Pregnant and Miserable with a Cold... Help? UPDATED

I think that you can take sudafed, and I know you can take benedryl. I know that you don't think it is allergy related but the benedryl still might help with some of the symptoms like the itchy watery eyes, and it might help to decongest you. AND - it will help you to sleep!! : ) which will help you to get better faster.

So sorry you aren't feeling well, hope you get better soon ~

I gargled with warm salt water and used a Q-tip to swab out my nose with warm salt water. Plenty of fluids and lots of rest, homemade chicken soup with fresh garlic. Get well!!

I have learned to love the netti pot...it takes some getting used to but it works!

NETI POT!!!

It's gross, it's awkward, you'll hate it the first time or three, and don't let your partner tease you. I LOVE this thing. Warm water and saline solution run through your nose and clear everything out. Follow the instructions in the box and try it in the shower the first time until you get the hang of it.

This is worth it, I promise. I can get rid of allergies, colds, dry air, you name it, in 3 days tops, no matter how bad the cold is. My 2 year old is already learning how to use it.

You can buy it at Target, or any CVS/Walgreens, and I think the pot and solution cost $15??? at the outside.

Few people I've recommended it to have actually tried it because they're intimidated by the process but, oh I wish I had the words to explain how much better the cold season is now that the Neti Pot is in my life!

Good luck!

I was just at my OB/GYN this morning and complained about a headache from conjestion. He told me that I could take Claritin-D, the 12 hour formula. So far, I'm doing better, but still have a bit of a headache, but at least I can breath better. My best friend swears by a netti-pot. It's gross, but it works to clear out your nose. You can always take tylenol for the body aches, and hot tea with honey for your throat.

I'm not much help, but you can breath in steam vapors to help unclog you. Massaging your 'ductwork' so to speak. the upper part of your nose, under your eyes, above your eyebrows and even right behind your ears. If it feels sensitive to pressure, it can't hurt to try to work some stuff loose.

Hope the experienced ones have more help!

When I had a cold last spring, my ob told me that Mucinex (guifenisen) was ok during pregnancy. Also, you can get Tiger Balm and put a little bit in a bowl of hot water, put a towel over your head and breath it. It works very well. My husband also did a variation and put a small amount of Tiger Balm on the wall of the shower while he took a shower and said it worked like a dream. And as others have said, neti pots really help, much more that just the nasal saline sprays.

Hope you feel better soon.

Hi L.,
It sounds crazy, but I load up on vitamin C, and I take vitamin D at the first sign of a cold. The thing that helps me the MOST though is garlic. Your pregnant tummy may protest, but it's worth a try and it does clear up your nose and helps a sore throat. I crush two peeled garlic cloves in a steaming hot mug of water and let it steep until it's cool enough to drink. Usually 2 of these (on in the morning , one before bed) for a couple of days are enough to relieve cold symptoms, help me sleep better, and cut the illness time by at least half. you don't smell great for a while, as that much garlic comes out of your pores, but it won't harm you or the baby.

good luck!!

When I was pregnant, I had a bad cold like that and my doctor told me that a little Robitussin was safe to take... It was a certain kind of Robitussin though so talk to your doctor or call the nurse line to see which kind.

Anyways, it was like a miracle worker with my cold! I could breathe, swallow, and talk again! :)

Sudafed & Tylenol. They won't get rid of your symptoms entirely, but should give you relief.

I am a true believer of Vics - rub and vapors!

I discovered a netti pot during my last cold while preggers event. I could not do it over a sink, but I could do it in the shower and that seemed to help get things moving and got rid of some nasty junk.

Also, for my last pregnancy, I had something so bad, that I just could not shake it without help. I asked the OB and they said regular sudafed (no initals). When that didn't work, I was told regular old robutussin and finally when that didn't work, I went to my primary and ended up on an antibiotic. You need to speak to your OB if things are really that bad.

I am so sorry you are sick. Hope you feel better soon!
~C.

I was very sick with a cold that would not quit when I was pregnant - couldn't breath, couldn't sleep, etc. In a fit of frustration one night I took two Nyquils, and spent the next 24 hours thinking I had poisoned my baby. That sent me to the doctor who gave me a perscriptions for pills and a nasal spray. I won't guess at the name so as to not mislead you, but I think it was a common allergy type medicine that many pregnany women take.

Long story shorty, call your doctor and ask for relief.

Ugh. Stinks!
Take the safe stuff and keep trying the saline spray or drops.
Hope you're better FAST!

I got hooked on nasal sprays, but love the netipot and other salt water nasal rinses - they do wonders for my crooked nose and jacked up sinuses. Eucalyptus oil in steaming water (in bathroom sink/tub) will have all kinds of stuff flowing out of your nose and works wonders with infants when they are sick. We did eucalyptus steams every night with my son during the winter months, good stuff.

Good luck!

your body chemistry changes when you are pregnant. take some saline spray and see if that helps. hot showers could also help you out. I know it is hard when you are sick and pregnant. drink lots of fluid and get some extra rest. vitamin c may also be good. red peppers have a lot of vitamin c,even more so than oranges. best of luck

Updated

your body chemistry changes when you are pregnant. take some saline spray and see if that helps. hot showers could also help you out. I know it is hard when you are sick and pregnant. drink lots of fluid and get some extra rest. vitamin c may also be good. red peppers have a lot of vitamin c,even more so than oranges. best of luck

Claritin and I think Rhinocort is the steroidal nasal spray that is safe during pregnancy. There is also over the counter Nasalcrom nasal spray that can be used in conjunction with both of those. It is not the addictive Afrin type of spray.

As for the Neti Pot - the Sinus Rinse bottle uses the same packets as the Neti Pot but I think it takes less coordination to use. Everything but the Rhinocort is over the counter. I hope you can get some relief. I can feel your pain through what you have written.

Nasal saline spray! Do it in the shower though- it works, but you will literally spew snot all over. As for the rest of it... Tylenol, rest and warm (steamy) baths. Peppermint tea may help the congestion as well.

Feel better!

Saline may help your nose as well. I hope you feel better soon! I know when I was pregnant I had a chest cold and coughed so hard I joked about the baby being coughed out :) It isn't fun to be sick and even worse when you are preggo. Take care!

Do salt water rinse with warm water. It feels SO weird when you do it, but it can work wonders! When I had a cold during pregnancy I did that a few times a day. For sore throat, drink hot tea with a tiny bit of honey... I like echinacea herbal tea myself. I also use similisan kids cold and mucus relief, it really helps me, and is homeopathic and safe for kids so I doubt it could cause any issues in pregnancy (it was ok'd by my OBGYN). Also stand over a pot of boiling water or the stove with vanilla and cinnamon extract in it and breathe the vapors in. Eucalyptus and mint extract help as well. Drink lots of water or caffeine free tea to keep yourself hydrated, that will also help you recover and will help mucus from building up.

Also, take warm showers... and get plenty of rest! Good luck! Don't take any cold medicines without a doctor's OK... and try non-medicated methods first! Good Luck!

-M.

Get some chips and spicy salsa. Tastes great and may just clean out those sinuses in a hurry!!

I had one when I was 6 months pregnant and felt like I was going to die! NO ONE cared or would help me (or so I thought)!!

I got in a hot steam bath and then used the netti pot (not the one that trickles in your nose, use the one that you squeeze it up there!) I used it multiple times during the day and then followed it up with Afrin nose spray...there are some afrin's that you can use while pregnant...ask your doctor.

I was miserable...had a panic attack because I thought I was not going to be able to breathe!!