“Safe Cold Cough Medicine for Pregnant Women: Tips and Recommendations”

Coughing a cold during pregnancy is not really comfortable, Mums, it can add to the obstacles that you experience during pregnancy. Coughing or sneezing can be very uncomfortable because the muscles around the uterus are also getting stretched.

When you have a cold cough during pregnancy, you need to pay attention to the health of you and your little one in the womb. So, you need to know which cold cough medicines are safe for pregnant women.

While there are some medications to avoid, some are safe for consumption, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Benadryl (diphenhydramine), which are safe for pregnant women to take. For more details, read the explanation below about cough and cold medicines that are safe for pregnant women, OK!

Also read: Nausea and vomiting at night, a sign of a pregnant girl?

Cold Cough Medicine that is Safe for Pregnant Women

Pain during pregnancy is not a rare thing. Your immune system undergoes a number of changes during these nine months, making you more susceptible to disease.

Maybe you assume that pregnant women should avoid taking any medication to treat symptoms of a cold cough. However, it is usually recommended that pregnant women who have a cold cough take drugs such as Tylenol to prevent fever. The reason is, fever can have a bad impact on the fetus in the womb.

Whether or not it is safe to take cough and cold medicines during pregnancy depends on the type of medicine you want to take. There are many safe options, but there are also some that need to be avoided during pregnancy.

As previously mentioned, drugs like Tyenol and Benadryl are safe for pregnant women. However, experts still recommend that pregnant women should take precautions first. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women get influenza vaccination.

Other steps you can take to prevent coughing and colds during pregnancy are to wash your hands regularly, keep your distance from people who are sick, avoid touching your mouth and nose, and avoid crowds.

In choosing a cold cough medicine during pregnancy, you should consult a doctor, OK? Later the doctor will provide recommendations for drugs that are safe and in accordance with your condition.

Also read: Make Sure You Drink Enough If Pregnant Women Are Fasting, Let’s Apply the 2-4-2 Pattern

Unsafe Cough Medicine for Pregnant Women

Some drugs are unsafe for consumption during pregnancy. The drugs in question include ibuprofen, celecoxib, phenylephrine, and throat lozenges that contain benzocaine.

Avoid consuming products that can relieve a variety of symptoms, which can potentially contain ingredients such as painkillers and decongestants. Mums can use drugs that specifically treat a particular symptom. There are several over-the-counter medicines that are considered safe for pregnant women, such as alcohol-free cough syrup containing dextromethorphan, tylenol, and menthol ointment externally.

However, it is still recommended that you consult with your doctor first before consuming or using a drug.

Also read: Recurring Atopic Dermatitis? Here’s a Safe Way to Overcome Atopic Dermatitis in Babies

Source:

VeryWellFamily. What Cold Medicine Can I Take While Pregnant?. 2022.
March of Dimes. Common Discomforts of Pregnancy. Last reviewed May 2016.
Sass L, Urhoj SK, Kjærgaard J, Dreier JW, Strandberg-Larsen K, Nybo Andersen AM. Fever in pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations: a cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17(1):413. doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1585-0
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cold versus flu. Updated August 30, 202.
Thompson MG, Kwong JC, Regan AK, et al. Influenza vaccine effectiveness in preventing influenza-associated hospitalizations during pregnancy: a multi-country retrospective test negative design study, 2010-2016. Clin Infect Dis. 2018;68(9):1444-1453. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy737