Why Get A Flu Shot
- Pregnant women who get the flu are at higher risk of hospitalization, and even death, than non-pregnant women.
- Severe illness in the pregnant mother can also be dangerous to her fetus.
- When you get your flu shot, your body starts to make antibodies that help protect you and your baby against the flu.
- Antibodies can be passed on to your unborn baby, and help protect the baby for up to six months after he or she is born.
Common Cold Symptoms During Pregnancy
Generally, a cold will start with a sore or scratchy throat lasting about a day or two, followed by the gradual onset of other symptoms which may include:
- Sneezing
- Mild fatigue
- A runny, then later stuffy nose
- A dry cough, particularly as the cold is ending which may continue for a week or more after the other symptoms have mostly subsided
- A low-grade fever typically under 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Cold symptoms usually last between 10 to 14 days. However, if your symptoms persist longer than that time frame or seem to progressively worsen, you should talk to your primary care physician so they can ensure it hasnt turned into something more serious like an infection or the flu.
Safe Yeast Infection Remedies During Pregnancy
The American Pregnancy Association recommends vaginal creams and suppositories but warns that not all are safe during pregnancy. So, consult your doctor. Most likely, your doctor will recommend:
- Clotrimazole
- Terconazole
It may feel like navigating a minefield to understand which medications are safe to take during pregnancy, but the efforts become worth it when you meet your healthy baby for the first time. Be careful and consciousness with over-the-counter medications during pregnancy, and ask your doctor if you have any questions. And remember to get your flu shot from your AWH Dallas practitioner.
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Safe Medications For Pregnant Women
Your obstetrician from Genesee Valley OB/GYN will review any medications you are currently taking to decide what is safe to continue taking during pregnancy. Some medications and herbal supplements can increase your chance of birth defects, and your doctor will review any medication you may need to stop taking if youre pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen, allergy medicine, and cold medicines are generally safe to take, while aspirin and ibuprofen should be avoided.
How To Save On Prescription Medications
Whether you are insured or uninsured, pregnancy and birth can be expensive. If you take prescription drugs or have been newly prescribed a medication, ScriptSave WellRx can help you find the best cash prices.
Simply type your prescription into our easy-to-use price comparison search and well show you the lowest cash prices at local pharmacies. You can also easily find savings on the go using the ScriptSave WellRx mobile app. and search for the best prescription prices anywhere, at any time. For even more features, like our virtual medicine chest and grocery guidance tool, create a free ScriptSave WellRx account!
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Cold Medicines That Can Be Taken While Pregnant
14 August, 2017
Pregnant women may develop a cold at one time or another during the nine months of pregnancy. Severe cold symptoms may require the use of over-the-counter medications for relief. According to the American Family Physician, most over-the-counter drugs have an excellent safety profile, while some have unproven safety or are known to adversely affect the fetus. Always contact your physician prior to taking any medication during your pregnancy.
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Does A Cough And Cold During Pregnancy Affect The Baby
When you become pregnant, your immune system is likely to change. As a result of these changes, you may contract a cold or cough at some point during your pregnancy. In addition, your illness may last longer. The good news is that even though you probably feel fatigued, the symptoms of a cold or flu are not typically dangerous to your baby. However, it is important to take the necessary measures to avoid contracting a cold or cough during pregnancy and to treat it once you get one.
- Get ample rest Take naps, sleep through the night, and sit down to relax. These are great ways to give your body much-needed downtime. Learn more about the importance of bed rest during pregnancy.
- Drink plenty of fluids Drink water, juice, or broth to add necessary fluids back into your body.
- Eat well Even if you cannot stomach larger meals, try eating small portions often.
- Reduce congestion Place a humidifier in your room, keep your head elevated on your pillow while resting, or use nasal strips.
- Alleviate your sore throat Suck on ice chips, drink warm tea, or gargle with warm salt water.
It is best to reduce the number of over-the-counter medications you take. Many medications you normally would use to treat the symptoms of your cold are not safe to take during your pregnancy. The following is a list of medications that pose little risk to your baby during pregnancy however, it is best to consult with your doctor before taking any medications to relieve your symptoms.
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Can I Take Cold Medicine During Pregnancy
While there is never really a good time to have a cold or the flu, having one during pregnancy comes with additional difficulties. Unfortunately, getting sick during pregnancy isnt uncommonthe immune system goes through a series of changes during those nine months.
When faced with a seasonal cold or flu while pregnant, you must consider not only your own health but that of your baby’s. While there are certain drugs to avoid, suffering through your symptoms isn’t necessary. Read on for a few tips to consider.
How To Treat The Flu While Pregnant
It is usually safe for pregnant women to treat the flu with Tamiflu . Keep in mind that a high fever can lead to birth defects or preterm birth, so your doctor may recommend Tamiflu to help lessen the effects of the flu. Always seek advice from a medical professional if you develop flu-like symptoms while pregnant, including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Congestion
- Fatigue
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Is It Safe To Take Cold Medications During Pregnancy
Is it safe to take cold medications during pregnancy? Here are a few cold medications that are okay to take during pregnancy: The antihistamines chlorpheniramine, loratadine, doxylamine, brompheniramine, phenindamine, pheniramine, triprolidine, and diphenhydramine are considered low risk during pregnancy, but they can make you sleepy, especially doxylamine and diphenhydramine.
What is the best cold medicine for pregnant women? Safe Cold Medicines during Pregnancy. The best medicines you can take during pregnancy include cough drops, Vicks VapoRub, acetaminophen , Sudafed, Claritin, and calcium carbonate, among others. Ideal for soothing inflammation and suppressing coughing, without any known side effects.
What are cold medicines okay to take while pregnant? Here are a few cold medications that are okay to take during pregnancy: The antihistamines chlorpheniramine, loratadine, doxylamine, brompheniramine, phenindamine, pheniramine, triprolidine, and diphenhydramine are considered low risk during pregnancy, but they can make you sleepy, especially doxylamine and diphenhydramine.
What drugs are safe during pregnancy? Chlorpheniramine, such as Triaminic Allergy, and diphenhydramine, such as Benadryl, are safe to take during pregnancy. However, both can cause drowsiness, so these are best taken at bedtime. The maximum dosage for chlorpheniramine is 32 mg in 24 hours.
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How Can I Prevent The Flu During Pregnancy
There are many steps that can be taken as precautionary measures to prevent the flu. A few of these simple steps include regularly washing your hands, healthy eating habits, getting plenty of sleep, and staying away from those who have the flu. The CDC recommends getting your flu vaccination as the most effective way to prevent getting the flu while pregnant.
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What Are The Medications And Safety Measures For A Pregnant Woman And Her Foetus
Generally speaking, it can be said that the broad principles for treating a cold and the flu apply whether or not a woman is pregnant. However, the drug choice to ease symptoms can sometimes differ and requires greater caution.
First, a salt water solution should be used to relieve sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion. There are various formulations available at the pharmacy. If this measure is ineffective, the use of certain over-the-counter medications may be considered. If this occurs, be sure to ask your pharmacist for advice.
Unless otherwise instructed by a healthcare professional, acetaminophen can be used to ease muscle pain, sore throat, headache or fever. Do not take other medications to ease symptoms unless recommended by a doctor or pharmacist. Gargling with salt water may help to ease a sore throat.
Dextromethorphan is a good choice to ease a dry and unpleasant cough. Some cough syrups contain an expectorant called guaifenesin. This medication is considered safe, but its effectiveness has not been proven. In this context, it may be better to avoid it altogether.
If you are pregnant, always speak to your pharmacist before taking any medication, including natural health products and supplements. Since many products contain several ingredients, vigilance is key.
How To Prevent Flu In Pregnancy
Getting a flu shot is the most effective way to protect yourself from a flu infection. Vaccination has been proven to be effective against the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant women by up to half. Babies of vaccinated mothers are born with immunity that would last for a few weeks against flu.
September and October are the best months to get yourself vaccinated, however, doctors might also consider early vaccination for women who are already in their third trimester of pregnancy .
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From Cold And Cough To Hemorrhoid And Nausea We Break Down Safe Otc Medications To Take While Pregnant
Its the dead of winter and you cant sleep, because youre 7 months pregnant and your baby has decided to be nocturnal. You know you need sleep, because lack of good rest inhibits your immune system. This stresses you out, because your spouse has a nasty cold, and youd rather avoid it.
Your spouse is resting peacefully in the guest room because he has a plethora of over-the-counter medications at his disposal.
But not you. Youre pregnant, and your OTC medicine choices are extremely limited. So, you hope to stay healthy amid the stress and discomfort of pregnancy. Not to mention its cold and flu season.
Then, you realize. Your nose is running. Your sinuses feel clogged. Youre getting sick.
Your first instinct is to want to grab those great medications your spouse is taking. But you know you have to be careful.
In no time, youre miserable with symptoms of the common cold. Youre desperate for relief, but you know the safety of your baby is paramount.
Advanced Womens Healthcare is here to help with a comprehensive list of safe over-the-counter medications to take during pregnancy. Always consult your doctor for the best personalized choices for you.
Pregnant women: Dont forget to get your flu shot at AWH Dallas!
Is It Safe To Get A Flu Shot During Pregnancy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu shot has an excellent safety record in over a million pregnant women who are administered the flu shot over several years . For most pregnant women, it is safe to get a flu shot during pregnancy. Inform your doctor if you are severely allergic to anything or have a history of allergic reaction to a flu shot.
Some flu shots contain compounds extracted from eggs. While most people with egg allergies can safely take the flu shot, discuss with your doctor about the safety of flu shot for you if you are severely allergic to eggs. You may consider having the shot administered in a hospital setting and under supervision so that you can receive emergency care in case of an adverse reaction .
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Is It A Cold Or The Flu
The best way to tell the difference between a cold and the flu is to take account of the typical symptoms.
- A cold is milder than the flu. Its symptoms come on gradually and typically you only run a low-grade to no fever. It generally starts off with a sore throat that goes away after a day or two, a cold ends with the main symptoms of a runny nose and cough.
- Influenza, commonly called the flu, is more severe and the onset is more sudden than a cold. Symptoms include a high fever , headache, chills, a sore throat that typically worsens by the second or third day, intense muscle soreness, and a general feeling of weakness and fatigue. These symptoms, along with sneezing and a cough, can last a couple of weeks or longer.
Assessment Of Pregnant Women With Influenza
Pregnant women with suspected influenza should be assessed based on a variety of symptoms, including but not limited to fever of 100.0°F or higher, cough, fatigue, headache, and body aches. It is important to note that not all people infected with influenza will develop a fever therefore, the absence of fever should not rule out an influenza diagnosis Figure 1. Initial triage and treatment by telephone is acceptable to help reduce the spread of disease among other pregnant patients in the office.
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Can You Take Cold Medicine When Pregnant
There is a huge variety of cough and cold products available. It can be so hard to know what to take!
Good news is, most cold medications are pregnancy-safe, especially in the second or third trimester. Theres no need to suffer with sinus infections or an upper respiratory tract infection just find the medication that fits your symptoms best with your doctors approval.
In general, over the counter medications are safe for pregnancy . Short-term use is typically OK, especially after the first trimester of pregnancy. But be careful with liquid cough medications as they often contain alcohol. Medications like DayQuil and NyQuil may not be safe.
If you are experiencing cold symptoms, . As a general rule, you should always ask your provider before starting any medical treatments. Your specific symptoms may be better treated by prescription medications. In most cases, the cold medicines you have in the medicine cabinet are OK, but you should always call your doctor and ask first.
Before taking over the counter medications, try some natural remedies. During the first trimester of pregnancy, it is safest to start with these natural cold symptom relievers and to switch to medication if your symptoms dont improve and with doctors approval.
If your symptoms do not approve, you can use medication as well as use some of these natural cold relieving methods.
Safe Medications For The Flu During Pregnancy
While many of the medications you used to reach for before you became pregnant are off-limits now, there are still some meds that are safe to take to relieve symptoms of the flu during pregnancy:
- Antivirals. Tamiflu and other antivirals are safe if prescribed by a practitioner who has diagnosed you with the flu.
- Acetaminophen. If you’re running a fever or suffering from nasty body aches or headaches, it’s generally considered safe to take products containing acetaminophen, such as Tylenol. Just talk to your doctor about the proper dosing.
- Cough remedies. Expectorants as well as cough suppressants as well as most cough drops are considered safe during pregnancy, but ask your practitioner about whether they’re okay for you and about dosing.
- Some nasal sprays. Most steroid-containing nasal sprays are fine to use during pregnancy, but check with your doctor about brands and dosing. Plain saline drops and sprays are always safe to take when you’re expecting and can help clear and moisturize a stuffy nose.
- Some antihistamines. Benadryl and Claritin often get the green light during pregnancy, but be sure to check with your practitioner before taking them. Some doctors will advise staying away from those medications in the first trimester.
Remember: Never take any medication without consulting with a doctor who knows youre expecting.
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Are There Safe Medications For Flu During Pregnancy
The US government has approved the use of the following three antiviral medications to treat flu in pregnant women or mothers who have recently delivered their babies . Your doctor might prescribe them based on the necessity of medicines for your condition.
- Dosage: One 600mg dose by intravenous injection for 15-30 minutes
- The medicine is only delivered intravenously through a needle
Do not take any medicines without consulting the doctor if you are a pregnant or nursing woman. If you develop fever, ask your healthcare provider if you can take acetaminophen. Small, frequent meals, ample rest, and plenty of fluids can help you feel better.
Antiviral Flu Drugs Safe In Mid
No higher rates of complications seen in babies when mom took these meds after 22 weeks of pregnancy
HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, March 1, 2017 — Taking antiviral drugs to prevent or treat flu during pregnancy doesn’t appear to put the health of the fetus at risk, a new study finds.
Researchers reviewed information from nearly 6,000 pregnant women who were given a prescription for antiviral drugs to treat flu. The prescriptions were for either oseltamivir or zanamivir . The study didn’t include women who took the drugs before 22 weeks of pregnancy.
The researchers compared these women to nearly 700,000 expectant mothers who didn’t take the drugs during pregnancy.
Babies born to mothers prescribed the antiviral drugs didn’t have higher rates of complications. The researchers looked at problems such as low birth weight, preterm birth, stillbirth and birth defects.
The findings support previous studies showing that these drugs don’t put babies at risk, according to study author Dr. Sofie Graner from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues.
U.S. and European health officials recommend these drugs for pregnant women with confirmed or suspected flu. The drugs are also recommended for pregnant women who’ve had close contact with people who have the flu. But there’s been limited knowledge about the safety of these drugs when used during pregnancy, the researchers noted.
The study was published Feb. 28 in the journal BMJ.
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