Advice on a cold!

[Lisaworthy1981]

So I’ll be 11 weeks pregnant on Monday and on Thursday I’ve come down with the most awful cold!! I’ve been taking paracetamol but it doesn’t seem to touch it!!

I normally have a really good immune system with working with children but this one has got me!

Is there anything else I can take or should I go to the pharmacy and ask them xx

[Hidden]

11 weeks already that’s gone fast!

I am sorry that you have cold & are suffering. Your immune system does weaken with pregnancy, hence we are offered flu jab.

I couldn’t advise any other medication other than paracetamol that is completely safe for pregnancy, saying that if you feel it is becoming an infection there is a safe antibiotics that a dr or nurse practitioner can prescribe .

I suffer a lot with sinuses ( so much so I’ve been referred to a ENT in April ) & I use oblas oil which is amazing for clearing sinuses; I dab some on my pillow & clothes . It is safe to use a salt spray solution for nasals it cleans them out ( but do ask your dr/pharmacist which one which is okay) as I was prescribed one by my nurse practitioner.

Make sure you have lots of pillows when sleeping so the mucus can drain properly.

For a sore throat I use honey with lemon and some water microwaved. And eat lots of ice lollies to reduce inflammatory.

Our midwife offered me to have the flu jab at our booking in appointment, as I work in a school I decided it would be good to have the flu jab as flu can be dangerous to a pregnancy. I was lucky the drs surgery fitted me in to have the flu jab that afternoon!

Rest up & hope you feel better soon xoxo

[Lisaworthy1981 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I no it’s going quite fast!!

I was offered the flu jab then typical I come down with a cold, so I’m thinking now they won’t do it till it’s gone!!

I’ll just keep up with the paracetamol for now but may go and ask at the pharmacy!

I had sinusitis last year and it was horrible! Hope it doesn’t turn into that again! Xxx

[Hidden in reply to Lisaworthy1981]

I hope it eases soon & you can have your flu jab. Rest up & lots of fluids as you might get dehydrated ❤️

Sinusitis is so horrible; I suffer with it constantly ☹️ hence referral to ENT specialist.

Not long till your dating scan ekk exciting.

I hope you feel better soon xoxo

[Lisaworthy1981 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I’m hoping it soon passes too!!

Our scan is a week on Monday so not long to wait now xx

[Sassa1234]

Hi lisaworthy,

I would go to the hospital or call 111 as you're pregnant things are different love. Hope you get better soon. X

[Lisaworthy1981 in reply to Sassa1234]

Thank you! I’ll see how I get on and if no better I’ll call them xx

[emmab178]

Nothing you can take for a cold whilst pregnant. Just got to ride it out and take it easy. Paracetomol won't do anything for a cold which is why its not touching it. Unless you've got a headache etc.

I had Vicks in hot water and inhaled the steam to try and decongest everything. Lots of steamy hot showers to try to relieve the stuffiness.

[Cinderella5]

I think you're doing all that you can really. Try propping your pillows up for sleeping. Vicks and or menthol crystals in hot water may help decongest you. Hope you're feeling better soon.xx

[Lisaworthy1981 in reply to Cinderella5]

Yeah think I am, wouldn’t be too bad if I could breath properly through my nose lol!!

I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing! I’ve got some menthol crystals actually so I’ll try those too xx

[Lynnr54]

I think Jess has probably given you the same advice I got from my midwife. Saline solution should be fine but I was told not to use any other sort of decongestant (not sure about olbas oil so would check with pharmacist on that one). I found that in the first trimester my immune system significantly weakened and I seemed to have a permanent cold but then it improved later on during pregnancy. Good luck and hope it doesn’t last too long!

[Lisaworthy1981 in reply to Lynnr54]

Thank you! Yeah my immune system is usually very good! I work in a nursery so I’m used to all sorts of bugs!! Probably picked it up from there at this time of year lol lots of snotty noses xx

[Hidden]

Hi ya, some of these have prob been suggested but gargling with diluted tcp, drinking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in hot juice (this always helped my congestion). Also because I've had chronic sinus issues too in past I've found the best thing is sinus saline rinses as a preventive thing, it really is a bit gross but honestly it's brill, it cleans out nose to prevent colds. Obviously no good when your blocked up 😄 but for future! Hope you feel better soon. XX

[rachherlihy]

Hi 👋! I feel your pain. I’m on my second cold of my pregnancy and I’m only 10.5 weeks. My advice would be to keep up with the paracetamol even if it doesn’t seem to help, it’s often more about taking it regularly than anything else and it has been an absolute blessing for my sore throat and ear pain. Take it every 6 hours and then you get 24 hour coverage. Otherwise my pharmacist advised lockets throat lozenges were safe and vaporub. Rest as much as you can, I tried to go to work once this week and that was a big mistake, I made it but felt horrendous that night. When you feel better definitely get your flu jab like the other ladies have suggested. I’m a nurse so I got mine through work at the start of the season before I was pregnant luckily.

Essentially pregnancy is a bit of ball ache at this time of year with all the viruses about and your immune system being weaker (I miss my ox like immune system 😂). I really hope you feel better soon. It is such a drag.

Just keep an eye out for any signs of infection as a cold can turn into an infection if you’re unlucky. I’m off to my GP tomorrow just to confirm I haven’t got an ear or chest infection as they feel like they might be (plus I’m prone to chest infections as I have asthma).

Hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy otherwise xx

[Lisaworthy1981 in reply to rachherlihy]

It’s awful isn’t it!! I’m keeping dosed up on paracetamol and it does seem to help a little! My throat is ok atm it’s more just a head cold which I’m hoping doesn’t turn into sinusitis which I had last year!!

I’ve just bought myself some honey and lemons to see if that helps at all!!

I’m not back at work till Tuesday so hoping I feel a bit better by then if not I’ll be staying at home!!

Hope your feeling better soon too xxx