Cough tone during pregnancy. Cough during pregnancy: causes, consequences, treatment and prevention

Cough during pregnancy easily occurs due to a decrease in the body's defenses. A slight hypothermia and communication with a carrier of a respiratory infection is enough for this symptom to appear in combination with others: fever, runny nose, weakness. Frequent coughing negatively affects the course of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus, so it must be treated. At the first signs of illness, you should consult a doctor: a specialist will be able to correctly diagnose and prescribe medications that are safest for the expectant mother and her baby.

Cough during pregnancy is usually due to an acute or chronic respiratory tract infection. If the source of inflammation is localized in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, then a reflex contraction of the muscles of the larynx with a simultaneous increase in bronchial tone occurs due to mucus flowing down the back wall of the pharynx. This mechanism is typical for rhinitis, sinusitis, and adenoiditis.

With inflammation of the lower parts - tonsils, pharynx, larynx, trachea - cough occurs due to direct irritation of the mucous membrane. It accompanies tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis.

Pneumonia and bronchitis are characterized by inflammation of the lower respiratory tract. With these diseases, sputum accumulates in the tissues of the lungs and bronchi and provokes coughing attacks.

The second most common reason why cough occurs during pregnancy is allergic diseases localized in the respiratory tract. Reflex attacks develop with allergic obstructive bronchitis, allergic tracheitis, and bronchial asthma.

In rare cases, cough develops in diseases of the hearing organs, stomach, diaphragm, heart and blood vessels. Neurotic disorders can also be a cause.

Why is coughing dangerous during pregnancy?

Coughing during pregnancy can be dangerous, especially if it is dry and lasts for a long time. If left untreated, the following complications develop:

1. Hypertonicity of the uterus. In the middle of each cough reflex cycle, a strong contraction of the abdominal wall muscles occurs. This overstrain is transmitted to the uterus, as a result of which its tone increases. This condition is one of the most common causes of threatened miscarriage.
2. Oxygen starvation of the fetus. Frequent paroxysmal cough leads to deterioration of placental blood supply. As a result, the child does not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutrients. In severe cases, this leads to intrauterine growth retardation.
3. Uterine bleeding. This complication is associated with strong contraction of the abdominal wall muscles during coughing. A prolonged attack can cause uterine bleeding in cases where there is a placenta previa or its low location.

In addition to the cough itself, the diseases that cause it are dangerous. Infectious, allergic and other pathological processes negatively affect the course of pregnancy and the health of the unborn child.

Why is cough dangerous in pregnant women?

Cough during pregnancy can have different effects on the condition of the fetus depending on the trimester in which the disease occurred. Treatment methods are also largely determined by the timing: the safest period is the middle of pregnancy, when all organs are already laid down, and childbirth is still far away.

Cough in the first trimester

The first trimester is a period of intense hormonal and immune changes. Reducing the body's protective functions is necessary so that the embryo is not rejected and can gain a foothold in the uterus. The downside of this process is that the woman becomes more susceptible to any infection. Those situations that previously did not cause illness now become their cause (weak drafts, being in the same room with a sick person, etc.).

In the first three months, coughing is dangerous due to the risk of developing uterine hypertonicity. This complication is a sign of a threatened miscarriage. Therefore, if the doctor recommends hospitalization, you should not refuse. Infectious diseases, which are a common cause of cough, are dangerous because they can provoke disturbances in the development of the child’s vital organs.

Another problem that doctors face during this period is the selection of effective and at the same time safe treatments. In the first weeks of pregnancy, almost all medications are contraindicated. Therefore, the basis of therapy is traditional methods - rinsing and inhalation based on medicinal herbs, rinsing the nose with saline solution, etc. If gentle remedies do not bring the expected result, then a decision is made to prescribe medications.

Cough in the second trimester

In the second trimester, cough during pregnancy and the diseases that caused it are no longer so dangerous. By this period, the formation of the placenta, a barrier that protects the fetus, is completed. It allows nutrients and oxygen to pass through, but prevents the penetration of infection and some medicinal compounds.

However, the possibilities of this barrier are not unlimited. During a cold, fetoplacental insufficiency can develop, a condition in which the fetus does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients. In severe cases, there is a risk of premature birth or intrauterine death of the child.

Compared to the first trimester, the list of acceptable drugs is expanding. Doctors are less wary of prescribing medications that can quickly eliminate the cause of cough.

Cough in the third trimester

In the last trimester, the placenta becomes more permeable and gradually ages. Under the influence of infection, its functionality decreases. The risk of developing fetoplacental insufficiency increases: oxygen reaches the fetus in insufficient quantities, and toxins and medicinal compounds penetrate into it. Starting from the 37th week, viruses can enter the amniotic fluid, which the baby swallows.

The danger of coughing during this period is associated with the possibility of premature onset of labor. Placental abruption, rupture of water surrounding the fetus, and bleeding may also occur.

Medicines are selected by the doctor individually, taking into account the disease and condition of the pregnant woman. Along with traditional methods, medications are actively used.

Cough treatment

Before prescribing treatment for a pregnant woman, the doctor carries out all the necessary diagnostic procedures to help find out the cause of the cough. If a symptom has developed due to an infectious-inflammatory process in the respiratory tract, then its nature is assessed.

Treatment of dry cough

With a dry cough, mucus and sputum do not come out at all or are released in small quantities. Another name for it is unproductive. It does not bring relief, it is painful and protracted. The essence of treatment is to make a dry cough moist. That is, it is necessary to achieve the release of sputum and its removal from the body. To do this, it is necessary to use products that promote the formation of mucus.

To eliminate cough during pregnancy, especially in its early stages, inhalations are used. These simple procedures almost instantly alleviate a woman’s condition, promoting the formation and removal of sputum. The most common and effective are inhalations with Miramistin, Chlorphyllipt, mineral water, propolis, eucalyptus, carried out using a nebulizer.

Before the procedure, you must consult a doctor; at high temperatures (above 38 degrees) and in some other cases, inhalation is contraindicated.

Among the medications for the treatment of dry cough during pregnancy, tablets and syrups are used. All of them are selected individually, taking into account the duration of pregnancy. Doctors often prescribe mucalytic drugs: Bronchipret, Gerbion, Gedelix, Mucaltin.

Centrally acting antitussives (Sinecod, Tusuprex) are used with caution and only in the second and third trimesters. There is no clinical data on the use of these medications during pregnancy, so they should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment of wet cough

With a wet cough, phlegm is removed from the bronchi to the outside. It is productive and brings relief. Infectious agents are removed along with the mucus. But if this type of cough is not treated, it will become chronic and the mucus will no longer be excreted. To eliminate it, mucus thinners are used.

Among the traditional methods of treating wet cough, the most famous is the use of herbal infusions and decoctions. Plants such as thyme and marshmallow root thin and increase mucus production.

You can also use honey, milk, garlic and onions. Before using these medications, you should consult your doctor, as some of them can affect the functioning of the heart and blood vessels and cause allergies.

To eliminate a wet cough, the following medications may be recommended during pregnancy: Bromhexine, Doctor Mom, Gedelix, Prospan. All these drugs are prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the disease, the duration of pregnancy and the health characteristics of the woman.

Prevention

Since the most common causes of cough during pregnancy are infectious and allergic diseases, prevention comes down to preventing their development. During an unfavorable epidemiological situation, it is better to refrain from visiting crowded places.

It is also recommended to support immunity in all possible ways: spend more time in the fresh air, do light physical work around the house, eat right, adhere to a daily routine in which at least 9-10 hours are allocated for sleep (8 at night, 1-2 during the day). When visiting a clinic, it is advisable to wear a protective bandage on your face.

Prevention of allergic reactions is based on limiting contact with the agent (pollen, dust, pets). It is necessary to wet clean the house daily and remove all items that can generate dust (small souvenirs, carpets, curtains). For seasonal allergies, the optimal time for walking is after rain.

Cough during pregnancy often occurs due to infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. It can cause complications and negatively affect the condition of the fetus. Treatment should be selected by a doctor based on the cause and nature of the cough. The most effective is considered to be a combination of folk remedies and medications.

Useful video: how to get rid of a cough?

If it noticeably weakens, a woman can catch a cold at any time. Sometimes even short contact with a patient or slight hypothermia can provoke colds or ARVI .

However, if we talk about the dangers of coughing during pregnancy, it should be noted that it is only a symptom of the disease, and can be evidence of a variety of ailments. This is a reflex reaction aimed at clearing the airways from bronchial secretions. Consequently, it is not the symptom itself that requires treatment, but the disease that provoked it. Sometimes a person coughs due to allergic reaction , manifested in response to external stimuli.

Pregnancy and cough - this combination can be a problem, because during the period of bearing a baby, especially in the early stages, a woman should not take effective expectorants or cough suppressants. By the way, most herbal remedies should not be taken during pregnancy. Therefore, those expectant mothers who prefer folk remedies when coughing so as not to harm the child also often risk harming the baby. After all, such drugs also have side effects.

Children's cough syrup should not be used either. Despite the fact that such medications seem safe at first glance, because they are given to children under 3 years of age, in fact, the drug approved for children can negatively affect the fetus.

Therefore, in order to protect the health of mother and baby, medications allowed for pregnant women should be prescribed by a doctor, as well as the regimen for taking them.

Why is coughing dangerous?

In most cases, cough is a sign of a bacterial or viral respiratory disease. Therefore, in the absence of proper treatment, the disease can gradually become chronic, and complications are also likely to develop. In such conditions, the likelihood of premature birth and intrauterine infection increases. The risk of developmental defects in the baby also increases.

In addition, immediately at the moment when the expectant mother coughs, the tone of her uterus increases. And this condition threatens miscarriage.

If the expectant mother has low placentation or placenta previa, then due to strong muscle tension during coughing, bleeding from the uterus may begin.

And coughing attacks can significantly increase the severity of nausea and aggravate the condition.

Treatment of cough during pregnancy

We will discuss below what you can drink when you cough in order to quickly cure the disease that caused it.

The most important period in the process of fetal formation is the first months after conception. It is at this time that all systems and organs of the unborn child are actively formed. Accordingly, then there is a high risk of developing severe pathologies and fetal malformations, which can be caused by prohibited drugs. Of course, at this time it is better not to get sick at all, so the expectant mother needs to be very conscious about her health. But if a woman still gets sick, she can only take medications approved by her doctor. Only a doctor can tell you how to treat a cough during pregnancy, after conducting all the necessary research and making a diagnosis.

If the question arises about how to treat cough in the 1st trimester during pregnancy, the doctor will recommend the most gentle treatment methods that are safe for the woman and baby.

However, during this period all medications are only relatively safe. Sometimes a woman, without thinking about how to treat her throat during pregnancy in the 1st trimester, sucks lozenges. But even they contain active ingredients, the effect of which can negatively affect the fetus. Cough lozenges sold in stores contain extracts of eucalyptus, mint, as well as preservatives and flavorings that are not at all beneficial for the baby.

During the first trimester, it is acceptable to use some medications, as can be found in the table below.

Treatment of dry cough during pregnancy

How to treat a wet cough

How to cure a severe cough during pregnancy in the 2nd trimester?

The second and 3rd trimester is the time when all systems and organs of the fetus are finally formed and mature. During this period, the child is actively preparing for birth and life after it. Therefore, in both the second and third trimesters, it is better not to take large amounts of medications.

However, if we talk about what can be used in the 2nd trimester if you need to get rid of a cough or treat a throat, then it should be noted that during this period the restrictions are no longer so strict. If necessary, the doctor may advise that pregnant women can also take some synthetic drugs for cough.

The tables indicate how to cure a cough in the 3rd trimester and in the second.

For dry cough

If the cough is wet

However, only the attending physician can correctly determine how to treat a dry cough during pregnancy or what to take if you have a sore throat.

Physiotherapy – treatment at home and in medical institutions

The safest way to treat cough while carrying a baby is physical therapy, since it is a non-drug method. This method is most effective for dry cough.

However, some methods still cannot be used.

Allowed methods:

• gargling;

Should not be used:

• radiation treatment;
• banks;
• mustard plasters;
• foot baths;
• electrotherapy;
• hot baths.

However, expectant mothers should not once again visit medical institutions where a lot of patients are concentrated. Moreover, a number of physiotherapy procedures can be successfully carried out at home. Almost every forum where treatment problems for pregnant women are discussed contains advice on how to carry out inhalations or how to treat a throat with gargles.

Inhalations

To carry out inhalation, you can use nebulizer or use the most ordinary teapot. The vapors are inhaled through the spout of the kettle, onto which a funnel twisted from cardboard is placed. To carry out inhalation, you need to adhere to some important rules:

• body temperature should not be elevated;
• the solution for inhalation should have a temperature of 30 to 40 degrees;
• the duration of inhalation is about 10 minutes, such “sessions” need to be carried out 3-6 times a day;
• After the session you need to not talk or eat anything for about half an hour.

The following mixtures can be used as solutions for inhalation:

• Dilute 50 g of baking soda in one liter of boiling water, then cool the mixture slightly.
• Dilute 10 g of honey in one glass of warm water. Whether honey can be used during pregnancy in any medicinal product depends on whether the woman has had allergic reactions to this product.
• Dissolve 10 g of pre-chopped garlic and eucalyptus leaves in one liter of boiling water. After this, you need to cool the mixture a little.
• Dilute 20 g of sage in one glass of boiling water and cool slightly.

Gargling

If you are a pregnant woman or just have a sore throat, gargling is an excellent treatment method in this case.

You need to prepare this product before you start rinsing. When the liquid becomes homogeneous, it should be cooled. You need to gargle up to 8 times a day; one glass of the prepared solution is enough for one gargle. Rinse after meals.

Expectant mothers can use the following rinsing solutions:

• An infusion of 10 g of chamomile flowers poured into one glass of boiling water.
• A solution of half a teaspoon of baking soda in one glass of warm water.
• An infusion of 10 g of plantain leaves poured into a glass of boiling water.
• An infusion of 10 g of linden leaves poured into a glass of boiling water.

Traditional methods for treating cough during pregnancy

You can learn about what you can drink for a cough during pregnancy from numerous traditional medicine recipes. However, even when talking about traditional methods of treating an expectant mother, you need to know that you should consult a doctor about what you can take.

In addition, it is important not only to know what to drink, but also to clearly monitor how the body perceives this or that treatment method. After all, sometimes even a seemingly ordinary radish with honey can cause undesirable effects if an allergic response develops.

Products with honey

You can use products with honey both externally and internally, provided that the woman does not have access to bee products. After all, honey is a strong allergen, and if any negative effects occur, its use should be stopped.

The use of honey internally helps dry cough gradually become productive. However, you can also use products with honey when it is wet. This treatment will help speed up the process of clearing the bronchi from mucus.

External use

• You can rub the chest area with honey - this procedure is carried out in the morning and evening.
• At night, you can put compresses on your chest using warmed honey. The compress is covered with cling film.

Application internally

• Three times a day before meals you need to slowly dissolve 1 tsp. honey, slightly warmed.
• Honey can be added to tea and other drinks - 1 teaspoon per glass of liquid.
• You can prepare a remedy from honey and black radish juice (1:2), which you drink three times a day, 2 tbsp. l.

Onion garlic

These are very strong natural antiseptics, phytoncides which effectively destroy bacteria and viruses. Therefore, both onions and garlic can simply be cut and placed indoors to ensure air disinfection. If you put several cut cloves of garlic and onion on plates, you get the so-called indirect inhalation.

You can also use onion and garlic juice separately. To get juice, you need to chop onion or garlic and mix with 1 tbsp. l. honey After half an hour, strain the released juice and take 1 tsp several times a day.

As for whether pregnant women can eat garlic, there are different opinions. After all, some experts claim that it can increase the tone of the uterus and also cause allergic manifestations. But still, most doctors agree that it can be consumed in very small quantities.

Milk

You can soothe a throat that is inflamed due to illness with warm milk. It will also help cope with coughing attacks and calm the nerves.

Milk should be drunk in small sips, it should be warm.

• If you mix it with alkaline still mineral water (1:1), then this mixture will promote the separation of phlegm.
• You can boil milk with sage (1 tablespoon of herb per 200 g of milk). Drink 1 tbsp before bed. l.
• A drink made from milk and figs helps with colds. To prepare it, four dried figs are boiled in half a liter of milk until it turns brown. Drink 100 g of this product warm three times a day.

• Folk remedies with comfrey And coltsfoot : these plants contain alkaloids pyrrolizidine , which are carcinogenic and can cause mutations during development.
• Products with ginseng, eleutherococcus, echinacea, since they increase, cause allergic manifestations. If tablets or medicine contain such drugs, you must inform your doctor about this.
• Medicines with ginkgo biloba - they impair blood clotting and can cause uterine bleeding.
• Medicines with St. John's wort: reduce the effectiveness of painkillers and can worsen the effect of anesthesia during the procedure.

How to prevent coughing in expectant mothers

Every woman expecting a child is responsible not only for her own health, but also for the condition of the unborn baby throughout the entire nine months. It is very important to try not to get sick at this time and to prevent the development of those unpleasant symptoms that can negatively affect the condition of the fetus. How cough affects the fetus has already been discussed above. To avoid negative effects, you need to take maximum care of yourself during pregnancy:

• Avoid contact with people with colds and stay as little as possible in places where there are many people at the same time. The latter is especially relevant during periods of epidemic colds.
• If you need to visit any public place, you need to lubricate the nasal mucosa Vaseline or, try to keep your mouth closed. After returning home, you should wash your hands very well, rinse your nose and rinse your mouth with saline or boiled water.
• The room in which a woman stays needs to be ventilated as often as possible and wet cleaned.
• Daily walks in the fresh air are very important - they should be long.
• It is necessary to prevent hypothermia and overheating, and not to change the climate sharply.

As soon as the first signs of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor. You can practice inhalations, traditional methods or suck lollipops only if the woman is sure that she is developing a cold.

conclusions

Thus, every expectant mother should take care of her health and try by all means to prevent illness. If the cold still prevails, you should definitely consult a doctor about whether pregnant women can take any cough tablets during pregnancy. Even those cough tablets for pregnant women or cough syrup during pregnancy, which, according to the instructions, can be used by expectant mothers, it is better not to drink without a doctor’s prescription. By the way, if after treatment the cold begins to bother you, you should not take products like. You should also consult a doctor with such symptoms.

If you have a strong cough, you should not follow advice on forums about what kind of cough syrup you can use during pregnancy. And even pharmacists’ recommendations on which cough syrup to choose for pregnant women should not become a guide to action. Only safe means described above and prevention methods will not harm the health of mother and baby. All other drugs can be taken only under the supervision of a doctor.

Treatment of cough during pregnancy occurs according to a regimen specially developed for each patient. All medications and folk remedies are prescribed by a doctor; self-medication can be dangerous for both the woman and the fetus. Bronchospasms need to be eliminated as quickly as possible, because they can cause negative reactions and complicate the course of pregnancy. Before choosing therapy, the doctor must make the correct diagnosis; this is the key to a successful outcome of the disease.

Why are bronchospasms dangerous during pregnancy?

Treatment of cough in pregnant women should be carried out immediately, since bronchospasms can cause serious pathologies in the fetus and harm the woman. For an unborn child, such a disorder is especially dangerous in the first trimester: severe bronchospasm causes an increase in the tone of the uterus, which can provoke a miscarriage.

You need to quickly understand how to cure cough during pregnancy, since it causes circulatory problems. This slows down the transport of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, which can cause deviations in its formation. It should also be taken into account that bronchospasm is a consequence of a viral or infectious disease that can penetrate the placenta.

Coughing during pregnancy is dangerous for the expectant mother. If the placenta is low-lying or placenta previa, bronchospasm causing uterine contractions may cause bleeding.

There is also a high probability of rupture of amniotic fluid in the later stages and premature difficult birth. And this is fraught with serious problems with a woman’s health, including death.

Causes

A cough in a pregnant woman can occur for various reasons. Most often it is provoked by viral infections transmitted by airborne droplets. They are especially dangerous for the fetus and the expectant mother. Bacterial diseases can also affect the body; they can be contracted in any public place.

If the disease affects the upper respiratory tract, a severe cough during pregnancy occurs due to the flow of mucus into the throat. Sputum irritates cough receptors, causing bronchospasm. Most often, it disturbs patients at night: it is in the supine position that the liquid contained in the nose drains through the throat.

Lower respiratory tract infections can cause a dry cough and then a wet cough. Sputum accumulates in the lungs and bronchi; to secrete it, the body uses a protective reflex - spasm. Such ailments quickly become chronic, so you need to quickly decide how to get rid of them.

There are other causes of bronchospasm:

• allergic reactions;
• disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• increased acidity of gastric juice;
• nervous tension;
• improper functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• ascariasis (infection with roundworms).

Features of treatment

When we treat cough during pregnancy, in the early and late stages the list of drugs used should be different. In the first trimester, the fetus is especially sensitive, so the use of chemical medications is not recommended. It is better to give preference to dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies and alternative methods.

In the second and third trimester, the threat of miscarriage decreases, almost all vital organs and systems of the unborn baby are formed. You can get rid of a cough at this time with the help of many medications: the range of approved medications is significantly expanding compared to the first 13 weeks of gestation.

However, it is worth considering that in later stages a phenomenon such as premature aging of the placenta is possible. When the “protective” layer wears out, the fetus becomes defenseless against the negative effects of chemicals, viruses, bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms.

Treatment with medications

Pregnant women can only use certain medications prescribed by their doctor. During different periods of gestation, the use of different drugs is allowed. Let's consider which of them will be beneficial for the mother's health and will not harm the unborn child.

First trimester

You need to fight a dry cough with the help of mucolytics: they thin out mucus, increase its volume and promote removal from the respiratory tract. Such remedies also relieve inflammation, soothe and heal mucous membranes.

The following medications will help expectant mothers cope with bronchospasms without sputum production:

• "Libexin" (prescribed only in extreme cases, as it is a synthetic agent);
• “Mukaltin”, syrup “Marshmallow Root”, “Stodal”, “Bronchogran”, “Pulsatilla” (sold without a prescription, as they do not affect the development of the fetus, but can cause allergies if there is personal intolerance to the components);
• “Bronchicum”, “Gedelix”, “Doctor Mom” (herbal preparations that do not contain substances harmful to the body of a woman and the fetus, but not enough information has been collected regarding their effect on the fetus).

You can find out how to treat a wet cough by consulting a doctor. Expectant mothers will benefit from products that improve coughing, disinfect, and fight pathogens.

During pregnancy, treatment is carried out using the following drugs:

• “Doctor Theis”, “Stodal”, “Bronchogran”, “Pulsatilla”, “Bifidofolus Flora Force” (remedies that are completely safe for the body of the mother and the unborn baby, with the exception of personal intolerance);
• “Bronchipret”, “Bronchicum” (herbal-based drugs that can have a negative effect on the body due to their high biological activity).

Second and third trimester

During this period, the list of permitted drugs is wider, the fetus is almost fully formed. The drugs are selected so as not to cause premature birth and bleeding in the expectant mother. The following items are added to the list of medications against dry cough:

For wet cough during pregnancy in the last stages, more remedies are also indicated than in the first trimester.

Their list is replenished with the following drugs:

• "Tussin";
• "Ambroxol";
• "Fluifort";
• "Herbion".

Inhalations

You can alleviate the condition of the expectant mother without harm to the fetus using inhalations. They can be wet or dry. Moist ones help transport drugs in high concentrations into the respiratory tract. Together with the steam, patients inhale healing substances that disinfect mucous membranes, relieve swelling, improve coughing and reduce spasms. The following devices can be used to carry out the procedures:

If the patient has a fever, then steam inhalations are contraindicated for her: they accelerate blood flow and increase blood pressure, which is dangerous for the fetus. They can be replaced with cold inhalations. To do this, 1-3 drops of essential oil of fir, pine, calendula or other medicines should be placed on a pillow, a piece of paper or fabric, placed near you and slowly take deep breaths.

It will also be useful to use an aroma lamp; it can not only normalize breathing, but also disinfect the room.

Healthy drink

Drinking plenty of fluids can help relieve coughs during pregnancy. The liquid, heated to body temperature, is quickly absorbed in the body, accelerates blood circulation and stimulates the production of sputum by the mucous membranes.

To alleviate the patient’s condition, you can use regular teas, but it will be more effective to drink medicinal drinks:

Rinse

Gargling is useful both for prevention and for eliminating cough. This method will be especially effective for sore throat. For rinsing, use a mixture of baking soda and water, a mixture of salt and water, infusions of linden or chamomile flowers, and plantain herbs. The procedure should be carried out between meals or after meals 3-4 times a day. It is better to refrain from straining the vocal cords after rinsing.

Precautionary measures

Any medications and traditional medicine can have a negative effect on the body of the expectant mother under certain circumstances. Before using any methods to eliminate cough, you need to make sure that they will not cause a negative reaction. To do this, tests are done: the medicines are taken in small quantities and waited for several hours. If no changes in health status are detected, therapy is continued.

You also need to make sure that the expectant mother does not have chronic diseases for which the use of certain medications is completely contraindicated.

Therapy is selected especially carefully in the presence of pathologies of fetal development or complicated pregnancy. Self-treatment is strictly prohibited.

In conclusion

Pregnant women need to closely monitor their health and do everything possible to avoid getting sick.

If you are unable to protect yourself from viral and bacterial infections that cause coughing, you should immediately consult a doctor. A specialist will help you choose safe and effective therapy, including medications and traditional medicine.

It is very difficult to resist viral infections, especially when the “cold season” begins. Pregnant women have it twice as hard because of their weakened immune system. Cough during pregnancy is one of the signs of a cold. The cough can be dry or wet. But the main problem of cough in pregnant women is that it is very difficult to treat, since drug treatment is contraindicated during this period due to possible harm to the fetus.

But it is necessary to treat a cough during pregnancy, first of all, because with a weakened immune system, an ordinary cough can develop into bronchitis, viral tracheitis, pneumonia, etc., and in this case it is no longer possible to do without medication.

Any disease, even the most minor one, puts a significant burden on the immune system. Antibodies are produced in the blood that help the body cope with viruses. Typically, only maternal antibodies can cross the placenta, but if there is placental insufficiency, the infection can spread to the baby, which can cause abnormalities at birth. That is why cough treatment must be started immediately to minimize the risk of possible complications.

Particular caution should be exercised by women who have had a threat of miscarriage. When coughing, pressure on the abdominal cavity increases, which can cause uterine tone. Hypertonicity of the uterus can provoke not only a miscarriage, but intrauterine fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen) due to spasms of the uterine vessels.

Cough is a kind of protective reaction of the body; it occurs when receptors are irritated, which leads to the removal of mucus from the respiratory tract. Sputum contains pathological bacteria, which, when left in the bronchi for a long time, lead to pneumonia. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out the type of cough (wet, dry) and the cause of its occurrence. With a dry cough (non-productive), sputum is not produced or is produced in small quantities. In order for a cough to take on the form of a productive (wet) cough, it is necessary for mucus to form. For this purpose, special antitussive drugs are usually used. But pregnant women are contraindicated from taking any medications. But a dry cough during pregnancy can cause significant inconvenience (constant tickling, loss of voice, attacks of night cough), so that the benefits of using an antitussive drug outweigh the possible risks for the mother and child.

There are no completely harmless drugs; all drugs can cause an allergic reaction or some other side effect, especially in pregnant women. In this regard, it is not recommended to take medications for a long time; if there is no improvement after a few days, it is better to consult a doctor again. It is often possible to do without taking any medications and cure a cough using effective traditional medicine.

Causes of cough during pregnancy

There may be several causes of cough, including various viral diseases (whooping cough, measles, tuberculosis, sinusitis, etc.), allergies, acute respiratory diseases, smoking. Cough during pregnancy usually occurs against the background of acute respiratory infections; often with a cough, a woman suffers from a runny nose, fever, weakness and other manifestations of a cold. If a dry cough appears, you cannot wait until it turns into a wet cough for several reasons. First of all, with a dry cough, the abdominal cavity is under constant pressure, which prevents you from fully resting at night. Therefore, it is necessary to treat, or rather calm down, a dry cough without delay.

One of the most common causes of cough is chronic or acute inflammation in the upper and lower respiratory tract. If a cough appears against the background of a runny nose, the cause of this may be mucus draining down the back of the nasopharynx, which leads to irritation of the mucous membrane and, accordingly, to a coughing attack. With inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis), a cough appears as a reaction to the inflammatory process.

Inflammation of the bronchi and lung tissue (bronchitis, pneumonia) leads to cough as a result of the accumulation of sputum in the lower respiratory tract in large quantities. Allergic diseases can also cause coughing; this cause is also widespread among pregnant women. Allergic cough is caused by obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and allergic tracheitis. Much less often, cough occurs against the background of neurotic reactions of the body, diseases of the ear canal, stomach, diaphragm, cardiovascular system, thyroid gland.

Symptoms of cough during pregnancy

Cough during pregnancy occurs for a variety of reasons, but many are mistaken, assuming that cough develops only against the background of diseases of the respiratory tract or lungs. A cough may indicate heart failure, cancer, or tuberculosis. In such conditions, a long-lasting cough is usually a concern.

A cough caused by a viral infection, such as the flu, is unproductive in the first few days, and then mucus appears, possibly with purulent impurities. A person experiences chest pain, a cough is accompanied by fever, weakness, and headache.

If the cause of the cough is bronchitis, then it is productive from the very beginning of its appearance. A sharp and severe cough is the main symptom of bronchitis, which is a complication of a previous cold. With bronchitis, the temperature rises slightly, weakness and lethargy appear. If bronchitis develops into a chronic form, then the cough is dull, with the release of sputum, sometimes with admixtures of pus, and later the sputum acquires a brownish tint. Coughing attacks worsen in the cold, in stuffy rooms, causing pain in the chest area. The temperature may be slight, and general weakness appears.

In bronchial asthma, the cough is chronic, very severe, and can sometimes provoke an attack of suffocation. This cough worsens at certain times of the year, usually in spring or autumn, and occurs under the influence of an allergen. As a rule, with bronchial asthma, the mucus is very thick and transparent, and is secreted in rather small quantities.

Chronic pharyngitis, sinusitis, and rhinitis cause frequent attacks of dry cough. As a rule, the cough gets worse at night. Possible pain in the forehead and under the eyes.

In diseases of the pleura, a dry cough is observed, which gives off pain in the sternum. Inflammation of the pleura is accompanied by very high fever, shortness of breath, and severe pain in the chest area. With tuberculosis, at first the cough is mild, mostly dry, then develops into a severe wet cough that debilitates the person. Usually worsens at night, bloody impurities may appear in the mucus. When the disease occurs, the temperature remains at 37-38 degrees, the person loses weight sharply, and suffers from profuse sweating and chills. The disease usually develops as a result of contact with a sick person.

When you get whooping cough, from the very first days a very strong cough begins, which often ends in vomiting.

Measles is accompanied by a dry, debilitating cough, a rash appears on the skin and mucous membranes, and the temperature rises.

During the cancer process in the lungs, first a dry and then a wet cough appears with the release of pus. If the cancer is in the bronchi, then the sputum is similar in color to raspberry jelly.

Heart failure is accompanied by a debilitating dry cough, shortness of breath appears, attacks usually occur during exertion, worsen at night, very similar to an asthmatic attack, with the only difference that with heart failure, the cough stops when standing up. In case of heart failure, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness are observed - all these signs usually do not cause suspicion and the disease goes unnoticed.

Wet cough during pregnancy

A wet cough usually appears in the autumn-winter period, during the period of exacerbation of colds. Cough is a kind of defense of the body against the penetration of viruses, irritation of the mucous membrane, etc. A wet cough during pregnancy can be caused by both a common cold and more serious diseases - bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, pneumonia.

Doctors call a wet cough productive because it has an effective result for the body, namely the removal of sputum containing viruses from the bronchi. This is a good sign that the body is fighting the disease.

In diseases of the respiratory system, a wet cough usually occurs; an increase in bronchial secretions occurs in the body, as a result of which sputum with harmful bacteria and viruses begins to be released. The type of sputum can indicate a disease, for example, a transparent color indicates bronchial asthma, a reddish tint indicates pneumonia.

A wet cough manifests itself as one of the symptoms of various diseases that affect the respiratory system. Often a wet cough occurs when there is a disease of the lungs or bronchi (influenza, acute bronchitis, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis).

Dry cough during pregnancy

A dry or nonproductive cough tends to be more painful. Attacks of dry cough can cause increasing irritation of the respiratory tract and can even provoke vomiting.

If a dry cough appears during pregnancy, this may mean that the bronchi are unable to get rid of accumulated mucus. The body uses a cough to push the trachea and bronchi to remove mucus.

A persistent dry cough for a long time may indicate pneumonia, especially if there is a high fever. If the temperature is not elevated, but when you cough you feel a sore throat and severe pain, then in this case there may be an inflammation of the throat.

Quite often, a dry cough develops against the background of viral infections and respiratory diseases. If the cough has acquired a barking sound, then inflammation of the larynx or vocal cords may have begun. In this case, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment, since inflammation of the larynx can lead to suffocation. A dull, dry cough occurs with cancer in the respiratory tract or tuberculosis. A dry, paroxysmal cough that can break out before vomiting may indicate whooping cough or bronchial asthma.

To alleviate the condition of a pregnant woman with a dry cough, you need to first of all calm it down. To do this, you can use some syrups (but not in the first trimester), which will soothe the mucous membrane and, probably, push the bronchi to remove mucus.

A dry cough can appear for a variety of reasons, but the most common is respiratory diseases. Very often, a cough is accompanied by a runny nose, fever, weakness, poor appetite, sore throat, etc. It is impossible to wait until a dry cough turns into a wet one for several reasons, primarily because of tension in the abdominal muscles, which can harm the child; also, a dry cough does not allow you to fully rest at night. All this does not give a pregnant woman time to wait until the body copes with the illness on its own; a dry cough needs to be calmed as soon as possible.

You can calm a dry cough with special medications; they will have a calming, analgesic effect. When choosing a medicine, be sure to read the composition of the drug; it should not contain narcotic substances (morphine, codeine). During pregnancy, preference should be given to those drugs that are recommended by manufacturers for children under three years of age. But in any case, it is not advisable to take any medications, especially in the first trimester; it is better to try to calm a dry cough with the help of traditional medicine. In this case, everything depends on the individual characteristics of your body, incl. intolerance to some components. The simplest and most effective help for dry cough is inhalation. Inhaling warm steam (especially boiled potatoes in their jackets) will calm you down and bring long-awaited relief. You can also use a decoction of chamomile, sage, linden blossom, and plantain. If you do not have a special inhaler, you can use the method that our grandmothers used - inhaling vapors over a saucepan, covered with a towel. But such procedures are contraindicated in case of high blood pressure and temperature.

For a dry cough, the main treatment should be aimed at turning it into a wet one. As soon as the process of removing mucus begins, the bronchi will begin to get rid of infection, bacteria and inflamed particles of the bronchi.

Of course, first you need to get rid of the cause of the cough (allergies, infections, etc.). But it is better to take any medications on the recommendation of a doctor; depending on the nature of the cough, he will prescribe appropriate (thinning or expectorant) medications.

Severe cough during pregnancy

A severe, debilitating cough during pregnancy not only causes great inconvenience, but can also cause severe pain. When a coughing attack begins, there is no way to breathe, the woman cannot fully rest at night, the cough can be painful until vomiting appears. A severe cough during pregnancy occurs for various reasons; as already mentioned, the most common is a viral respiratory tract infection. Often a cough occurs against the background of a runny nose - mucus flows down the nasopharynx, which causes irritation of the mucous membrane and, accordingly, a severe coughing attack.

Inflammation can begin in the pharynx, larynx, trachea - all this will cause coughing attacks. If inflammation affects the tissues of the bronchi or lungs, bronchitis and pneumonia begin, as a result of which a large amount of mucus accumulates in the bronchi, which, along with infections, is expelled when coughing.

In addition, severe coughing attacks can cause allergic conditions. Cough rarely occurs due to diseases of the stomach, thyroid gland, heart, etc. As you can see, there are plenty of reasons for a strong cough, but it is the underlying disease that poses a direct threat to a pregnant woman, against the background of which a strong cough has developed. But the cough itself cannot be ignored. With a strong cough, a woman’s intra-abdominal pressure increases, and this is very dangerous for a pregnant woman. Tension of the abdominal muscles and high pressure in the abdominal cavity can provoke premature birth, placental abruption, and miscarriage. Those. a severe cough during pregnancy poses a serious threat, and treatment cannot be delayed or delayed. Cough is the body’s natural defense against bacteria, viruses, dust, and foreign particles entering the lungs. When they enter the bronchi, the “unwanted guests” dismount with mucus and then cough and are pushed out. In a way, coughing plays the role of clearing the lungs of various contaminants that enter there when inhaled. But you should not completely rely on your immune system and wait for the body to cope with the infection itself, especially for pregnant women. First of all, a woman’s immunity is depressed and therefore is not able to perform its functions 100%; moreover, coughing attacks can lead to unwanted pregnancy complications.

Treatment of cough should be started from the very beginning of the disease, so you can achieve a positive effect in the first few days, preventing the development of more severe symptoms. A severe cough is dangerous for both mother and child, so in the first stages it is good to fight it using traditional methods, for example, honey with warm milk - it will calm down and relieve a cough attack. You can do a chest massage with honey (if you are not allergic to honey). A woman should rest more, drink enough liquid (tea with jam, lemon, warm compotes, herbal decoctions, etc.), it is advisable to ventilate the room as often as possible.

Consequences of cough during pregnancy

A cough in a person’s normal state is not dangerous, rather the opposite. When you cough, the bronchi are cleansed of accumulated mucus, pus, bacteria, etc. But coughing during pregnancy poses an immediate threat to the baby, and it is necessary to start treating it as early as possible.

The consequences of a cough are felt almost immediately by a pregnant woman. A coughing attack provokes tension in the abdominal wall, as well as the uterus. Frequent, long and regular coughing attacks lead to strong tone of the uterus, which at the beginning of pregnancy can cause miscarriage, and in later stages – premature birth, but in both cases, the life of the mother and child is in serious danger.

But these are not the only consequences that a cough can lead to. With hypertonicity of the uterus, blood circulation worsens, as a result, the child in the womb does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients and oxygen starvation develops (hypoxia).

An equally serious consequence is placental abruption and high blood pressure, which also leads to negative consequences during pregnancy. A severe dry cough can cause vomiting, which can lead to dehydration, weakness, and loss of important vitamins and minerals. Plus, nights of inadequate sleep are added to everything. But all these conditions occur with advanced forms of cough, which is extremely undesirable.

It is important to remember that a cough does not develop on its own; it develops against the background of a certain disease, sometimes extremely severe. You need to know that completely different methods are used to treat dry and wet cough. Expectant mothers should undergo any drug treatment under the strict supervision of a doctor so as not to harm themselves and the baby.

Treatment of cough during pregnancy

For a dry cough, which is accompanied by a sore throat (against a cold), inhalations help well, which can be carried out using a special device, an inhaler, or you can use a simple method - breathing vapor over a wide cup or saucepan. To enhance the effect, you can cover yourself with a towel. You need to breathe for about 5-10 minutes; you should not experience any discomfort during the procedure. You can repeat no more than 5-6 procedures per day, in this case you need to monitor your well-being.

Inhalations are contraindicated at high temperatures, as it can rise even higher. After the procedure, you need to give maximum rest to your throat - do not drink, do not eat, do not talk.

The following inhalations, which are permitted in such cases, are well suited for pregnant women:

• honey - dissolve one part of honey in five parts of warm water (approx. 40 degrees), breathe over the resulting solution through the nose and mouth, alternately.
• sage tincture – 2 tbsp. pour boiling water (200 ml) over spoons, leave covered for 20 minutes
• put pine needle extract into boiling water (you can use essential oil), 2 teaspoons of dried eucalyptus leaves, crushed garlic (1 teaspoon), validol tablet (as a source of menthol).
• soda – per liter of boiling water 2-3 tbsp. spoons of soda, such inhalations when coughing are good at removing spasms, and also do not cause allergic reactions.

There are now ultrasonic inhalers on the market that use cold steam, such inhalers are well suited for high temperatures. But such devices need to be filled with specially prepared solutions, so before treatment you need to carefully study the composition of the drug so that it does not contain components contraindicated during pregnancy.

When coughing, you can use gargles to soothe an irritated throat. The following recipes help relieve coughing attacks:

• mix eucalyptus, calendula flowers, and sage in equal proportions. 1 tbsp. Pour boiling water (200 ml) into spoons of the resulting mixture, then heat in a water bath for ten minutes, making sure it does not boil. Gargle with the resulting cooled broth several times a day. This infusion has short-term healing properties of only a few hours, so it is always better to use freshly prepared one.
• in equal proportions take raspberry leaves, pine buds, mint, chamomile leaves, marshmallow root, clover flowers, coltsfoot grass, fireweed - 1 tbsp. spoons of the mixture into 200 ml of boiling water, heat in a water bath for about 15 minutes, then the broth is poured into a thermos (or you can use a jar, wrapping it well) and leave for 2 hours, after the broth has infused, you need to strain it and use it for rinsing several times in a day.
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda per 200 ml of warm water

Drinking plenty of fluids reduces pain in an irritated throat, softens coughs, thins mucus, makes coughing easier and improves the general condition. When coughing, it is recommended to take the following decoctions and tinctures:

• take 2 dry figs and boil in milk for about 20 minutes. It is best to drink this decoction warm before bed.
• warm milk, honey, butter and soda on the tip of a knife. You need to drink several times a day.
• prepare a mixture of dried apples, raspberries, raisins, rose hips and hawthorn, take 4 tbsp. spoons, brew 400 ml of boiling water. Heat in a water bath for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat, cover with a lid and let sit for half an hour, strain. Drink the infusion warm several times a day; you can add a little honey for taste.
• half a glass of dried viburnum fruits should be poured with 400 ml of boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes, then strain. You can add honey to your drink, take half a glass several times a day.

For a dry cough that has developed against the background of laryngitis, tracheitis, or bronchitis, you can alleviate the condition with herbal remedies:

• prepare a mixture of equal parts of rose hips, chamomile, plantain leaves, primrose herb. Pour 2 tbsp. tablespoons of the mixture with 400 ml of boiling water and slowly heat in a water bath for 20 minutes, then cover the broth with a lid and let it brew for 30 minutes, strain. Take 1/3 cup several times a day.
• mix in equal parts thyme, flax seeds, anise fruits, 1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of the resulting mixture into 200 ml of cool boiled water, leave for two hours, then slowly bring the broth to a boil, let cool slightly and strain. The decoction is consumed three times, 1/3 cup each.
• 1 tbsp. A spoonful of marshmallow root must be infused in a glass of cold water for 8-10 hours; it is good to prepare this medicine in the evening, then in the morning all that remains is to strain and drink 1/3 glass three times a day.
• prepare clover flowers tea as usual (take 2 teaspoons in a porcelain teapot), leave for 15 minutes and drink half a glass warm several times a day, maybe with honey (this tea is suitable for bronchial asthma).
• for pneumonia, bronchitis, etc., a wet cough can be treated well with an infusion of three tablespoons of coltsfoot (you need to mix the flowers and leaves in equal proportions) in two glasses of boiling water. Leave for an hour and a half in a thermos, then strain and drink 1/3 glass several times a day.

How to treat cough during pregnancy?

Cough during pregnancy must be treated with one very important condition: not to harm the baby. As soon as a woman feels unwell, she should immediately consult a doctor. When treating, you also need to take into account the duration of pregnancy, since in the first three months it is prohibited to use any medications, and in the last months the use of some medications is allowed.

Treatment of a pregnant woman should be aimed at relieving cough and eliminating the main source of the disease. If you have a respiratory infection, you can help your body with folk remedies. With proper use of medicinal herbs, you can get rid of even a very severe cough. Herbs work best in direct contact with the sore area - the throat. Inhalations and rinses are well suited for these purposes. The breast mixture is well suited for both inhalation and rinsing (sold ready-made at the pharmacy). If you don’t have a special inhaler, you can use a saucepan, a kettle (breathe through the spout), you can also roll a piece of paper into a cone and breathe that way. When treating a cough, it is best to choose several methods (rinsing + inhalations + oral herbal infusions); with such an integrated approach, the effectiveness of treatment will be higher and recovery will come faster.

If traditional medicine does not cope or there are any contraindications for treatment, for example, allergies, then you should definitely consult a doctor about possible drug treatment. As a rule, in such situations, natural preparations are prescribed, which include herbs (plantain syrup, mucaltin). Rinsing helps a lot and reduces pain and irritation. A wet cough during pregnancy takes much longer to treat, since strong drugs are not used.

Aroma oils are well suited for treating coughs; for this you need to drop a few drops into a special aroma lamp; if you don’t have one, use a handkerchief or napkin. You can use star balm, eucalyptus oil, and sage oil for aromatherapy. When treating a cough, the main thing is to prevent the process from getting worse, otherwise there will be serious complications.

Prevention of cough during pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is important to ensure that the weakened body receives a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, especially during the cold season, when the “cold season” begins.

If you are going to a place where there will be a lot of people (antenatal clinic, work, transport, store, etc.), you need to lubricate your nose with oxolinic ointment, which will not allow viruses to enter the body.

If one of your household members is sick, you can fight the infection with the help of aroma: finely chop the garlic and place it around the room in small plates or saucers. Garlic contains a large amount of phytoncides (antimicrobial substances of plant origin), they will help protect against the spread of infection around the house.

It is necessary to ventilate the rooms daily, even in the cold season. It is best to ventilate the room before going to bed for 15-20 minutes (you do not need to be in a ventilated room at this time).

Aroma oil is an excellent antimicrobial agent. Eucalyptus, tea tree, fir, and orange oils can be used to protect against viruses, both at home and in public places, by lubricating the nose with a drop of oil (provided that the aroma does not irritate or cause discomfort).

It is important to monitor the air humidity in the room. When using heaters, it is good to get special humidifiers to prevent the air from drying out. You can humidify the air with a wet towel on the radiator, but this is not as effective.

Coughing during pregnancy is a protective function of the body; it removes bacteria and viruses from the bronchi. A wet cough, by its nature, is more effective, since sputum with pathological contents is expelled, whereas this does not happen with a dry cough. When treating a dry cough, it is important to soothe an irritated throat and help the cough take on a productive form, i.e. became wet. A cough for a pregnant woman poses an immediate danger, as it causes overstrain of the abdominal muscles, which threatens to complicate pregnancy. A cough, both dry and wet, should be treated immediately after it appears. In the first days, you can try to cope with the disease with the help of traditional medicine, and if there is no improvement or it gets worse, you should urgently consult a doctor so that the process does not go too far.

Everyone knows that it is generally better for a woman not to get sick during pregnancy. However, unfortunately, not everyone can avoid catching a cold. That is why in this article I would like to talk about how dangerous a cough is during pregnancy and what medications can be used to treat it.

What is a cough

At the very beginning, you need to understand the basic term. So what is a cough? It must be remembered that this is not a disease, but a symptom of a certain disease. Cough itself is a special protective reaction of the body, during which a person tries to cope with the problem that has arisen. So if a pregnant woman coughs several times, it is best to seek doctor's advice. After all, this may indicate that the body is signaling a certain disease in this way.

Danger 1. Disease

Understanding how dangerous a cough is during pregnancy, it is worth saying that the symptom itself is not as terrible as the disease that causes it. That is why, at the very first moments of the appearance of this unpleasant sensation, you need to go for a doctor’s consultation. The sooner a specific disease that causes a cough is identified, the easier the treatment process will be, and the sooner recovery will occur.

Danger 2. Increased uterine tone

It is also necessary to talk about the dangers during pregnancy. Thus, experts say that it can lead to high blood supply to the fetus, which leads to low oxygen supply and, as a result, hypoxia. At the same time, intrauterine pressure may also increase, which is very undesirable for the baby.

Danger 3. Uterine bleeding

Let's look further at how dangerous a cough is during pregnancy. So, ladies who have placenta previa should be especially attentive to this symptom. Muscle tension, which with these problems can cause coughing, often leads to the opening of uterine bleeding.

Danger 4: Vomiting

So, if a cough occurs during pregnancy, how dangerous is it and how can it threaten a woman in an interesting position? So, if it is very strong, vomiting is often a consequence of the cough reflex. And this is very dangerous for expectant mothers. After all, such a phenomenon leads to an impact not only on the woman herself, but also on her baby. If the cough results in vomiting, it is important to maintain it in the body.

Myths

Probably all women know various myths about pregnancy. Many “well-wishers” can tell you how dangerous a cough is in this situation. It is worth saying that this natural reflex of the body cannot lead to miscarriage or premature birth. For this to happen, the cough must be very strong and prolonged. Most often, such a development of events is only possible if the woman is struck by a severe infection or virus (coughing is one of the symptoms).

The main thing in the treatment of cough

Having figured out how dangerous a cough is during pregnancy, we need to say that it is important to immediately seek doctor’s help when this symptom appears. After all, only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. After all, the choice of cough remedy depends only on the specifics of the disease itself. It should also be said that pregnant women should not self-medicate using various herbs. After all, some of them may be contraindicated in this condition. Often taking them leads to multiple problems.

First trimester: cough treatment

Every woman should remember that the first couple of months of pregnancy are the most important for the baby. After all, at this time the formation of all systems and organs occurs. It is worth saying that all sorts of pathologies of fetal development are formed precisely at this time. And they can even be triggered by taking certain medications that are prohibited for a special category of people (including pregnant women).

What can it be like (how dangerous is it in the first trimester - we figured it out) if we are talking about a dry cough?

1. Herbal preparations that can be used without fear: Eucabal, Marshmallow Root, Mucaltin.
2. which are also safe for mother and baby: “Stodal”, “Pulsatilla”.
3. Drugs whose effect on the body of pregnant women has not been thoroughly studied: Gedelix, Doctor Mom.
4. Drugs that should be used only as a last resort (if there is a threat to the mother’s life): this is a medicine such as Libexin.

If a woman has a wet cough, she can take the following medications to get rid of the problem:

1. You can safely take a drug such as Doctor Theiss.
2. Homeopathic medicines: Stodal, Pulsatilla.
3. Drugs whose effect on the body of expectant mothers has not been fully studied: “Bronchipret”, “Bronchicum”.

Second and third trimesters: cough treatment

If a woman has an issue in the second or third trimester, treatment in this case may be as follows.

Dry cough: the same drugs as if taken in the first trimester. However, if the disease is too serious, you can take drugs such as Akodin, Stoptussin. But we must remember that these drugs are harmful to the baby.

Moist cough. Again, the treatment will be the same as in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, in some cases, if there is a serious threat to the life and health of the mother, the lady can take one of the following drugs: Fluifort, Ambroxol.

What you can do at home

As has already been said many times, if a woman has a cough during pregnancy, treatment should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor. However, it happens that it is not possible to see the attending physician. How can you cope with this symptom in this case?

1. Inhalations. However, you need to remember that the expectant mother should not have an elevated body temperature. The number of procedures per day is no more than 6 (about 5 minutes each). The temperature of the solution should not exceed 40°C. After the procedure, it is undesirable to eat or even talk for half an hour.
2. Gargling. This should be no more than 8 rinses per day (it is better to carry out the procedure after meals). You can use various means for this: soda solutions, herbal infusions.

What you should absolutely not do

If a pregnant woman has a cough, you need to remember that there is a list of procedures that in this case can be hazardous to health:

1. Hot baths.
2. Steam foot baths.
3. Banks.
4. Mustard plasters.
5. Electrotherapy.
6. Treatment with radiation.

It must be remembered that these procedures can harm not only the health of the mother in this condition, but also her unborn baby.