Pregnant women or new moms are not immune to colds. But when the cold occurs, they are usually worried about how the treatment of cold will affect the baby. Sometimes women suffer through a cold without any form of relief because they don’t want to harm the baby. It absolutely does not need to happen this way, because there are many remedies that are harmless to the baby and bring significant relief to a mom with a cold.
Being pregnant is exhausting enough and when a cold occurs, women should try and get as much rest as possible. Sleeping through a cold may actually be a good idea. Resting itself will not cure the cold, but it will certainly alleviate the symptoms. Sleeping with the Head and shoulders propped on pillows or cushions helps with stuffy noses and prevent a cough.
Lots of liquid is important for curing a cold. Sneezing, coughing and fever cause the body to lose liquid which needs to be compensated. The best way is to drink warm tea, herbal infuses, lemonade, or just plain water. Chicken soup, the praised home remedy for a cold, is actually effective against colds, but this only goes for homemade soups, not canned.
Sore throats can be treated with a number of remedies. Honey is good, especially with some lemon juice. Gargling salt water helps sterilize the throat and eliminate bacteria. Cough drops like Halls or Vick\'s Vitamin C help soothe a sore throat and alleviate the pain, but even plain mint candies or Lifesavers can help.
As for stuffy noses, products like Vick\'s Vaporub, rubbed on the chest or under (not inside) the nose, help clear congestion. Hot showers and humidifiers are effective against cold symptoms. One of the very useful methods for treating a cold is inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water with a few drops of lavender, eucalyptus and similar essential oils.
There are some herbal remedies that are recommended for curing a cold as well. Echinacea is considered safe for pregnant and nursing women and it helps boost the immune system. Some recommend a tea made of cloves, honey, coriander and ginger, since cloves are believed to have antiseptic qualities, honey soothes the throat, coriander helps with congestion, and ginger is good for the stomach.
One traditional cold remedy is garlic. It is best if used raw, but nursing moms should know that it may change the taste of milk into something the baby might not like. As for Vitamin C, the mighty ally in fighting colds, pregnant or nursing women should be careful not to exceed the right dosage, especially if it comes in the form of supplements. It is better to simply take it in its natural form- in fruits like lemons, oranges, grapefruit and apples, or in vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.
With these healthy and natural remedies for colds, moms can take care of themselves without worrying about potential harm to the baby.
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