Cough medicines during pregnancy
During pregnancy, fetal organs are formed, and it is important for the expectant mother to take care of her health. The fewer chemical components that enter the bloodstream through the placental barrier, the better it is for the baby.
Table of contents:
- Cough medicines during pregnancy
- Safe herbs for coughs during pregnancy
- Forbidden herbs
- Traditional medicines for cough during pregnancy
- Medicines for dry, wet, severe cough - list
- Treatment of wet cough - list of drugs
- Treatment of dry cough - list of medications
- Additional permitted funds
- Cough medications by trimester
- Treatment of cough in the 1st trimester
- How to treat cough in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester
- How to treat cough in the 3rd trimester
- Why is coughing dangerous during pregnancy?
- Preventive measures
- Treatment of cough in pregnant women with folk remedies
- The dangers of coughing during pregnancy
- Why are traditional methods of struggle better than medicines?
- Best Recipes
- Decoctions and tinctures
- Compresses
- Gargling
- Inhalations
- How to treat cough during pregnancy
- General information
- Why is coughing dangerous?
- Treatment of cough during pregnancy
- How to treat cough during pregnancy in the 1st trimester
- Treatment of dry cough during pregnancy
- How to treat a wet cough
- How to cure a severe cough during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester?
- For dry cough
- If the cough is wet
- Physiotherapy – treatment at home and in medical institutions
- Inhalations
- Gargling
- Traditional methods for treating cough during pregnancy
- Products with honey
- External use
- Application internally
- Onion garlic
- Milk
- Prohibited cough medicines during pregnancy
- Synthetic products
- Folk remedies for cough during pregnancy
- How to prevent coughing in expectant mothers
- conclusions
- Cough tablets during pregnancy: the difficulty of choosing
- Features of choosing cough tablets during pregnancy
- What drugs are allowed
- In 1st trimester
- In the 2nd trimester
- In the 3rd trimester
- Special instructions for certain drugs
- What pills are strictly prohibited?
If you are unable to protect yourself from colds, it is important to know harmless and effective cough medicines during pregnancy. Symptoms such as runny nose and cough are secondary; it is more important to treat the cold itself and strengthen the immune system.
Pregnant women pay more attention to health and this is understandable, because every expectant mother worries about the normal intrauterine development of the fetus. The cough, with comprehensive treatment, goes away quickly. Weakness, fever and difficulty breathing are manifestations of various diseases (asthma, tuberculosis). If complex diagnoses are not confirmed, mild cough medications are prescribed, mostly without antibiotics.
It is important to see a doctor throughout the entire pregnancy, and at the first signs of illness, take tests and undergo an examination. While waiting for a child, chronic diseases become more pronounced, infections and viruses worsen.
It is more difficult for pregnant women to treat seasonal colds and allergies accompanied by cough. The list of approved medications during pregnancy is narrowing; you cannot take the usual herbs, tablets and multivitamins uncontrollably. They can harm the fetus in the first trimester.
It is forbidden to self-medicate; it is important to coordinate all pills from your personal first aid kit with your doctor. Find out about all cough medications that are acceptable to take during this period.
Safe herbs for coughs during pregnancy
Cough can be successfully treated with medicinal herbs, but not all. It is important to know the list of permitted herbs and strictly follow the dosage when preparing decoctions. Safe to take:
Taking even the safest cough medicines during pregnancy requires the approval of the supervising physician.
Forbidden herbs
List of medicinal herbs prohibited for use during pregnancy:
1. Eleutherococcus and ginseng increase overall tone, but cause overexcitation;
2. Coltsfoot and comfrey can cause fetal growth retardation;
3. Ginkgo biloba thins the blood, can promote uterine bleeding if there is a tendency;
4. St. John's wort - helps to increase pigmentation on the face, reduces the effectiveness of analgesics and anesthesia (if childbirth is resolved by cesarean section).
Echinacea is used to strengthen the immune system - as a preventive measure, and not as a remedy. You should not use alcoholic herbal tinctures or pharmaceutical cough medicines during pregnancy.
In folk medicine, herbs with abortifacient properties are often used, which relax the uterine muscles and cervix, causing premature birth. Medicinal herbs with weak effects are also unsafe for pregnant women.
Traditional medicines for cough during pregnancy
To treat cough, you can use not only herbs, but also some approved beekeeping products, as well as jam and syrups from healthy fruits and berries:
Medicines for dry, wet, severe cough - list
Often pregnant women buy “harmless” children’s medications as an additional remedy. They contain not only mint and eucalyptus extract, but also some chemical components. You can take tinctures and cough tablets during pregnancy only in accordance with the dosage. Extracts in the form of:
- Chewing marmalade and lozenges;
- Lollipops that dissolve under the tongue;
- Potions and syrups.
Treatment of wet cough - list of drugs
- Chest collection;
- Bromhexine;
- Gerbion;
- Doctor Mom;
- Tussin";
- Flavamed;
- Ambroxol;
- Bronchipred;
- Licorice or marshmallow root syrup.
Purchasing medications through a trusted network of pharmacies does not exclude the purchase of counterfeits and drugs with unproven effectiveness. There are also insufficiently studied cough remedies that affect the fetus. Dietary supplements are classified as auxiliary products and are not a medicine; their effectiveness has not been proven.
Treatment of dry cough - list of medications
- Coldrex;
- Stoptussin;
- Bronchicum;
- Libexin;
- Travisil;
- Falimint.
Warm milk and honey softens a dry cough.
It is important to use all medications under medical supervision. If the cough is severe, in the second half of the term you can ask the pharmacy which cough medicine is safe during pregnancy. This is permissible only as a last resort, when it is not possible to quickly get an appointment with a doctor from remote and rural areas.
Surely, the pregnant woman will be offered a “hot” drug at the pharmacy, but it is important to go to the antenatal clinic and clarify the recommendations. Unknowingly, it is easy to buy analogue drugs, unwittingly doubling the dosage!
Hot baths are not recommended, and steaming your feet is prohibited. Even with a strong dry cough at any stage, it is not advisable to use antibiotics and the following cough medications for pregnant women:
Additional permitted funds
1. Topical antiseptics are used to gargle, especially after visiting places with infected people. Dissolve a few drops of eucalyptus tincture or furatsilin tablet in a glass of warm water and gargle - and that’s enough.
2. Inhalations are the most gentle method for mitigating coughing attacks, especially before bedtime. Breathe in the steam - what could be easier? Steam from potato broth or boiled alkaline mineral water are considered harmless. Drops of eucalyptus and mint are added to hot water; for other ingredients, consult a doctor.
3. Natural expectorants, such as Mucaltin, are considered relatively safe if there is no individual intolerance. It is not recommended for ulcer sufferers and diabetics.
4. Effective cough tablets: Ambroxol, indicated in the 2nd half of pregnancy. It is justified in case of complicated symptoms, with strict adherence to the dosage.
5. Syrups and mixtures are popular remedies; they are used when they don’t know what to take when coughing during pregnancy:
6. Aromatherapy is used if nothing else is at hand, and also as an additional remedy. Heated essential oils will fill the room with fragrance, irrigate the upper respiratory tract, your choice of oil:
7. Herbal preparations – multicomponent herbal mixtures, extracts and tablets based on herbs. Linden and raspberry, ginger and lemon, chamomile and plantain are the most harmless medicinal plants.
8. Antibiotics. Not recommended. They are prescribed by a doctor for bronchitis, ENT diseases and pneumonia, and this is only within his competence.
Cough medications by trimester
Cough is not a disease, but its manifestation. As a rule, it occurs with the following diseases:
If a woman is diagnosed with bronchitis or pneumonia, the attending physician has the right to prescribe antibiotics and strong drugs that relieve attacks. Doctors may suggest bed rest or hospitalization to monitor the patient's condition.
If taking pills is unavoidable, then it is important to know which cough medications during pregnancy are allowed to be taken in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester. Take tablets and liquid medications most carefully in the first 3 months of pregnancy, when the placental barrier is not fully formed and the formation of fetal organs is underway.
Treatment of cough in the 1st trimester
The first months are the most difficult, the body is being rebuilt, immunity is reduced, hormonal levels and blood pressure “jump”, chronic diseases make themselves felt. New sensations appear, pay maximum attention to your health.
In the first trimester the following will be useful:
The list of approved drugs can be found above in the text in the corresponding section.
It is important to treat any infections immediately with cough medications approved during pregnancy. You cannot relieve symptoms of diseases with analgesics and antipyretics. Under stress, a “nervous” cough also occurs. You should not “bring down” the temperature; it is important to undergo thorough treatment, as well as:
- Switch to a healthy diet of natural products as much as possible;
- Eliminate the influence of allergens;
- Do not use synthetic substances, review your first aid kit;
- Take more walks in warm clothes and shoes, improving blood circulation and oxygen supply to tissues;
- Avoid crowded places where infections are possible;
- Exercise moderately, reducing strength loads;
- Strengthen your immune system and register for pregnancy.
Attacks of prolonged coughing during pregnancy in the 1st trimester increase the tone of the uterus, blood supply complicates the nutrition of the embryo and frequent coughing, which provokes fetal hypoxia. The doctor will recommend the main cough medications that pregnant women can take, comparing the test results and the patient’s chronic diseases. Treatment is carried out comprehensively, with gentle medications, avoiding antibiotics and “chemicals”.
How to treat cough in pregnant women in the 2nd trimester
From the 12th to the 24th week, the immune barrier strengthens. Cough medications that enter the bloodstream are retained by the placenta and cause less harm to the embryo. A cold cough is not as harmful as before if there is no threat of miscarriage.
The future baby's skeleton, central and autonomic nervous systems are actively developing, so peace and positive emotions are important. But only the doctor has the right to decide what the expectant mother can take for a cough. Self-medication with tablets and mixtures and drugs containing alcohol is still undesirable. If there is no fever or coughing attacks, then at the pharmacy you can buy herbal medicines, which indicate all contraindications and doses.
During pregnancy, women do not always attend antenatal clinics, but actively use herbal (folk) cough medicines. This is a dangerous mistake. If you have any symptoms, be sure to consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis. Chronic bronchitis and severe pneumonia begin with a slight cough!
How to treat cough in the 3rd trimester
A woman prepares for childbirth, filling her free time with pleasant anticipation and preparing the house for the arrival of the baby. It is important not to get carried away with work, take breaks more often and fully rest, change body position, and not sit too long in one position.
Infections can harm the fetus and the expectant mother; it is important to get tested and examined on time. The placenta “ages” and becomes permeable to certain viruses. What cough medicines to take during pregnancy in the last trimester and before childbirth can only be advised by an observing doctor. Complications are likely - breaking of water, hypoxia, placental abruption.
Why is coughing dangerous during pregnancy?
- Treatment of cough with safe medications during pregnancy should begin immediately at the first symptoms. Severe, prolonged attacks strain the abdominal muscles, which is extremely undesirable.
Severe coughing attacks are dangerous, even if the pregnant woman thinks that everything is fine and she does not attach much importance to them. Conversely, some suspicious patients abuse medications, even knowing about their predisposition to miscarriages.
Preventive measures
- Visiting crowded places during influenza epidemics;
- Long-distance travel and relocations;
- Changes in climate zones;
- Overheating and hypothermia;
- Overstrain and overwork.
Coughing, as a reflex clearing of the respiratory tract from mucous foci of a cold infection, is not so harmful. But, as a concomitant symptom of a virus or cold, provoking spasms of the abdominal muscles, it is undesirable during pregnancy. The fewer chemical components and medications enter the bloodstream, the better for the unborn baby.
I was afraid to use herbs during pregnancy. But the pharmacy recommended Prospan herbal syrup and I was very pleased. It is on ivy, removes mucus well and has no side effects. And safe, because without harmful additives, even infants can take it.
Yes, I agree, during pregnancy you are generally afraid of everything - both eating something wrong and getting sick. If I suddenly cough, you torture the doctor like in the Gestapo: “Is this really going to harm the child?”
And the doctor told me to drink it when I had a cough at the 8th month. I read the composition of Prospan, no alcohol, vegetable base, no dyes. I also read reviews on the Internet, I actually drank it for just a few days and the cough went away. But almost everyone banned me from weed, it affects this and that. In short, I didn't take any risks.
It was right that we did not take risks and listened to the doctor. Pregnancy is a serious matter.
Source: http://4plusa.ru/lekarstva-ot-kashlya-pri-beremennosti
Treatment of cough in pregnant women with folk remedies
A cough in a pregnant woman cannot be ignored. If other people have this difficulty, then for a pregnant woman this is a serious danger. Spasms disrupt the natural course of pregnancy and pose a direct threat to the fetus. And if medications are prohibited, cough medicines for pregnant women are safe, tasty and hypoallergenic.
The dangers of coughing during pregnancy
A cough is traditionally associated with a cold, but pregnant women carefully protect themselves: they take vitamins, dress warmly, and eat right. If it does not go away for up to a week, this may indicate a serious respiratory tract disease or infectious, viral or other ailments of the body. It is worth remembering that coughing during pregnancy is dangerous.
An acute cough is perceived by the body of a pregnant woman much worse than by the body of another person. Its negative impact is immediately noticeable: tension in the abdominal wall and uterus. A prolonged symptom increases the tone of the uterus, which is dangerous for premature birth and loss of the child. A dry cough affects a woman’s blood pressure, a sharp increase in which both suffer. Asphyxia sometimes causes placental abruption prematurely.
Increased uterine tone is dangerous in itself. Because of this, the rhythm of blood flow worsens, and the fetus develops a lack of nutrients and oxygen. The consequence of oxygen starvation in the baby is intrauterine hypoxia.
General consequences of cough in pregnant women:
- vomit;
- dehydration;
- loss of nutrients;
- fatigue;
- weakness;
- discomfort;
- insomnia;
- suffocation;
- pain in the posterior wall of the sternum;
- sharp pain in the larynx.
It does not appear on its own, but the provoking disease is dangerous. The symptom is a manifestation of acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) or acute respiratory disease (ARI). Viral infections, along with a cough, cause a sore throat and nasal congestion, followed by a rise in temperature. Depending on the organ that is affected by the cold, bronchitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, and tracheitis are distinguished. Each of these diseases must be treated comprehensively, otherwise mucus accumulates in the nasopharynx and is carried by air to the lungs, where it causes inflammation and other organs. And if treated incorrectly at home, pneumonia causes coma and death.
The flu appears suddenly and immediately shows high values on the thermometer. The pregnant woman suffers from malaise, dry cough, and headaches. If the temperature is not brought down, convulsions will appear. Untreated flu turns into bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis, as well as more dangerous meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the brain).
In addition, a cough can be a signal from the stomach, thyroid gland or ear. Sometimes it is a response to an allergen (allergic tracheitis, obstructive bronchitis). In some cases, a damaged diaphragm is to blame. Rarely is it the result of a neurotic reaction or problems in the cardiovascular system.
A cough that does not go away for a week should not cause panic. The expectant mother must remain calm, otherwise she will harm the baby with her worries. This is the other side of the disease, but also dangerous. You need to come to terms with the idea that you cannot protect your child from everything and go through pregnancy without a single illness. With proper treatment, the disease, accompanied by a cough, goes away without a trace in pregnant women. In addition, such a symptom is a natural reaction of the body, which helps remove mucus and pus from the bronchi and cleanse the larynx.
There are not enough vitamins if a patient sneezes next to the expectant mother in line to see the doctor. When you get home, you need to drink tea for prevention. You can add lemon and honey to enhance the effect. Folk remedies will help a pregnant woman where medications would only do harm: lower the temperature, eliminate a cough, relieve a headache - the main thing is to choose the right treatment regimen.
Why are traditional methods of struggle better than medicines?
Traditional medicine is the fruit of long work. Ancestors took into account general criteria (gender, age, physique, season), studied human anatomy and physiology. Alternative medicine has developed over centuries and is still practiced in Asia, Africa and South America. Doctors advise forgetting about it and focusing on traditional medicine, but grandmothers throughout the CIS have tested folk remedies and are now passing on the knowledge to a new generation. Such products are devoid of harmful additives, preservatives and synthetics, which abound in pharmacy shelves.
The obvious benefits of traditional medicine attract expectant mothers. Artificial drugs can affect the body in unexpected ways. Common cases: weakened immunity, allergies, poisoning and even addiction. Taking medications causes new diseases. But folk remedies have been tested for generations and selected from medicinal plants for treatment and prevention, without negative consequences. With their help, you can boost your immunity and improve your well-being.
The advantage of traditional medicine is accessibility. Not everyone can afford expensive but safe syrup, but every home has honey, and buying medicinal herbs is even easier. Hundreds of traditional methods of treatment are affordable and no less effective than medications. In addition, traditional medicine provides different ways of influencing the body, so if the expectant mother does not like inhalation, she will choose rinsing or brewing healing tea.
It is worth acting as soon as the first symptoms appear (fever and weakness). A cough can indicate a cold or signal serious problems. Therefore, you need to immediately consult a doctor. He makes a diagnosis: a cold, a sore throat (a cough rarely appears with it), tonsillitis, or something more serious. Traditional methods can be used only after confirmation of the diagnosis by an experienced specialist. You cannot wait a day when it comes to the health of a pregnant woman. When using traditional methods, it is better to choose those that have been personally tested, because the period of bearing a child is not suitable for experiments. All actions should be discussed with a therapist.
It is important to find a way to alleviate the disease. Humidifying the bedroom, airing it, and resting will help. Drinking plenty of fluids will bring down the temperature and prevent intoxication and dehydration. However, it is better to drink water, because teas (especially with raspberries) cause severe sweating. You need to drink three glasses of water and only one glass of tea. You should periodically clean and moisturize your nasal passages. If you don't want to eat, then you shouldn't. You can reduce portions, but food will not help improve immunity. Losing weight during illness is natural.
Mustard plasters, poultices, cupping, and foot steaming are contraindicated for pregnant women. You should not consume a lot of antiviral ingredients containing vitamin C. Pregnant women are prohibited from hot baths, Jacuzzis and saunas. Physiotherapy, electrotherapy, radiation exposure and UHF therapy are excluded.
The following additives cannot be used in the procedures:
The advantage of traditional methods is guaranteed natural ingredients, because synthetic drugs are contraindicated for pregnant women. The 1st trimester is especially dangerous in this regard, because during this period the child’s brain and heart are formed. Folk remedies exclude chemistry and synthetics, but require care. Uncontrolled use of folk methods of treatment has a negative impact on the woman and the fetus. Not all herbs, oils and vegetables used in traditional medicine are safe for children. Some components are aggressive for the baby in the early stages.
During a normal pregnancy in the 2nd trimester, when the placenta has formed around the baby, you can safely perform those procedures that are prohibited in the first three months. You can get rid of a cough using the remedies that are recommended for infants. These are rinses, decoctions and infusions. Inhalations are indicated for the expectant mother if she has overcome bronchitis.
Coughing in the 3rd trimester is dangerous due to the tone of the uterus. During this period, doctors advise to quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptom. Many folk remedies for treating cough in pregnant women are safe, but you should still consult a physician.
Best Recipes
Before deciding what pregnant women can take for a cough, you need to establish the requirements for each procedure offered by traditional medicine. First of all, you need to remember that the treatment regimens for dry and wet cough are different. When choosing a remedy, you need to take into account the duration of pregnancy, the woman’s medical history and the condition of the fetus.
First of all, a pregnant woman needs to relieve the symptom. As stated, the spasms themselves can harm the baby. Acute cough responds well to herbal treatment. The best effect is possible if the herbs act directly on the throat. For this, various traditional methods of treatment are used. The most reliable cough treatment regimen is combined, when different procedures are performed alternately. This technique will help quickly eliminate the cause of the disease, which is very important during the 3rd trimester.
Rinsing should only be done after meals. They will help calm irritation and relieve pain. The optimal number of procedures per day is 6-8 times. Infusions should be dosed correctly and not overused, even if they feel tasty and safe. If you are predisposed to allergies, it is better to check the list of safe ingredients with your therapist. Even ordinary honey can cause a sharp allergic reaction in a pregnant woman, who has always eaten it with pleasure.
Pregnant women should not do inhalations at very high temperatures, but optimal ones will help quickly remove mucus and eliminate nasal congestion. It is recommended to buy a special inhaler, although you can also perform the procedure using a kettle or saucepan. The whole procedure takes 10 minutes, no more. At this time you need to do 3-6 approaches. After inhalation, it is not recommended to talk or eat for another half hour.
Not only herbs, vegetables, dairy products and honey help in this fight, but also aromatic oils. A few drops are enough to get the desired effect. To alleviate the painful condition, you can place an aroma lamp in the bedroom. Even a scented handkerchief is enough. Eucalyptus, sage and tea tree are recommended for these purposes.
Decoctions and tinctures
Regular milk helps with cough in pregnant women. A budget option, but a good expectorant: boil a tablespoon of sage herb in 0.5 liters of milk. You need to infuse the product for 4 hours, wrapped in a warm cloth. You should drink the decoction once, before going to bed. Dosage – one tablespoon. Sage is very effective in eliminating wet coughs.
A more expensive recipe includes figs: boil the milk, but add 4-5 figs. The finished liquid will turn brown. You can dilute the taste with honey (two tablespoons is enough). The decoction should be drunk 100 ml three times a day.
For a good night's sleep, you can prepare a soothing drink with milk. Honey, warm milk, butter and a grain of soda are enough to get a good night's sleep.
Perhaps the most popular remedy for coughs is honey. Pregnant women are recommended to use a mixture of honey (2 tbsp) and 500 g of finely grated onion. The drug is taken three times a day, between meals. Nut lovers can make a remedy with honey and hazelnuts. You will need 3 tbsp. l. chopped nuts and 3 tbsp. l. honey Take a teaspoon three times a day. A strong folk medicine is made from horseradish. You can cure a cough with 2 liters. l. horseradish juice and 4 tbsp. l. honey The product is indicated for pregnant women once a day, half a teaspoon diluted with water, after 18:00. They also make an infusion of radish: 200 g of root and 100 g of honey, three times a day in the amount of 2 tbsp. l.
Expectorant decoctions and infusions for pregnant women:
- Rosehip, chamomile, plantain, primrose in equal parts pour 400 g of boiling water, cook in a water bath for minutes, leave for 30 without a lid, strain. Drink 80 g several times.
- Thyme, flax, anise in equal parts pour 200 g of boiled water (cold), leave for 2 hours, boil slowly, judge, strain. Drink 80 g three times.
- Marshmallow root (1 tbsp) pour 250 g of cold water, leave for 8-10 hours, strain. It is advisable to leave the drink overnight. Take 80 g three times.
- Brew 2 tsp. clover per 2 liters of water. Leave for 15 minutes. Drink 125 g. You can add honey.
- Leaves and flowers coltsfoot (3 tablespoons) pour 500 g of boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes, wrap in a warm cloth, strain. Drink 80 g. An effective remedy for bronchitis and pneumonia.
A decoction of several components will help to quickly eliminate a cough. You will need 2 tbsp. l. sage root and coltsfoot herb, add 1 tbsp. l. oregano and pour 250 g of boiling water. The mixture should be infused for 30 minutes. After cooling, you need to drink 6 times a day in 100 ml portions and the cold will disappear.
You can prepare a delicious cough infusion for pregnant women. In 400 g of water, 4 tbsp. l. raspberries, raisins, hawthorn, rose hips and dried apples are added. The infusion is prepared in a water bath for 20-30 minutes. Leave for another 30 minutes. It should be strained before use. It is permissible to drink the delicious infusion several times, adding a little honey.
Another healing compote: ½ cup of viburnum berries and 400 g of boiling water. The infusion should be boiled for 10 minutes. Take 100 g with honey several times a day.
Compresses
Gargling
Gargling does not have an expectorant effect, but moisturizes the mucous membrane and complements the cold treatment complex. Gargling is not a medicinal method at its core, even for sore throats, but during illness the mucous membrane dries out and hurts more severely. That's why rinses are prescribed, in which water plays the main role. The traditional medicinal complex for such diseases includes the herbs calendula, coltsfoot, chamomile, sage and plantain. Other additives include baking soda, salt, and apple cider vinegar.
Recipes for cough rinse:
- half a teaspoon of soda per 250 g of boiling water;
- 10 g of chamomile flowers, linden flowers or plantain leaves per 250 g of boiling water;
- for 1 tbsp. l. take eucalyptus leaves, calendula and sage, add 200 g of water, heat in a water bath;
- at the station l. take raspberry leaves, mint, pine buds, chamomile, coltsfoot, clover, fireweed, marshmallow root, pour 200 g of boiling water, heat in a water bath, leave in a warm place for 2 hours, strain.
Separately, it is worth mentioning propolis. It is effective for sore throats, but enhances the therapeutic effect of cough suppressants. Propolis is recommended as a preventive measure.
Inhalations
Inhalations are good for curing dry cough and runny nose. There are natural and artificial inhalations. The first occurs when a woman walks in the mountains, near the sea or in the forest. Artificial ones are made at home using medicinal herbs.
For dry cough, linden blossom, thyme, plantain, chamomile, and sage are suitable. It is allowed to do combined inhalations or try herbs separately. For wet coughs, inhalation with eucalyptus, string, yarrow, coltsfoot, and wild rosemary helps. A popular remedy is recommended - inhalation over boiled potatoes. Honey inhalations (1 part honey to 5 water) improve expectoration and at the same time treat nasal diseases.
Soda inhalations are done at a rate of 2-3 s. l. for 1 liter of boiling water. Cough soda in the form of inhalation is hypoallergenic and helps relieve cramps.
Recipes for inhalation cough solution in pregnant women:
- 20 g of sage herb per 250 g of boiling water;
- 10 g eucalyptus leaves, 10 g chopped garlic, 1 liter of boiling water;
- 3 drops of pine needle extract, 2 tsp. l. eucalyptus leaves, 1 tsp. chopped garlic, 1 tablet of validol;
- 50 g baking soda, 1 liter of boiling water;
- 10 g honey, 250 g warm water.
You can buy essential oils for the procedure. Which combination of aromatic oils to choose for cough inhalation:
- 1 drop of fir, 3 drops of bergamot, eucalyptus and lavender;
- 3 drops tea tree, 1 drop geranium;
- 2 drops of myrrh and anise, 3 drops of frankincense;
- 2 drops tea tree, ginger and rosemary, 1 drop peppermint.
To summarize, we can say that cough in pregnant women is a serious problem. This is a threat primarily to the child, because coughing spasms increase the tone of the uterus and increase the risk of miscarriage. Folk remedies for coughs for pregnant women are varied. Each expectant mother chooses according to her taste so that the healing process is effective and enjoyable.
Source: http://kasheld.ru/pri-beremennosti/narodnye-sredstva-ot-kashlya-pri-beremennosti
How to treat cough during pregnancy
December 20, 2017
General information
If a person coughs a lot, this symptom significantly worsens his life. During pregnancy, coughing causes the expectant mother great discomfort. Since immunity significantly weakens during pregnancy, a woman can catch a cold at any stage. Sometimes even short contact with a patient or slight hypothermia can trigger a cold or ARVI.
However, if we talk about the dangers of coughing during pregnancy, it should be noted that it is only a symptom of the disease, and can be evidence of a variety of ailments. This is a reflex reaction aimed at clearing the airways from bronchial secretions. Consequently, it is not the symptom itself that requires treatment, but the disease that provoked it. Sometimes a person coughs due to an allergic reaction to external irritants.
Pregnancy and cough - this combination can be a problem, because during the period of bearing a baby, especially in the early stages, a woman should not take effective expectorants or cough suppressants. By the way, most herbal remedies should not be taken during pregnancy. Therefore, those expectant mothers who prefer folk remedies when coughing so as not to harm the child also often risk harming the baby. After all, such drugs also have side effects.
Children's cough syrup should not be used either. Despite the fact that such medications seem safe at first glance, because they are given to children under 3 years of age, in fact, the drug approved for children can negatively affect the fetus.
Therefore, in order to protect the health of mother and baby, medications allowed for pregnant women should be prescribed by a doctor, as well as the regimen for taking them.
Why is coughing dangerous?
In most cases, cough is a sign of a bacterial or viral respiratory disease. Therefore, in the absence of proper treatment, the disease can gradually become chronic, and complications are also likely to develop. In such conditions, the likelihood of miscarriage, premature birth, and intrauterine infection increases. The risk of developmental defects in the baby also increases.
In addition, immediately at the moment when the expectant mother coughs, the tone of her uterus increases. And this condition threatens miscarriage and fetal hypoxia.
If the expectant mother has low placentation or placenta previa, then due to strong muscle tension during coughing, bleeding from the uterus may begin.
And with toxicosis, coughing attacks can significantly increase the severity of nausea and aggravate the condition.
Treatment of cough during pregnancy
We will discuss below what you can drink when you cough in order to quickly cure the disease that caused it.
How to treat cough during pregnancy in the 1st trimester
The most important period in the process of fetal formation is the first months after conception. It is at this time that all systems and organs of the unborn child are actively formed. Accordingly, then there is a high risk of developing severe pathologies and fetal malformations, which can be caused by prohibited drugs. Of course, at this time it is better not to get sick at all, so the expectant mother needs to be very conscious about her health. But if a woman still gets sick, she can only take medications approved by her doctor. Only a doctor can tell you how to treat a cough during pregnancy, after conducting all the necessary research and making a diagnosis.
If the question arises about how to treat cough in the 1st trimester during pregnancy, the doctor will recommend the most gentle treatment methods that are safe for the woman and baby.
However, during this period all medications are only relatively safe. Sometimes a woman, without thinking about how to treat her throat during pregnancy in the 1st trimester, sucks lozenges. But even they contain active ingredients, the effect of which can negatively affect the fetus. Cough lozenges sold in stores contain extracts of eucalyptus, mint, as well as preservatives and flavorings that are not at all beneficial for the baby.
During the first trimester, it is acceptable to use some medications, as can be found in the table below.
Treatment of dry cough during pregnancy
- Русский
- Syrup based on marshmallow root,
- Mukaltin.
- Broncho-gran,
- Pulsatilla,
- Stodal.
- Bifidophilus Flora Force,
- Pregnacare,
- Mamavit.
- Gedelix,
- Lollipops Doctor Mom,
- Bronchicum.
How to treat a wet cough
- Русский
- Dr. Theiss
- Broncho-gran,
- Stodal,
- Pulsatilla.
- Bifidophilus Flora Force,
- Pregnacare,
- Mamavit.
How to cure a severe cough during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester?
The second and 3rd trimester is the time when all systems and organs of the fetus are finally formed and mature. During this period, the child is actively preparing for birth and life after it. Therefore, in both the second and third trimesters, it is better not to take large amounts of medications.
However, if we talk about what can be used in the 2nd trimester if you need to get rid of a cough or treat a throat, then it should be noted that during this period the restrictions are no longer so strict. If necessary, the doctor may advise that pregnant women can also take some synthetic drugs for cough.
The tables indicate how to cure a cough in the 3rd trimester and in the second.
For dry cough
- Русский
- Syrup based on marshmallow root,
- Mukaltin.
- Broncho-gran,
- Pulsatilla,
- Stodal.
- Bifidophilus Flora Force,
- Pregnacare,
- Mamavit.
- Gedelix,
- Bronchicum,
- Overslept.
- Akodin,
- Stoptussin,
- Bromhexine,
- Libexin.
If the cough is wet
- Русский
- Dr. Theiss
- Stodal,
- Broncho-gran,
- Pulsatilla.
- Pregnacare,
- Mamavit,
- Bifidophilus Flora Force.
- Bronchicum,
- Bronchipret,
- Overslept.
However, only the attending physician can correctly determine how to treat a dry cough during pregnancy or what to take if you have a sore throat.
Physiotherapy – treatment at home and in medical institutions
The safest way to treat cough while carrying a baby is physical therapy, since it is a non-drug method. This method is most effective for dry cough.
However, some methods still cannot be used.
Should not be used:
- radiation treatment;
- banks;
- mustard plasters;
- foot baths;
- electrotherapy;
- hot baths.
However, expectant mothers should not once again visit medical institutions where a lot of patients are concentrated. Moreover, a number of physiotherapy procedures can be successfully carried out at home. Almost every forum where treatment problems for pregnant women are discussed contains advice on how to carry out inhalations or how to treat a throat with gargles.
Inhalations
- body temperature should not be elevated;
- the solution for inhalation should have a temperature of 30 to 40 degrees;
- the duration of inhalation is about 10 minutes, such “sessions” need to be carried out 3-6 times a day;
- After the session you need to not talk or eat anything for about half an hour.
The following mixtures can be used as solutions for inhalation:
- Dilute 50 g of baking soda in one liter of boiling water, then cool the mixture slightly.
- Dilute 10 g of honey in one glass of warm water. Whether honey can be used during pregnancy in any medicinal product depends on whether the woman has had allergic reactions to this product.
- Dissolve 10 g of pre-chopped garlic and eucalyptus leaves in one liter of boiling water. After this, you need to cool the mixture a little.
- Dilute 20 g of sage in one glass of boiling water and cool slightly.
Gargling
If a pregnant woman has a sore throat or just a sore throat, gargling is an excellent treatment method in this case.
You need to prepare this product before you start rinsing. When the liquid becomes homogeneous, it should be cooled. You need to gargle up to 8 times a day; one glass of the prepared solution is enough for one gargle. Rinse after meals.
Expectant mothers can use the following rinsing solutions:
- An infusion of 10 g of chamomile flowers poured into one glass of boiling water.
- A solution of half a teaspoon of baking soda in one glass of warm water.
- An infusion of 10 g of plantain leaves poured into a glass of boiling water.
- An infusion of 10 g of linden leaves poured into a glass of boiling water.
Traditional methods for treating cough during pregnancy
You can learn about what you can drink for a cough during pregnancy from numerous traditional medicine recipes. However, even when talking about traditional methods of treating an expectant mother, you need to know that you should consult a doctor about what you can take.
In addition, it is important not only to know what to drink, but also to clearly monitor how the body perceives this or that treatment method. After all, sometimes even a seemingly ordinary radish with honey can cause undesirable effects if an allergic response develops.
Products with honey
Honey products can be used both externally and internally, provided that the woman is not allergic to bee products. After all, honey is a strong allergen, and if any negative effects occur, its use should be stopped.
The use of honey internally helps dry cough gradually become productive. However, you can also use products with honey when it is wet. This treatment will help speed up the process of clearing the bronchi from mucus.
External use
- Русский
- You can rub the chest area with honey - this procedure is carried out in the morning and evening.
- At night, you can put compresses on your chest using warmed honey. The compress is covered with cling film.
Application internally
- Русский
- Three times a day before meals you need to slowly dissolve 1 tsp. honey, slightly warmed.
- Honey can be added to tea and other drinks - 1 teaspoon per glass of liquid.
- You can prepare a remedy from honey and black radish juice (1:2), which you drink three times a day, 2 tbsp. l.
Onion garlic
These are very strong natural antiseptics, the phytoncides of which effectively destroy bacteria and viruses. Therefore, both onions and garlic can simply be cut and placed indoors to ensure air disinfection. If you put several cut cloves of garlic and onion on plates, you get the so-called indirect inhalation.
You can also use onion and garlic juice separately. To get juice, you need to chop onion or garlic and mix with 1 tbsp. l. honey After half an hour, strain the released juice and take 1 tsp several times a day.
As for whether pregnant women can eat garlic, there are different opinions. After all, some experts claim that it can increase the tone of the uterus and also cause allergic manifestations. But still, most doctors agree that it can be consumed in very small quantities.
Milk
You can soothe a throat that is inflamed due to illness with warm milk. It will also help cope with coughing attacks and calm the nerves.
Milk should be drunk in small sips, it should be warm.
- If you mix it with alkaline still mineral water (1:1), then this mixture will promote the separation of phlegm.
- You can boil milk with sage (1 tablespoon of herb per 200 g of milk). Drink 1 tbsp before bed. l.
- A drink made from milk and figs helps with colds. To prepare it, four dried figs are boiled in half a liter of milk until it turns brown. Drink 100 g of this product warm three times a day.
Prohibited cough medicines during pregnancy
It is important to know not only what medications the expectant mother can take, but also which drugs have been proven to have a negative effect on the fetus.
Synthetic products
The following medications should not be used:
Folk remedies for cough during pregnancy
You cannot take folk remedies based on the following plants:
- Folk remedies with comfrey and coltsfoot: these plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are carcinogenic and can cause mutations during development.
- Products containing ginseng, eleutherococcus, and echinacea, since they increase blood pressure and cause allergic reactions. If tablets or medicine contain such drugs, you must inform your doctor about this.
- Medicines with ginkgo biloba - they impair blood clotting and can cause uterine bleeding.
- Medicines with St. John's wort: reduce the effectiveness of painkillers and can worsen the effect of anesthesia during cesarean section.
How to prevent coughing in expectant mothers
Every woman expecting a child is responsible not only for her own health, but also for the condition of the unborn baby throughout the entire nine months. It is very important to try not to get sick at this time and to prevent the development of those unpleasant symptoms that can negatively affect the condition of the fetus. How cough affects the fetus has already been discussed above. To avoid negative effects, you need to take maximum care of yourself during pregnancy:
- Avoid contact with people with colds and stay as little as possible in places where there are many people at the same time. The latter is especially relevant during periods of epidemic colds.
- If there is a need to visit any public place, you need to lubricate the nasal mucosa with Vaseline or oxolinic ointment, and try to keep your mouth closed. After returning home, you should wash your hands very well, rinse your nose and rinse your mouth with saline or boiled water.
- The room in which a woman stays needs to be ventilated as often as possible and wet cleaned.
- Daily walks in the fresh air are very important - they should be long.
- It is necessary to prevent hypothermia and overheating, and not to change the climate sharply.
As soon as the first signs of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor. You can practice inhalations, traditional methods or suck lollipops only if the woman is sure that she is developing a cold.
conclusions
Thus, every expectant mother should take care of her health and try by all means to prevent illness. If the cold still prevails, you should definitely consult a doctor about whether pregnant women can take any cough tablets during pregnancy. Even those cough tablets for pregnant women or cough syrup during pregnancy, which, according to the instructions, can be used by expectant mothers, it is better not to drink without a doctor’s prescription. By the way, if, after treating a cold, thrush begins to bother you, you should not take medications like Flucostat. You should also consult a doctor with such symptoms.
If you have a strong cough, you should not follow advice on forums about what kind of cough syrup you can use during pregnancy. And even pharmacists’ recommendations on which cough syrup to choose for pregnant women should not become a guide to action. Only safe means described above and prevention methods will not harm the health of mother and baby. All other drugs can be taken only under the supervision of a doctor.
Education: Graduated from Rivne State Basic Medical College with a degree in Pharmacy. Graduated from Vinnitsa State Medical University named after. M.I. Pirogov and internship at his base.
Work experience: From 2003 to 2013 – worked as a pharmacist and manager of a pharmacy kiosk. She was awarded diplomas and decorations for many years of conscientious work. Articles on medical topics were published in local publications (newspapers) and on various Internet portals.
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Source: http://medside.ru/chem-lechit-kashel-pri-beremennosti
Cough tablets during pregnancy: the difficulty of choosing
Cough is one of the symptoms of a respiratory viral infection. During pregnancy, colds are more severe because the immune system is weakened and cannot fully resist viruses. Cough tablets during pregnancy are chosen taking into account their safety, reliability and lack of side effects. Women who are expecting a child are faced with the question of the possibility of using certain antitussives. Let's try to understand the question of what cough tablets and mixtures are available during pregnancy.
Features of choosing cough tablets during pregnancy
When choosing a medicine to treat a pregnant woman, you should be guided by the following principles:
- Safety. Medicines must be equally harmless to mother and fetus. They should not be embryotoxic or have teratogenic or fetotoxic effects. In addition, medications should not increase the tone of the uterus, so as not to provoke premature birth or termination of pregnancy. Also excluded are drugs that exhibit cardio-, hepato- and nephrotoxicity. The instructions for cough drops should indicate that they are safe for use during pregnancy.
- Efficiency. The number of drugs that can be used by expectant mothers is limited. This confuses the doctor when prescribing treatment - it is necessary to choose 1-2 remedies that are most suitable in this case. Therefore, cough medicine should be as effective as possible.
- No side effects. Cough tablets should not cause adverse reactions such as bronchospasm, provoke allergic reactions, affect hormonal levels or cause contractions of the smooth muscles of the uterus.
- Inability to penetrate the blood-placental barrier. That is, the active substance should not enter the bloodstream of the fetus through the placenta, so as not to have a negative effect on it.
Treatment of acute respiratory viral infection begins with choosing a drug that best fits the description given above.
What drugs are allowed
Let's look at which cough tablets are allowed during pregnancy, depending on the trimester.
In 1st trimester
In the first trimester of pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in the woman's body. During this period, the main organs of the embryo are formed, so it is important that the drug chosen for treatment does not have an embryotoxic effect.
Allowed cough tablets in the first trimester:
- Mukaltin. Has an expectorant effect. It is safe at any stage of pregnancy because it is of plant origin. Increases mucus secretion. Due to this, sputum discharge improves, so the drug can be prescribed for dry cough. In addition, Mucaltin has an anti-inflammatory effect. Improves mucociliary clearance and accelerates the passage of sputum through the respiratory tract, thereby improving coughing. The only contraindication to taking Mucaltin is individual intolerance. Read more about the use of Mucaltin during pregnancy →
- Cough tablets Dr. Theiss with sage extract and vitamin C. Due to the essential oils of sage, which has an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect, sputum thins and its viscosity decreases. The presence of vitamin C additionally stimulates antiviral immunity. Contraindications for use are individual sensitivity and diabetes. The instructions for Dr. Theiss cough lozenges contain no contraindications for use during pregnancy.
- Sinupret is a homeopathic drug. The composition includes several medicines that exhibit a complex effect - gentian root, primrose flowers with calyxes, sorrel herb, elderberry flowers and verbena herb. Together they exhibit secretolytic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects. Herbal extracts suppress the proliferation of viruses, including influenza, parainfluenza and other respiratory pathogens. While taking the drug, sputum becomes more liquid and its discharge improves. Like other cough remedies, Sinupret tablets, although safe for pregnant women, require a doctor's prescription.
Taking any other drugs that are not included in this list is possible after consultation with a specialist.
In the 2nd trimester
During this period, the list of approved drugs is expanding. Many medications that could not be used in the 1st trimester are allowed in the 2nd.
List of approved medications:
- Ambroxol. Shows mucolytic effect. Stimulates the synthesis of surfactant and regulates bronchopulmonary secretion. Due to this, the mucus becomes less thick, which facilitates its better removal during coughing. The drug is well tolerated and approved for use in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Available in the form of tablets and syrup. Prescribed 1 tablet/tablespoon 3 times a day.
- Fluditek. Mucolytic and mucoregulating drug. Regulates the ratio of sialomucin and fucomucin, which helps normalize the viscosity of sputum for its better discharge. Approved for use in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
- Bromhexine belongs to the group of mucolytics. Increases the volume of sputum, makes it less viscous and improves coughing. Bromhexine is a precursor to the active form of Ambroxol. Therefore, the indications and contraindications for its use are identical.
In the 3rd trimester
The list of cough tablets in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is wider. The tablets should not have a fetotoxic effect and cause uterine contractions.
In the 3rd trimester, it is allowed to use any drugs that are indicated in the 1st and 2nd trimester.
Special instructions for certain drugs
Next, we will consider cough medications that are prescribed if the benefit to the mother is higher than the potential risk to the fetus. These medications are prescribed only by the attending physician, after weighing all the pros and cons. They do not have a toxic effect on the fetus or the mother, but the lack of research limits their use.
- Acetylcysteine (ACC) or medications based on it. Prescribed for coughs with mucous sputum that is difficult to clear. Used only as prescribed by a doctor if the benefit to the mother is higher than the potential risk to the fetus.
- Linkas. Complex drug for the treatment of cough. It is not recommended to use during pregnancy due to possible adverse reactions, but may be used as directed by a doctor.
- Mucitus (erdostein). The studies did not reveal any pathological effects on the development of the embryo or fetus, however, it is not recommended to prescribe in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, and from the 2nd trimester - only as prescribed by a doctor.
- Milistan. A combined cough medicine containing ambroxol and acetylcysteine. It is strictly contraindicated in the 1st trimester of pregnancy; in the 2nd or 3rd trimester it can be used strictly as prescribed by a doctor.
- Overslept. Available in the form of effervescent tablets and lozenges. The drug contains dry extract of ivy leaves, which has anti-inflammatory, secretolytic and mucolytic effects. Due to the content of glycosidic saponins, it has an antispasmodic effect on the bronchial tree. There are no contraindications to the use of this drug during pregnancy, but it should be used only as prescribed by a doctor, after weighing the risk/benefit relationship.
What pills are strictly prohibited?
The use of the following drugs is completely contraindicated for use at any stage of pregnancy:
- Tablets based on licorice root. Liquorice (licorice root) is contraindicated at any stage of pregnancy. It changes hormonal levels and increases the amount of estrogen. This can cause miscarriage or premature birth. Any combination cough medicine that contains even a small amount of licorice is also contraindicated.
- Tablets containing anise oil.
- Bronchipret, which contains thyme and ivy extract. Not recommended for use in any trimester of pregnancy due to lack of clinical studies.
- Prospan, made on the basis of liquid ivy extract. It has antispasmodic, antitussive and mucolytic effects. Used for coughs with sputum that is difficult to clear.
- Codeine and drugs based on it. Depresses the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata.
- Erespal or Inspiron. Not recommended for use at any time. However, if pregnancy occurs already during treatment, this is not a reason to terminate it.
- Antitussin. The composition contains thermopsis grass and sodium bicarbonate. It has a good mucolytic effect, but is contraindicated during pregnancy.
- Cough tablets during pregnancy with thermopsis are strictly contraindicated, since pachycarpine contained in the herb causes contraction of the uterine muscles.
Treatment of ARVI and its complications during pregnancy is a difficult task. On the one hand, it is necessary to choose an effective remedy that will help cope with the disease, on the other hand, not to harm the fetus. The drugs should not negatively affect the formation of the embryo, placenta, or growth of fetal organs.
It should be remembered that self-medication can harm the health of the mother and fetus; only an examination by a doctor can prevent the development of complications.
Source: http://mama66.ru/pregn/tabletki-ot-kashlya-pri-beremennosti