Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy Guide To Treating Colds and Flu
As winter draws near, the threat of colds and the flu loomslarge. If you happen to be pregnant right now, doctors say youshould be doubly careful, since even a simple virus can leaveyou feeling more stuffy, as well as achier and crankier th...
...anusual. One reason is because the high estrogen levels present inpregnancy cause mucous membranes to dry out, and swell - makingany congestion from a cold or even an allergy feel much worse.As your pregnancy progresses and your baby pushes harder againstyour diaphragm, lung capacity is also reduced, making it harderto breathe. So, even a slight respiratory infection can seemdisastrous. Although pregnancy doesn't increase yoursusceptibility to the flu, if you do get sick you are up to 5times more likely to develop a serious complication - includingpneumonia or bronchitis. If you're like most women you may feela bit hesitant about using any medication while you arepregnant, since even doctors prefer to stick with naturaltreatments, particularly during the first trimester. However, inthe event that you do need more help, don't hesitate to checkwith your obstetrician, since there are a number of safe andeffective medications you can try. Your Pregnancy Medicine Chest: What's Safe, What's NotIf a hacking cough or chest congestion is getting you down, talkto your doctor about over-the-counter products like Robitussin,Robitussin DM and Vicks plain cough syrup. These medicines areconsidered relatively safe to use during pregnancy, and mostwill offer at least some relief. If you are running a temperature - particularly 101 degrees ormore - the March of Dimes says Tylenol is your best defense.And, it might also be crucial to insure the health of your baby.Studies show that letting a high fever languish during pregnancyincreases baby's risk of neural tube defects, a life threateningmalformation of the brain or spine. Sustaining a temperature of102 degrees or more during your first trimester might alsoincrease your risk of miscarriage. While the recommended dosage for Tylenol is 2 regular strengthtablets every four hours, be sure to check with your doctorfirst. Also important: Keep taking your prenatal vitamins,especially while you are sick. A study of some 2,000 pregnanciesconducted at the National Center on Birth Defects andDevelopmental Disabilities in England found that women who tooka multi- vitamin high in folic acid during pregnancy were ableto reduce their baby's risk of birth defects, even if they ran afever. If your flu or cold is complicated by diarrhea, don't besurprised if your doctor doesn't prescribe anything for thefirst 24 to 48 hours. As long as you drink plenty of fluids toreduce your risk of dehydration, it's usually safe to wait itout. In the event that you do need treatment, drugs likeDonnagel and Kaopectate are often recommended. Since neither oneis absorbed by the body, they never reach your babyWhat you want to avoid: Any of the newer anti-viral medicationsfor the flu. Most have not been tested in pregnancy . Also passon most decongestants unless specifically prescribed by yourobstetrician. For all natural treatments, nothing works better than pamperingbed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and in particular, haveyourself a bowl or two of chicken soup or two. Not only is thisa great comfort food, studies have documented the soup stops themovement of immune system cells to the site of inflammation -which in turn helps reduce symptoms like coughing and sneezing. You can also try hot tea with honey, particularly if you have asore throat. The steam from the hot liquid will decrease yourcongestion, while the tea can act as a mild anti-inflammatory.Studies have also shown honey has mild antiseptic qualities andcould help control the local growth of bacteria.Pregnancy Cold and Flu Alerts:While in most instances you can ride out a cold or even the fluon your own, do make certain to call your doctor immediately if: · Your cold produces green or yellow nasal mucous, or if itlasts more than 7 days - you could have sinusitis, a bacterialinfection that does require antibiotic. · You are running fever,even if other symptoms seem mild. · Diarrhea or vomitingcontinues for more than 36 hours, if cramps are severe; ifdiarrhea or vomit contains blood; if you exhibit any of thesigns of food poisoning including fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms. For more detailed information on all pregnancy health concernsvisit http://www.PamperingMom.com
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