Every year in autumn, it’s that time again: the cough and cold season is upon us once more. Unfortunately, some women are more affected by colds in pregnancy than they were before. Also, not all of the treatments to treat the unpleasant symptoms are available to pregnant women. Find out here what you can do to prevent a cold in pregnancy and what the options are for treating the symptoms.
The most important question that many pregnant women worry about is: Is my baby ill too if I am? If you are unwell as a pregnant woman, you will be worried that it could harm your baby in your womb. However, a cold is generally harmless and the risk of harm coming to your baby is extremely small. Your baby is well-protected in the womb against the common cold.
Some expecting mothers find that they are getting lots of colds. This is because the immune system adjusts itself during pregnancy. A baby is growing inside the pregnant woman’s body – a baby that also has the father’s genes. A normally functioning immune system would defend against the foreign genetic material. But it is prevented from doing so during pregnancy. This is because the immune system is focused on protecting the unborn baby. That, in turn, makes pregnant women much more susceptible to colds.
Especially in the last trimester, the baby is taking up a lot of space and presses against the lungs and other organs. This is why many pregnant women find they are short of breath during this phase of pregnancy. A cold can make this worse and so can be especially unpleasant. This calls for a fast remedy or, ideally, preventative measures.
Normally, colds are spread by droplets and aerosols we breathe out. This is why it is best not to spend too long in the same room as someone who has obvious symptoms of a cold. However, this is not always an option. But you should at least try to keep sufficient distance.
You can also boost your immune system with a balanced diet and sufficient moderate exercise in the fresh air. You should also ensure that you air your home regularly in the winter. This is because central heating dries out the mucous membranes in our airways and so makes them especially susceptible to pathogens.
Many people forget that our mucous membranes have their own self-clearing mechanism that forms the first line of defence in the fight against colds (known as mucociliary clearance). The first line of defence may, for instance, be disrupted by dry central heating. We can, however, support our defence mechanisms by moistening our airways. Regular inhalation therapy with isotonic saline solution is therefore a suitable measure to prevent airway infections1.
Some medications that are otherwise often taken to treat the symptoms of a cold, are not permitted during pregnancy. It is essential that pregnant women therefore consult their doctor before taking any medicines for a cold.
Inhalation with isotonic saline solution moistens the airways and can ease a dry cough. Hypertonic saline solution helps loosen the mucus so it can be coughed up with the pathogens. During pregnancy, you should consult your doctor about any treatments. The inhalation of saline solution is suitable irrespective of the type of pathogen and does not interact with any other medications3.
A normal cold should generally have run its course within seven to ten days. If you have very severe symptoms that persist and especially if you have a very high fever (> 39°C), you should always see your doctor. Here the mantra is it is better to see your doctor once too often and to err on the side of caution. Because unlike a cold, a genuine flu or a bacterial infection in pregnancy should not be taken lightly.
A normal cold during pregnancy is not generally dangerous for your unborn child. The symptoms are, however, unpleasant, as many pregnant women suffer from shortness of breath anyway in the last trimester. Unfortunately, many pregnant women catch colds more often than before they were pregnant. Inhaling saline solution can be used preventatively to soothe the airways and to treat a cold in pregnancy. Ideally, discuss this with your doctor.
References
[1] https://www.lungenaerzte-im-netz.de/news-archiv/meldung/article/einfaches-inhalieren-kann-die-ansteckungsgefahr-mit-coronaviren-deutlich-senken/
[2] Müller D et al Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 Sep;273(9):2591-7.
[3] https://www.lungenaerzte-im-netz.de/news-archiv/meldung/article/einfaches-inhalieren-kann-troepfcheninfektion-effektiv-eindaemmern/
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