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When you are pregnant
and have a cold, upper respiratory infection (URI) or the flu,
use the following suggestions:
1. Get as much rest
and sleep as possible.
2. Wash your hands
frequently.
3. Use paper tissues
and throw them away immediately after use.
4.Drink lots of caffeine
free hot liquids like herbal teas with lemon or honey, or chicken
noodle soup. These help to loosen the congestion and replace
fluids in your body.
5. Drink lots of Vitamin
C enriched juices like orange, grape, apple and pineapple.
6. Avoid too many dairy
products like milk when you are ill, they have thicken mucus
secretions.
The following medications
are safe to use according to your particular symptoms.
1. For cough, take
plain Robitussin cough medicine, following package instructions.
2. For sore throat,
suck on cough or sore throat drops or hard candy as needed. Gargle
with warm salt water or mouth wash every 3 -4 hours.
3. For head congestion
and stuffy nose, take 1-2 (30mg each) of plain Sudafed tablets
every 6 hours as needed. Sudafed may not be taken during the
first three months of pregnancy.
4. Use saline nasal
sprays like Neosynephrine Drops.
5. Take a warm shower
to help decrease nasal congestion and stuffy nose. Use Vicks
on chest and nose.
6. For sore achy muscles
and headaches take 2 Tylenol (500mg) every 6 hours as needed.
7. For seasonal allergies
or hay fever, Benadryl (25 - 50 mg) every 6 hours as needed.
Remember:
A cold or flu virus
that is spread easily to others. It will usually improve on its
own after a few days. The above is a list of things to make you
feel better but there is no cure for the common cold and flu.
Antibiotics do not cure colds. Please do not take any other medications
before discussing them with your midwife.
The midwife should
be notified immediately if you should have the following:
1. Chills and fever
with temperature over 101 degrees.
2. Can not keep any
foods or fluids down for more then 24 hours.
3. A constant sore
throat or swallowing problems.
4. Flu symptoms that
do not improve after 4-5 days.
5. Severe constant
headache or face pain, coughing up thick yellow-green mucous,
wheezing, or difficulty breathing.
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