Mucus cough & not sleeping

Wondering if any ladies can offer some advice - I’d call the doctors but they take up to 5 working days to return calls.

I’m 32w today and have had a horrendous mucus cough and cold over the weekend. I’ve ended up calling in sick today as I physically cannot function due to only having 6 hours sleep in the last 48 hours.

I’ve had honey and lemon water, which helps a little, but only for what seems about half hour!

Does anyone have any suggestions on alternative pregnancy safe solutions?!

Thanks in advance Xx

[Purpledoggy]

Steam (eg hot shower or head over a bowl of hot water with a towel) can help to loosen mucus, and adding Vicks to the bowl will open up airways as well. Guaifenesin is the best easily available stuff for breaking down mucus but it's not on BUMPS; various website of varying credibility say there is no evidence of malformations when used in pregnancy but I would personally avoid unless a site like BUMPS or NHS say it is safe or I can find the studies myself. (I found one study showing foetal toxicity wih guaifenesin in rats but they were at massive, clinically irrelevant mg/kg doses.) Hope you feel better soon xx

[Hidden in reply to Purpledoggy]

Thank you! Will give the steam bowl a go xx

[Hidden]

Ugh this is so horrid for you , I was there with this in my first trimester. Have you tried a hot water bottle on your upper chest as I imagine as well as the mucus you probably have a sore inflamed chest , it helped me. Calmed me down at least as it was comforting. I though I was going to turn into a lemon with all the lemon and honey so I had hot water a lot too. An absolute ton of water might help the mucus consistency thin out ! X

[Twiglet2]

Having a bath but also running the shower for steam at the same time with windows and doors shut really helped me. Gargling warm salt water helped the throat a little too, plenty of rest 🤗 this one going around just now though does seem to last a while no matter what you do to help I hope you feel better soon! Xx

[LdS87]

Hey, if you are really struggling and you're not getting anything from the GP then I'd suggest speaking with your community midwife/ maternity. I was poorly around 32 weeks like you and could get through to my doctors (when i did the receptionist just told me being pregannt didnt make a priority 🤦‍♀️) I spoke with my midwife because I was at my wits end because I didn't know what to do but knew it didn't warrant a visit to A&E.

Anyway she basically contacted the GP herself, said she'd seen me and I needed an urgent appointment. Don't know what she said but within an hour I had an appointment and prescribed some medication.

[Hidden]

Thank you ladies. The Vicks and hot water steam has helped and fortunately I managed 7 hours sleep last night (probably due to the exhaustion) and feel 100x better today. Sleep deprivation is the worst - but perhaps it’s preparing me for what’s to come 😅 xx

[RR2022]

Ive just had the same. Called the helpline 24/7 that they have on the nhs antenental booklet. They are very quick and helpful if you can’t reach your midwife. They just said do covid hometests and keep track so it’s not covid. Do home cures like hot lemon, ginger and honey water. If you start feeling that your heart is rasing or you can’t breath and it’s an emergency situation go in to the hospital but otherwise rest up.

[RR2022]

Shower helps a little bit with the steam for your nose and throat

[Heller62]

Hey, if you're truly struggling and your doctor isn't helping, I'd try talking to your local midwife. Like you, I just had an unplanned emergency at 34 weeks of pregnancy, but I was able to contact my doctors. I chatted with my community midwife(hamiltonmidwives.ca/) since I was completely stumped and had no idea what to do. In any case, she essentially called the doctor herself and requested an urgent appointment after seeing me. I'm not sure what she said, but an hour later I was scheduled for a visit and given a prescription.