Colds in pregnancy

The cold is probably one of the most widespread and well-known diseases in the world, one of the seasonal ailments with which you end up dealing at least once in the course of a year. It should not be surprising, therefore, that it also represents one of the infections that a pregnant woman can most easily encounter at any stage of gestation, from conception to delivery and even immediately after the birth of the child.

In these nine months, in fact, the immune system is less efficient and makes you more susceptible to viral infections, including colds.

If you are expecting a child and you manage to spend the winter without catching even a cold, you have to consider yourself really lucky.

The causes

The cold is an infection of viral origin and there are more than two hundred strains of virus that can determine it. Among these, the main culprits are rhinoviruses, particularly active in autumn, spring and summer and responsible for about 30-35% of adult colds.

Other viruses that can cause colds are coronaviruses, more active in winter, and a series of other viruses including adenoviruses and paramyxoviruses, the latter also known to be among the responsible for the so-called parainfluenza syndromes.

Colds in pregnancy: no particular danger

A cold is a viral infection that is spread through direct contact with an infected person or through inhalation of virus-laden droplets that such people emit by sneezing or coughing.

The cold, although it causes symptoms that can be annoying for future mothers, does not pose any danger either to them or to the fetus. However, if the temperature rises above 38.5°C or if the symptoms are severe and persistent, it is good to call your doctor to make sure that the cold is not turning into a more serious infection.

Symptoms

The first manifestations of colds begin two to three days after contact with the virus. Congestion of the upper respiratory tract (feeling of stuffy nose), rhinitis (i.e. inflammation of the nasal mucosa), abundant mucus production (with the sensation of runny nose or rhinorrhea), sneezing, coughing, sore throat, headache, feeling tired appear.

The fever is usually absent or very low. The infection generally has a benign course and tends to resolve spontaneously within a week, at most two.

If symptoms persist longer, it may not be a common cold, but an allergic form. Sometimes, then, the course can be complicated by the appearance of bacterial superinfections in the respiratory tract that involve even high fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, productive cough and that require the intervention of the doctor and possibly an antibiotic treatment compatible with pregnancy; In fact, there are antibiotics that can be taken even during the nine months of gestation.

Appropriate remedies

There is no specific cure for this infection, it is only possible to follow a therapy to relieve the symptoms. However, it must be said that in most cases the use of any medicine is not needed because the problem tends to resolve spontaneously.

Even more so, since in pregnancy it would be better to avoid any drug, it is preferable to opt for some non-pharmacological measures that can alleviate the symptoms.

-Rest. The best thing you can do, for you and your baby, is to rest as much as possible. The body is better able to fight infections when you are not too busy in everyday things and you take some time to take care of yourself and recover energy. It does not necessarily mean staying in bed, but at least taking it much more comfortable (among other things, from a psychosomatic point of view, the nose plugged by colds, as a moment of closure to the outside, would be the way in which the body signals the need to take a break).

– Balanced diet. Which means fruits and vegetables at will: vitamins and minerals, of which vegetables are precious sources, help to keep all infections at bay and to completely recover well-being after colds. In particular, the diet should ensure large amounts of vitamin C and A, useful for strengthening the immune system, and B vitamins, which favor, among other things, the production of antibodies.

– Drink plenty. When you have a cold it is very important to stay hydrated, so try to drink at least eight glasses a day of water, sugar-free juices, tea or herbal teas.

– Honey and lemon. They are ideal for removingthroat irritation.

– Head held high. If your blocked nose is preventing you from sleeping, try putting an extra pillow to lift your head or, if you find this uncomfortable, lift the top end of your mattress by placing the pillow under it.

– Humidify the air. To relieve congested paranasal sinuses it is good to put an evaporator in the chamber by placing a few drops of tea tree essential oil, peppermint or eucalyptus. The same essential oils can be used to make fumigations by placing them in a bowl with very hot water, putting a towel over your head and breathing in the refreshing steam for a few minutes. Fumigations are one of the classic grandmother’s remedies: the vapors coming from boiling water seem to be useful for relieving cold symptoms. The addition of essential oils or extracts of balsamic herbs in the water (in addition to those already mentioned, thyme, lavender, chamomile and mountain pine are also fine) enhances the effect because it allows to obtain emollient and decongestant vapors, which give a feeling of free nose and facilitate breathing.

-Gargling. If the sore throat does not give rest, gargling with salt water can help. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a little water and rinse your mouth and throat with this mixture for a few minutes, without swallowing.

– Nasal washes. In addition to carrying out a mechanical cleansing action of the nasal cavities, freeing them from mucus secretions, they reduce localized swelling of the mucosa, giving relief. In pharmacies you can find, in vials or sprays, isotonic physiological solutions, also suitable for daily use, and hypertonic solutions that, due to the high salt concentration, have a stronger action and must therefore be reserved for the most aggressive colds and in any case not used for more than 2-3 days. Prolonged use can irritate the mucous membrane.

What drugs are pregnant

If the symptoms do not subside, it is always possible to resort to certain medications, always after consulting your doctor. If, in fact, normally problems such as colds can be addressed with self-medication, during pregnancy and lactation (as well as when children under two years old, chronically ill and people over 75 years old get sick) it is always advisable to rely on medical advice, even for the possible use of natural remedies. The risk is that the active ingredients contained in the drugs can cross the barrier of the placenta and reach the fetus, compromising its normal development.

In the package inserts it is always indicated whether or not to take a medicine during pregnancy and lactation, but it is still advisable to consult the gynecologist, who will be able to prescribe the most suitable drug, without specific contraindications, of which there is more clinical experience, which has the lowest maternal-fetal risks and at the lowest effective dosage. The medical prescription also allows to avoid the risk associated with any interactions between different drugs taken in combination.

Treatment during lactation

Even for a mother who breastfeeds her newborn, treating trivial ailments such as a cold requires some precautions and the advice of the doctor.

For the use of other drugs such as nasal decongestants and antipyretics it is always good to ask the pediatrician, as they could pass into milk.

Small precautions to be implemented

To avoid catching a cold and stay healthy, some strategies can be implemented, which are also useful against other respiratory tract infections such as the flu.