Head Cold While Pregnant

Head cold occurs due to the attack of common cold virus on the upper respiratory tract. As a result, phlegm gets accumulated inside it and clogs up the nose, throat and ears. This condition builds up pressure in the head and you experience a dull and heavy feeling, headache, etc. Other common symptoms are sore and itchy throat, nasal stuffiness, incessant sneezing, persistent cough, fever and so on. At other times, you may not face that much of a problem to deal with these symptoms. However, having a cold while pregnant worries you more because you are already dealing with several pregnancy symptoms. The worst part is that the cold while pregnant lasts longer as the immunity system is slightly compromised during this period.

Best Ways to Deal With a Cold While Pregnant

The treatment options are limited. This is because many of the medicines that are usually used for the treatment of common cold are not suitable in this condition. For this reason, home remedies are the best options available with you. A few of them are discussed below:

Take Plenty of Rest
When you are resting, it boosts up the immune system which in turn helps you to fight off the infection. If the stuffed feeling, makes it difficult to fall asleep, then just stay in bed but do not move around. Continue this till you fully recover from the head cold.

Keep Your Head Elevated
During pregnancy, you badly need some sound sleep but it gets badly disrupted by coughing and throat irritation. An excellent way of solving this problem is to raise your head while you lie down by placing a few extra pillows under the head. This will prevent the sinus drainage at the back of the throat.

Drink More Fluids
You lose out fluids from the body because of mucus drainage. To replenish this lost fluids, you must drink lots of water and keep the body hydrated. Moreover, it will flush out the toxins from your system. You can drink fruit juices that supply you with vitamin C that will strengthen the immune system. Warm liquids like herbal tea or chicken soup are also good as the heat thins out the mucus and facilitate its faster drainage.

Inhale Steam
Symptoms like cough and chest congestion is relieved with the help of steam inhalation. You can use a vaporizer for this purpose. Or else, simply boil some water and put a few drops of eucalyptus oil in it. Inhale this steam after covering up the head with a towel. The heat will open up the nasal congestion and your head feels lighter.

Use Saline Water for Gargling
Sore throat is another annoying symptom associated with a head cold. This can be relieved by gargling. Prepare the saline solution by dissolving one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Take a little saline water in your mouth and swirl it inside the mouth and throat for a few minutes and spit it out. Repeat it 4-5 times daily for best results.

Apply Warm Compression
Head cold often gives pain and tenderness in the area around the eyes. Warm compress helps to get relief from this problem. Boil some water and dip a soft, clean cloth in it. Wring out the excess water from the cloth and place it over the nose, under the eyes to alleviate the symptom.

Use Nasal Spray
To obtain relief from stuffy nose, homemade saline nasal sprays are highly effective. Dissolve one teaspoon of table salt in four cups of boiling water. Use a dropper to pour a few drops of this solution in your nose. If you use it before going to bed, you would be able to catch up with some sleep at night.

If you have fever or the symptoms worsen further, then consult your doctor for treatment. Expecting mothers are advised not to take any medicines for colds in the first trimester, unless prescribed by a doctor.