Pregnant women are often more susceptible to illnesses due to changes in their bodies during pregnancy. This makes them especially vulnerable to colds and their symptoms. If a pregnant woman catches a cold, it’s important to know what to do and how to eat to ensure adequate nutrition for a quick recovery.
Symptoms of a cold during pregnancy
Symptoms of a cold during pregnancy may include itchy ears, a tingling throat, and a continuous runny nose. Other common symptoms include a sore throat, headache, itchy throat, and coughing. Pregnant women may also experience a low-grade fever.
How a cold during pregnancy affects the fetus
Pregnant women often ask, “Is catching a cold dangerous for me and my baby?” The answer depends on the stage of pregnancy. For those in the later stages, the risk from a cold is not significant, but for those in the early stages, it can pose a danger to the fetus.
During the early stages of pregnancy, the mother’s body undergoes significant changes, making it more difficult to adapt. A cold can cause sensitivity, fatigue, and loss of appetite, which can be debilitating and affect fetal development.
Moreover, a cough caused by a cold can be worrisome. Severe coughing can affect the uterus, leading to contractions. If the fetus is weak, strong contractions can cause abdominal pain, premature labor, or worse.
Important notes for pregnant women with a cold
If you have a cold during pregnancy, here are some essential points to consider:
Diet
Make sure to consume sufficient nutrients from different food groups, such as starches, vitamins, proteins, and fats. Eat plenty of vitamin C-rich fruits to improve your immunity.
Stick to easily digestible foods that are not too strong in taste. Add spices like pepper, basil, and onion, which have a cooling effect.
Drink plenty of boiled and cooled water, at least 3 liters per day. You can also drink warm water made by mixing hot and cold water.
Daily Care for Pregnant Women with Colds
Pregnant women with colds need extra care since their health is weaker than usual. It is important to keep warm by wearing socks, woolen towels, and light jackets. In addition, desensitization methods such as the following can be helpful:
Sauna: Combining aromas like mint, lemongrass, ginger, and basil can help clear the respiratory tract, relieve cough, and reduce runny nose in the mother.
Purging throat with physiological saline (NaCl) regularly can help prevent sore throat.
Home Remedies for Colds for Pregnant Women
When experiencing signs like itchy ears, itchy throat, or coughing, pregnant mothers can try the following home remedies for colds:
Avoid crowded places: Pregnant women’s bodies are sensitive and susceptible to infectious diseases. Therefore, when pregnant women have a cold, they should avoid crowded places, rest in a quiet place, and not do hard work.
Vitamin C supplement: Drinking a glass of warm pure orange juice or ginger tea can help warm the body and relieve cold symptoms.
Sauna: Pregnant women can use lemon, lemongrass, and ginger to steam for 5-7 minutes to clear the respiratory tract and relieve cold symptoms.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If a pregnant woman experiences a change in body temperature, fever, severe cough, or dizziness, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately. It is recommended to visit the nearest facility and be examined by a specialist doctor to receive proper treatment since pregnant women should not use western medicines to treat colds without medical advice.
What should pregnant women do to avoid catching a cold?
To avoid catching a cold during pregnancy, you should pay attention to the following principles:
To avoid catching a cold while pregnant, it’s important to follow these principles:
Eat a balanced and nutritious diet
Pregnant women should eat regularly and make sure to include a variety of nutrients in their meals. Following a healthy and balanced diet is crucial for both the mother and the developing fetus. Additionally, pregnant women may need to supplement their diet with functional foods as recommended by their doctors to boost their immunity and prevent common illnesses like colds.
Stay physically active
While strenuous exercise is not recommended during pregnancy, simple yoga movements can help keep the body flexible and reduce the likelihood of catching a cold. Regular physical activity also promotes overall health for pregnant women.
Stay warm and comfortable
Pregnant women are more susceptible to catching colds when their body temperature drops. Therefore, it’s important to dress appropriately for the weather and use warm clothing, such as woolen towels and light jackets, when going outside.
In conclusion, following these guidelines can help pregnant women avoid catching colds and stay healthy throughout their pregnancy.
Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.