarily picayune to no fever. The sore throat that normally starts off the common cold goes abroad after a day or ii, leaving the runny olfactory organ and cough as the main symptoms.
  • Flu, aka the influenza, is more severe and comes on more than suddenly than a cold. Symptoms of the flu include a high fever (usually 101 degrees F to 104 degrees F or higher), headache, chills, a sore throat that generally worsens by the 2d or third day (unlike with a cold), oftentimes intense muscle soreness, and general weakness and fatigue, which can concluding a couple of weeks or longer. Yous may besides experience occasional sneezing and a cough that tin become astringent.

COVID-19 symptoms — including fever, cough, chills and fatigue — tin mimic those of the cold and flu. If you're sick with COVID-19 or call up you may have COVID-19, stay home and call your md for next steps.

What tin can you do to experience improve if you go a cold during pregnancy?

Although many of the medications that relieve cold symptoms are typically off-limits during pregnancy, you don't have to endure with a runny nose and hacking cough when you're pregnant. Some of the nigh constructive cold remedies don't come from the pharmacy shelf. Here's how to feel better faster:

  • Rest. Taking a common cold to bed doesn't necessarily shorten its duration, but if your body is begging for some residual, exist sure to mind.
  • Stay active. If you're non running a fever or coughing and you lot feel upward to it, practice some lite to moderate, pregnancy-safe practice, which may actually help yous feel improve faster.
  • Keep eating. Sure, yous probably don't accept much of an appetite, only eating equally good for you a nutrition every bit possible when you do feel up to it can help with some of your cold symptoms.
  • Focus on foods with vitamin C. They tin help boost your immune organisation naturally. Try all types of citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapefruit), strawberries, melon, kiwi, mango, tomatoes, bell peppers, papaya, broccoli, ruby cabbage and spinach.
  • Grub down on more zinc.It may also help heave the immune system; pregnant women should aim to get xi-15 milligrams each day from all sources, including your prenatal vitamin. Fill upwards on turkey, beefiness, pork, cooked oysters, eggs, yogurt, wheat germ and oatmeal.
  • Drink upwards. Fever, sneezes and a runny olfactory organ will crusade your trunk to lose fluids that yous and your baby need. Warm beverages will be particularly soothing, then proceed a thermos of a hot drinkable similar ginger tea or a hot soup similar chicken goop adjacent to your bed. Try to drinkable plenty to stay well hydrated likewise — your urine should be the colour of pale harbinger. H2o and cold juices also work fine, if that'south what you're thirsting for.
  • Supplement safely. Taking your prenatal vitamin, which contains vitamin C and zinc, is smart even when you're fighting a cold. Just don't accept any other supplements beyond your prenatal without your dr.'s approving.
  • Sleep easy. Breathe easier when you're lying down or sleeping by elevating your head with a couple of pillows. Nasal strips, which gently pull your nasal passages open up, making animate easier, may too assist. They're sold over the counter and are completely drug-free.
  • Moisturize your air. If dry out conditions in your home beal your sensitive nasal passages and pharynx, misting the room with a cold or warm air humidifier at night can assistance. Adults can use either kind, but for safety'south sake, don't ever use a warm-air version in a baby's or toddler'south room.
  • Use saline nose drops, sprays or rinses. These assist moisten your nasal passages; since they're un-medicated, they're completely safe to employ equally often as you need. Just avert neti pots, since they're more apt to spread germs.
  • Gargle with saltwater. Gargling with warm salt water (i/four teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of warm water) can ease a scratchy or sore throat, wash away post nasal baste and help control a coughing.
  • Swallow honey. A couple of teaspoons directly — or mixed in hot water with lemon — has been shown to aid suppress the kind of dry cough that often comes with and after a cold at least equally effectively equally an OTC cough syrup.

What can pregnant women take for a cold? Safe medications for colds during pregnancy

Before yous achieve for anything in your medicine cabinet when you're in bed with a cold, achieve for the phone to call your practitioner then you can ask which remedies are considered safe in pregnancy, as well as which will work best in your example.

Be sure to double-bank check whatever prescription or OTC medication or supplement recommended by a different health care provider, such equally a therapist, nutritionist or pharmacist, with your practitioner to make certain information technology's safe. And scout out for multi-tasking meds, like general hurting relievers, which could contain ingredients that aren't cleared for meaning women. Some remedies y'all're used to taking may not be safe during pregnancy.

Then what cold medications are generally considered rubber during pregnancy? Here's a listing:

  • Acetaminophen: If you lot're running a fever or suffering from nasty trunk aches or headaches, it's generally considered condom to have products containing acetaminophen (like Tylenol) over the brusk-term.
  • Cough medications: Expectorants (like Mucinex), cough suppressants (such every bit Robitussin or Vicks Formula 44), vapor rubs (similar Vicks Vapo Rub) likewise every bit most cough drops are considered safe during pregnancy, but inquire your practitioner nigh dosing.
  • Some nasal sprays:Most steroid-containing nasal sprays are fine to use during pregnancy, merely cheque with your dr. about brands and dosing. Manifestly saline drops and sprays are always safe to take when you're expecting and tin assistance clear and moisturize a stuffy olfactory organ.
  • Some antihistamines: Benadryl and Claritin often get the light-green light during pregnancy, but be certain to check with your practitioner before taking them. Some doctors volition advise staying away from those medications in the first trimester.

Always cheque with your practitioner before you take any medication — prescription, over the counter or homeopathic. And don't put off calling the doctor or refuse to take a medication he or she prescribes because you recall all drugs are harmful in pregnancy. Many are not. But do be certain the prescribing doctor knows you're expecting.

COVID-xix symptoms — including fever, cough, chills and fatigue — can mimic those of the cold and flu. If you're sick with COVID-xix or recall you may have COVID-xix, stay home and call your doctor for next steps.

Medications to avoid during pregnancy

Some of the medications that could assistance with common cold symptoms are off-limits to moms-to-be considering they may complicate pregnancy and crusade damage to their unborn baby, although further research needs to exist done. Don't panic if you happened to inadvertently take one of these medications. It's probably fine, but merely let your doctor know. Off-limit meds include:

  • Some hurting relievers and fever reducers. Studies suggest an clan betwixt analgesics such equally aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), especially during the 3rd trimester, and pregnancy complications, including depression nascence weight and preterm commitment.
  • Virtually decongestants. Almost practitioners say to stay articulate of decongestants such every bit Claritin-D, Sudafed or DayQuil. Fifty-fifty those experts who say it's okay to have some decongestants will probably caution that they're just safe to use after the offset trimester, and only in a limited amount (for example, once or twice daily for no more than a mean solar day or two).
  • Some nasal sprays. Steer clear of non-steroidal nasal decongestant sprays containing oxymetazoline (like Afrin) unless given the greenish light past your practitioner. Many will tell you lot to avert these sprays completely while you're expecting, while others will advise only limited apply (one or ii days at a fourth dimension) after the showtime trimester.
  • Alternative or homeopathic remedies. Don't take echinacea, supplemental vitamins similar zinc supplements or other over-the-counter herbal remedies without medical approval.

How to preclude a common cold during pregnancy

As well avoiding anyone who is visibly sick, wash your hands with soap and water a little more often — and scrupulously — than you did before. Don't simply wash and milk shake; use a towel to make sure your hands are completely dry when you're done. In a pinch, carry an alcohol gel with lx percent alcohol on the characterization for quick sanitizing on the get.

But don't blame yourself if yous all the same come downwardly with a common cold — or several — during your pregnancy, despite your all-time efforts. Viruses are almost impossible to avoid, peculiarly in the wintertime. There are many joys of being pregnant, simply alas, beingness even more vulnerable to nasty cold bugs isn't 1 of them. And just remember: This, too, shall pass.

When to see a medico

Telephone call your doctor if:

  • You have a fever over 101 degrees F
  • Your cold is severe enough to interfere with eating or sleeping
  • You lot're cough upwards green or xanthous fungus
  • You lot have a cough with breast pain or wheezing
  • Your sinuses are throbbing
  • If symptoms last more than than 10 to 14 days; it'south possible that your cold has progressed to a secondary infection, and a prescription medication may be needed for your safety and your infant's