Cough Treatment During Pregnancy

Cough and cold can be really annoying, especially during pregnancy. What is more problematic is that pregnant women cannot use all types of cough medications, as certain ingredients can have adverse effect on the developing fetus. So they should always check the ingredients and confirm with their physician before taking them. Given below are some medications and home remedies that can be safely used by expecting women.

Cough Treatment for Pregnant Women

There are basically three types of cough medications that are used during pregnancy. These are known as cough suppressants, expectorants, and antihistamines. Cough suppressants suppress the urge to cough, while expectorants can promote expulsion of cough by thinning the mucus. Antihistamines are usually prescribed for relieving the symptoms of allergy. Antihistamines that can be used during pregnancy are loratadine, cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, promethazine, fexofenadine, and hydroxyzine. However, be sure to take them only under the supervision of your physician. Antihistamines can help to ease the allergy symptoms like runny nose, stuffy nose and sneezing, but can also cause drowsiness.

The expectorant that is considered safe to be used during pregnancy is guaifenesin. However, this medication should not be used for a prolonged time period. The most commonly used cough suppressant in pregnancy is dextromethorphan. In one animal study, this medication has been found to cause birth defect in chick embryo. However, this study is believed to be defective in nature and dextromethorphan is largely considered as safe to be used by pregnant women. But still, they should take it only after consulting their physician.

Another drug that can be prescribed by some physicians is Sudafed, which contains the decongestants pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. Frequent use of these two ingredients can affect the blood supply to the placenta, and thus pregnant women are advised to avoid this drug for the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. The risk of birth defects caused by these two ingredients is quite low. But this risk could be higher for women who smoke.

Natural Treatment for Cough in Pregnancy

Mild to moderate cough can also be treated at home with some simple cough remedies. Drinking plenty of fluid or water is one such remedy that can help to thin the mucus and get rid of cough. Taking plenty of rest too can help to speed up the process of recovery. If you are suffering from a stuffy nose, then you can use saline drop. Similarly, gargling with slightly warm saline water can provide great relief from sore throat.

Mentholated products like Vicks VapoRub can be rubbed on the chest to get temporary relief from cough symptoms. If you have not been able to sleep comfortably due to nasal stuffiness, then consider sleeping in a slightly elevated position by putting some pillows at the top end of your mattress. Apart from these, you can try some safe remedies like honey added to a glass of warm water or a glass of orange or lemon juice. A warm shower, steam inhalation, drinking hot soup and zinc lozenges are some other simple ways to get rid of cough.

To sum up, the use of cough medicine during pregnancy should be minimized. Pregnant women suffering from cough should talk to their physician regarding the use of appropriate medications, rather than practicing self-medication. Even though some cough medications can be safely used by expectant mothers, they should not be used for a prolonged period.