Colds are the most common ailments for people of any gender and age. They do not pose a threat to life and are treated for several days. Another thing is if a cold appears in a pregnant woman. The malaise, even occurring in a mild form, negatively affects the fetal development. In addition, during this period, many drugs are not recommended to be used so as not to harm the baby. This article will discuss the treatment of colds during pregnancy and its prevention.
The danger of a cold during pregnancy
Cold viruses are considered acute viral infections (SARS), which affect the upper respiratory tract: nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi. During pregnancy, there is a hormonal restructuring of the female body. A strong weakening is experienced by the immune system. The embryo receives half of the gene information from the father. The fetus and his mother represent two organisms that have different genetics, so throughout the pregnancy there is a struggle between them. Against the background of weak immunity, the likelihood of colds is increasing. Infections can cause the following pathologies in each of the trimesters:
- In the first - they cause the threat of spontaneous miscarriage, the death of the embryo inside the uterus or severe malformations of the fetus.
- In the second - premature birth, minor violations of the development of the embryo.
- In the third - low or high water, placental disorders, delayed formation, infection of the fetus in the womb.
The source of colds is a sick person, personal hygiene items and the pregnant woman herself in connection with increased reproduction of pathogenic microbes in the body against a background of weakened immunity.
Cold in the first trimester
The entire pregnancy period is divided into three trimesters, each of which is three months. Any of them has its own characteristics in the development and growth of the fetus, and the state of the mother. Colds are most dangerous at the very beginning of pregnancy, when the expectant mother sometimes does not know about her interesting situation. During this period, all the internal organs and systems of the future baby are laid, and by the end of the first trimester they are already formed. The treatment of colds during pregnancy in the first trimester creates many problems. Many drugs are completely undesirable, while others should be used with extreme caution. The entire selection of medications should be done by a doctor and it is necessary to take them under his supervision.
Cold treatment in the first 12 weeks
Experiencing even a slight malaise from a cold, you must immediately consult your doctor for advice. It is advisable to limit physical activity and, first of all, start flushing the nasal passages with ready-made physiological or saline solution (using a teaspoon of table salt in a glass of water). This simple procedure will help to mechanically get rid of the virus that has settled in the nasal cavity. For the treatment of colds in the first trimester of pregnancy, they often use:
- For prevention and for treatment. Prescribe antiviral drugs: "Grippferon", "Derinat", "Viferon."
- To remove fever. In this case, it is not recommended to use medications. With a viral infection, the temperature sometimes rises above 38 degrees, you can use rubbing with cool water, to which add a weak solution of vinegar. Provide a plentiful drink, give preference to fruit drinks from lingonberries and cranberries, a decoction of rose hips and infusions of lemon balm and sage. At night, drink warm milk with butter, and in the absence of allergies, add a spoonful of honey or raspberries. In the afternoon, tea with lemon is suitable.
- With a runny nose. Treatment of colds during pregnancy in the first trimester, manifested by nasal congestion, consists in its frequent washing. In addition, the use of "Aqua-lore" and "Aquamaris" will lead to the rapid release of nasal passages from mucus. In case of severe cold and shortness of breath, use “Nazivin” for children.
- During perspiration and sore throat. It is recommended to rinse using decoctions of herbs and soda-saline solution prepared at home (soda and salt per teaspoon per glass of warm boiled water) or a ready-made saline solution. With a sore throat and a slight cough, inhalations with soda, herbal decoctions should be done, breathe over the steam of cooked potatoes. And it is best to use a nebulizer, a special device for inhalation. At elevated body temperature, the procedure is not recommended.
After the treatment of colds in the first trimester of pregnancy and complete recovery, a pregnant woman needs to donate blood for general and biochemical analysis, urine and an ECG. After a ten-day break, repeat urine and blood tests to ensure that the disease has not done any harm to the mother and embryo.
The use of folk remedies for the treatment of colds
During pregnancy, most women prefer to be treated with long-proven means, rather than using medications. In some cases, this is justified, but before using herbs, vegetables, plants and bee products, you should consult your doctor. It must be remembered that these methods do not always bring the desired effect. For the treatment of colds during pregnancy in the first trimester, folk remedies can be used:
- Freshly squeezed juices from carrots, beets, apples and aloe, diluted in equal parts with boiled water. They are buried in the nose to treat a runny nose.
- You can soften the cough with warm milk with soda and butter. In the absence of an allergic reaction, honey is added to warm milk.
- Pain and sore throat are eliminated by rinsing with decoctions of eucalyptus, calendula and chamomile. You can use a solution of sea or salt.
- For inhalation, essential oils of eucalyptus, sage or chamomile are taken.
- Treatment of colds during pregnancy with folk remedies involves drinking plenty of water using a decoction of rosehip berries, green tea with lemon and ginger, dried fruit compotes, infusion of linden blossom, cowberry and cranberry fruit drinks.
- The inhalation of garlic and onion fumes exerts an antiviral effect.
- Elevated body temperature is reduced by a decoction of dried raspberries or herbal tea, which includes in equal amounts: oregano, plantain, coltsfoot. Wiping with a weak vinegar solution helps.
It should be remembered that the same means for treating colds during pregnancy have a different effect, so do not use the advice of friends and acquaintances, but seek the help of a doctor.
Features of the development of the child in the second trimester of pregnancy
This period begins from the 13th week of pregnancy and lasts until the 28th, inclusive. By this time, the formation of the internal organs of the baby ends. He begins to distinguish light from darkness, he hears the sounds uttered by his mother. There comes a time when parents can chat with the baby, sing lullabies, play good music. The fetus spends most of his time in a dream, but during wakefulness he moves a lot, moves his arms and legs, smiles. Starting from the 24th week, there is a development of parts of the brain that affect the development of creativity.
Good health and mood of a mother positively affects the baby. During this period, you should fully eat, consuming a minimum of fats and salty foods. In the diet, it is necessary to increase the number of products containing calcium to form the skeleton of the baby and preserve the teeth and bones of the mother.
Treatment for colds during pregnancy 2 trimesters
During this period of pregnancy, a cold is no longer as dangerous as in the first trimester, but in any case it must be treated thoroughly in order to prevent serious consequences for the development of the fetus. A colds of a mother can provoke a premature birth when the fetus is still small in weight. In addition, at the 20th week, the eggs are being formed in girls, and colds complications can affect the reproductive function of the future woman. With the onset of symptoms of SARS, it is necessary to observe bed rest, refuse to walk, increase fluid intake. These simple steps will help stop the development of the virus and prevent the development of complications. The treatment of colds during pregnancy with the appearance of certain symptoms is carried out as follows:
- Temperature rise. Do not bring the temperature below 38 degrees. If possible, it is better to do without medication. In the worst case, the doctor will advise you to take a certain dose of Paracetamol. With chills and a sharp rise in temperature, sweatshops are recommended, after which you need to hide in a blanket. It is recommended to wipe with alcohol or vinegar. While the liquid evaporates from the dermis, do not dress or wrap yourself in a blanket. A cold compress on the head will also alleviate the condition.
- Runny nose. Watery discharge from the nose, inability to breathe freely, itching and sneezing cause a lot of trouble to mom. But for the baby this phenomenon is extremely dangerous. Oxygen starvation of the fetus leads to serious consequences. During pregnancy, the treatment of colds with folk recipes in the fight against the common cold is necessarily used. Frequent washing of the nose with saline and soda solutions gives a good effect. The nasal passages are also cleaned from the fumes of onions and garlic cut into slices. For washing the nose using solutions of honey, yarrow and beets with water. In addition, nose drops are also prepared from them by dissolving with the same amount of water. The ancient remedy “Zvezdochka” balm can still be used by pregnant women to facilitate breathing. Of the medicines used to treat colds during pregnancy, Pinosol is used.
- Pain and sore throat. Treated with rinse with saline, calendula or chamomile. The pain is relieved by inhalation with violet, plantain and pine buds.
- Cough. To relieve symptoms, make an infusion of apple peel and honey, drink warm milk with butter and soda. Coughing attacks relieve frequent use of warm decoctions of linden, figs, plantain, thyme.
It should be remembered that all treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
The dangers of a cold during third trimester pregnancy
The period of the third trimester begins from the 24th week of pregnancy and continues until delivery. The final formation, development and maturation of the fetus occurs. The child in this period is completely protected by the placenta, but colds of the mother can still have a negative effect on him. Therefore, a woman needs to be very careful about her health. In recent months, with the growth of the fetus, it has become difficult to walk, shortness of breath appears, and coughing, runny nose and sneezing aggravate the situation even more. Before the birth, there is very little time left, and the baby is able to become infected from the mother. In addition, the woman herself will not have time to regain her strength and the immune system, so women who are ill in the late stages are always hospitalized, and the newborn is isolated to prevent viruses. This situation is very undesirable, because the mother cannot breastfeed her baby and constantly see him. The birth process itself is also aggravated. It is dangerous to give birth with an increased body temperature, therefore, doctors with the help of potent drugs try to remove the symptoms of the common cold, and this negatively affects the child. In addition, premature birth or the birth of a dead child is possible.
Treatment of a cold during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester
With the symptoms of a cold, a pregnant woman needs to limit the burden on the body, observe rest and bed rest. You should immediately consult a doctor and during treatment, strictly follow all instructions. Not all medications are toxic to the baby in late pregnancy. You can choose effective and safe means, they are the following:
- for the treatment of colds during pregnancy, use "Rotokan", "Stop Angina", "Tantum Verde";
- solutions for washing and drops in the nose - "Dolphin", "Aqualor Forte", "Salin", "Aquamaris", "Pinosol";
- antipyretic - "Paracetamol";
- immunomodulators - "Grippferon".
All of these drugs are approved for the treatment of colds during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester. They are considered safe for the health of the child and mother, but a consultation with a doctor is necessary before use. In addition to medical treatment, folk remedies are widely used to gargle with soda solution, rinse the nasal cavity with salt water, and relieve fever with herbal teas.
Cold on the lips
Colds on the lips or herpes is a viral disease that affects most of the population. With the normal functioning of the body, it does not manifest itself in any way, and with a weakening of immunity it is found in the form of rashes, most often on the lips. It is not dangerous for the fetus, because antibodies to it have been developed in the mother’s body and protect the embryo. Herpes during pregnancy is dangerous for the fetus only if it appears in a woman for the first time, and then she must be under the strict supervision of a doctor who will conduct the appropriate treatment. Infection of a pregnant woman for the first time with the herpes virus is very dangerous for the unborn baby. He may be born with serious abnormalities or the birth will end in the death of the baby. In normal cases, treatment of colds on the lips during pregnancy is carried out with an oily solution of vitamin E, fir oil, the use of vitamin preparations and trace elements, lotions from decoction of oak bark, and the use of antiherpetic lipsticks.
Prevention of the common cold during pregnancy
With a weakened immune system, a pregnant woman should take all precautions so as not to get a cold. To do this, you must:
- dress for the season;
- beware of drafts;
- keep housing clean, often do wet cleaning and airing;
- in the presence of a sick family member, use a respirator;
- consume vitamin teas constantly;
- for the purpose of prevention, take vitamin complexes;
- systematically rinse your nose and gargle;
- eat foods containing vitamins and minerals;
- walk a lot in the fresh air.
In the case when preventive measures did not help, you should immediately seek help from a doctor, do not try to treat the common cold during pregnancy yourself and do not transfer it “on your feet”.