Which medications should I not take for the common cold?
In general, pregnant women are not advised to take medication during pregnancy if they have a cold. Certain active ingredients can even endanger the unborn child and, in the worst case, cause physical damage. If the pain is more severe, it is not recommended to take preparations containing acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin), as these have a blood-thinning effect and can thus increase the unborn child’s tendency to bleed.
Ibuprofen as an analgesic should also not be taken after the 28th week of pregnancy, as this can lead to complications and also damage the unborn child (it can lead to blockage of part of the child’s bloodstream). The use of cough syrup containing alcohol is also not recommended. If a bacterial infection makes it necessary to take antibiotics, penicillin or so-called cephalosporins can be used.
Would you like to know more about this? In addition to some medications, it is also not recommended to take certain contraction-promoting medicinal herbs, especially those that trigger contractions. These include Echinacea, ginger, taiga root, the tree of life (thuja) and camphor. In addition to some medications, it is also not recommended to take certain contraction-promoting medicinal herbs, especially those that trigger contractions. These include Echinacea, ginger, taiga root, the Thuja tree of life and camphor.
These home remedies can help
Since it is advisable not to take any medication whatsoever to protect the child when it has a cold during pregnancy, household remedies are often used. First of all the ill pregnant woman should allow herself much rest and sleep in order to be able to recover completely. It is also helpful to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of heat.
This can be done, for example, with a warm footbath. In addition, one should drink a lot to support the body in healing the cold quickly. If the expectant mother suffers from coughing, cough-relieving onion juice can be used instead of cough syrup, which often contains alcohol.
Nasal sprays with sea salt help with a blocked nose, but other ingredients should be avoided. Steam baths, e.g. with chamomile tea, can also free the inflamed and blocked airways. If there is also an unpleasant scratching in the throat, gargling with sage tea helps.
If the sore throat is more severe, gargling with thyme tea or diluted apple vinegar is a helpful remedy. If there is also a slightly elevated body temperature, you can lower it again with cool calf wraps. As soon as the pregnant woman is on the road to recovery, short, slow walks in the fresh air can also speed up recovery. Nevertheless, one should always consult a doctor if the symptoms do not improve after several days or even become worse under self-treatment. You can find even more tips on our main page on the topic: Home remedies for a cold
