During the period of carrying the baby, the body of the future mother becomes quite vulnerable. All efforts are aimed at providing the developing child with everything necessary, therefore, immunity is reduced. And during this period, oh, how necessary it is to try to protect yourself from various viruses and bacteria, but, unfortunately, this does not always happen. Often there is bronchitis during pregnancy, especially in spring or autumn, when it is damp and cold outside. We will understand the causes of diseases and treatment methods in an interesting position.
Causes of the disease
Quite easily, a woman in a position picks up infectious diseases, so bronchitis during pregnancy, acute respiratory viral infections, and flu are quite common. The susceptibility of the body to infections can be explained by the following reasons:
- Low immunity.
- Mechanical difficulty breathing.
- A woman visiting a clinic and antenatal clinic often encounters patients.
The immediate causes that can provoke bronchitis during pregnancy include:
- Smoking - many mothers not only do not care about their health, but also do not think about their baby.
- Viral diseases and respiratory infections.
- Flu.
- Hypothermia of the body.
Weakened immunity very quickly leads to the development of bronchitis, which must be treated.
The difficulty of treating bronchitis during pregnancy
The treatment of any disease in this period of life for a woman is accompanied by some difficulties, which can be explained by the following factors:
- It is not always possible to use those products that helped well in treatment before pregnancy, since their effect on the growing fetus must be taken into account.
- You can not conduct an x-ray of the chest.
- Excessive coughing, which is usually recommended, is unacceptable, as it can provoke an increase in uterine tone and even lead to termination of pregnancy.
Pregnancy in acute bronchitis in the later stages is fraught with an increased risk of infection of the fetus, the development of intrauterine pneumonia. For all these reasons, it is worth approaching the treatment of bronchitis with extreme caution.
The method of treatment of bronchitis during pregnancy
Some believe that in the second and third trimester, bronchitis is no longer so dangerous for a pregnant woman, but it must be understood that the very fact of finding an infection in the mother’s body is already fraught with serious consequences for the baby. The causative agents of the disease can easily penetrate the placental barrier and harm the developing child.
The sooner the disease is diagnosed and the treatment of bronchitis during pregnancy is started, the better. This makes it possible to avoid serious therapy, and to do only with the use of folk remedies, which include:
- Milk with honey.
- Tea with ginger and lemon.
- Milk with soda.
- Tea with linden blossom.
No one, of course, does not exclude bed rest. It is very important to ensure a plentiful drink, so that sputum discharge occurs faster and more efficiently. In the room where the sick pregnant woman is located, it is necessary to regularly ventilate and monitor the level of humidity. Too dry air, which happens in apartments in the winter, is not very good for the respiratory system.
If more serious therapy is required, then it is advisable to do without any initiative. Only a doctor should prescribe medication, given the interesting position of a woman.
Symptoms of bronchitis
To begin the treatment of the disease, it must first be recognized. Bronchitis, as a rule, manifests itself quite clearly, therefore, problems with diagnosis usually do not arise.
Bronchitis during pregnancy is most often acute. It can manifest itself with the following symptoms:
- Dry cough, which gradually turns into wet.
- Fever.
- Nasal congestion may be present.
- The state of health worsens.
- Weakness.
- Fatigue.
- Sweating.
Often bronchitis can be confused with a common cold, but it also has its own distinctive symptoms:
- Cough, deep and intrusive.
- Chest pain.
- Imperishable feeling of fatigue.
- Shortness of breath, often with a whistle.
- A lot of sputum leaves.
At the first symptoms of the disease, it is necessary not to self-medicate, but to visit a doctor and discuss treatment tactics.
Chronic bronchitis during pregnancy
If the disease goes into a chronic form, then it may already be dangerous. The most common causes of this form of the disease are:
- Frequent colds.
- Reduced immunity.
- Predisposition to pathologies of the respiratory system.
- Smoking, it does not matter, active or passive.
- The use of alcoholic beverages.
- Work in hazardous industries.
During pregnancy, the immune system is slightly weakened, so chronic bronchitis can worsen. A doctor’s consultation is required.
Treatment of bronchitis at different times
Self-medication is fraught with the fact that many drugs that perfectly helped before pregnancy are strictly prohibited for use during the gestation of the baby. You can not carry out therapy using an alcoholic solution of potassium iodide, it has a teratogenic effect, negatively affects the formation of the fetus.
The following drugs should not be used:
- Medications with codeine and ethyl morphine.
- Antibacterial drugs from the group of tetracyclines, Kanamycin, Levomycetin, Streptomycin, Gentamicin.
Doctors do not advise using folk remedies without any control. Some herbs may have abortive properties.
For example, it is often recommended to use infusions and decoctions of sage, oregano, elecampane, St. John's wort, and calendula for the treatment of colds. But it is contraindicated to treat bronchitis during pregnancy with these natural healers, since the risk of premature birth increases, they can cause miscarriage in the early stages.
It can negatively affect the fetus and aloe, if it is part of the drug, then it should not be used for treatment. For the treatment of bronchitis, even in children often use "Licorice Syrup", but it is strictly contraindicated for pregnant women.
Features of treatment in the first trimester
Have you been diagnosed with bronchitis during pregnancy? 1st trimester is important in terms of laying the organs in the fetus, so therapy should only occur under the supervision of a doctor. You can not engage in self-medication, uncontrolled administration can lead to the appearance of birth defects.
Quite effective therapy at this time with the help of inhalation. The drug enters the mucous membrane of the bronchi, but does not penetrate into the bloodstream.
If there is such a need, the doctor can prescribe a course of antibacterial drugs. The following medicines are allowed for use in pregnant women:
- Amoxicillin and Clavulanate.
- "Rovamycin" (belongs to the group of macrolides).
- "Cefruxime" (from the group of new generation cephalosporins).
The safest for a pregnant woman are cephalosporins, they do not have a teratogenic effect on the fetus.
Mid-term bronchitis during pregnancy
The 2nd trimester is already safer, since almost all vital organs are formed, but therapy should still be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor. The following procedures are allowed during this period:
- Inhalations using Berotek and Berodual. These drugs are able to expand the bronchi and eliminate their spasm. Before inhalation, it is important to study the instructions for these funds.
- It can also be used for inhalation "Fenoterol" and "Salbutamol".
- Is bronchitis diagnosed during pregnancy? 2nd trimester is a period when it is already possible to use Ambrobene or Lazolvan for treatment.
During the course of therapy, any side effects are important to inform your doctor. It must be remembered that the same drugs are not always suitable for almost everyone.
Last trimester and treatment of bronchitis
When the pregnancy is nearing its end, and the disease could not be defeated, then this already becomes dangerous. The risk of intrauterine infection of the unborn baby increases. Did the doctor confirm the diagnosis of bronchitis during pregnancy? 3rd trimester requires the prevention of the negative impact of the disease on the fetus, therefore, immunoglobulins and Interferon should be included in therapy.
The acute form of the disease on the eve of childbirth often leads to the use of pain medications, since labor can increase pain in the chest and bronchi.
Serious therapy cannot be dispensed with if bronchitis occurs during pregnancy. The 3rd trimester is different in that the selection of medicines should be carried out with special care, as some may affect the process of childbirth or the baby.
If the disease provoked respiratory failure, a cesarean section is indicated.
If treatment includes Biseptolum and Trimethoprim, then there is a risk of jaundice in a newborn baby. During this period, if the course of the disease allows, it is better to use proven methods of therapy. This is tea with honey, a decoction of raspberry leaves, which, as a bonus, will also help to open the uterus during childbirth, and prepare it for labor.
With the development of any disease during this period, an urgent medical consultation is required, bronchitis during pregnancy is no exception (3, 2 or 1st trimester - it does not matter). It is only necessary to consider that in each period the therapy will be different.
What is dangerous bronchitis for the expectant mother
Bronchitis can be of several forms, and the greatest danger for a pregnant woman is obstructive. With this form, breathing difficulties occur, shortness of breath appears, which is fraught with a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the blood, as a result - fetal hypoxia.
If this form of the disease develops in the first trimester, then oxygen deficiency can provoke various pathologies in the development of the fetus. When respiratory failure joins an obstructive form, it can even cause an abortion.
At any time, this form of bronchitis should be treated only in a hospital, under the constant supervision of a doctor. In the last three months of pregnancy, bronchitis is dangerous because it can provoke premature birth or the passage of water.
A strong cough can increase the tone of the uterus, and this is dangerous in the first months of miscarriage, and in the last - premature birth.
The consequences of bronchitis for a developing baby
If the disease goes too far, then this threatens serious consequences for the baby. Infection can penetrate the placenta and enter the amniotic fluid and the respiratory tract of the child, causing inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes.
Intrauterine infection can significantly affect the formation of internal organ systems. A baby can be born with congenital pneumonia and a weakened immune system.
How to protect yourself from bronchitis
A future mother should understand that she is responsible not only for her health, but also for the condition and development of the baby. It is possible to prevent the development of a disease if:
- Avoid communication with patients with colds.
- Do not supercool.
- Dressing for the season.
- In the heating season, humidify the air in the apartment.
- Do not get the flu shot in the first months of pregnancy .
- Before pregnancy, treat all chronic infectious diseases.
- Stop smoking and do not let others do it in your presence.
- Review the diet, it should contain more fresh vegetables and fruits.
If you did not succeed in avoiding bronchitis, then you should not self-medicate. During this period, this is fraught with serious consequences for the future baby. Only a competent specialist will help to cope with the disease without negative consequences for mom and a developing child.