*touch wood* haven't had one yet - but thought I'd share
Here are some snippets of info and tried remedies for having a cold when pregnant. Thought I'd post here for people to add to - maybe if you have some good recipes for comfort food, or some other types of oils / scents that you can use for inhaling or in a bath - or any other remedies?! As there really isn't much we can take so it's all about trying to make ourselves as cosy as possible and taking care of ourselves here you go anyway, let me know what you think xx

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1) Make your own honey, lemon and hot water concoction - fresh lemons are supposed to be best. Good luck making it - I tried and it was very sour!

2) Do an edited version just for comfort - hot orange juice (maybe with a bit of jif lemon juice in too) and a spoon of honey - heated in microwave, watered down with hot water if flavour too strong.

3) Also for comfort - warm milk and honey... I had this every night when pg last time - it is good for sleep too! The honey helps your throat and the milk also seems to coat it / soothe a dry throat or cough.

4) You can get a bottle of honey and lemon linctus - often called honey, lemon and glycerine - this is not medicated so safe to take and readily available (and cheap) from supermarkets and pharmacies. Double check the label in case there is anything else in there though.

5) Honey and lemon lozengers - a lifesaver for me - Asda used to do them, olbas do them - and I found Jakemans excelllent from b&m bargains! Sure they do them elsewhere - basically they are a nice version of lockets (which are safe too, as well as tunes, soothers etc. as long as unmedicated)

6) Olbas oil. Also mentioned here - on a tissue at night - or in a bowl of water to inhale. Just don't sleep with it on your face like I always end up doing, and have that cold cheek/runny eye thing going on in the middle of the night.

7) I was told to avoid viks vaporub due to it having camphor in - but there is baby version called snuffle babe which should be ok (it's ok for newborns?) Double check as always though!

8 ) Pure menthol crystals are very powerful and good it you have a full-on head cold. Small amount in hot water to inhale - put a towel over your head and the bowl for extra ooomph - watch out though, the vapours can blow your socks off!

9) Use nice tissues. This might be obvious but a sore nose is the last thing you need! Keep your nose dry inside (sorry tmi but there is a point...) as the germs can live longer in there if it's nice and damp for them. Also your nose will stay sore if it's wet!

10) Following on from that... blow your nose, dry it out, (!) put some vaseline on which really really helps keep it nice and rosy instead of sore and dry. Dab a bit on your lips while your at it - as your lips will be dry from breathing through your mouth more.

11) Feed a cold - some nice comfort food, fresh fruit for vitamins and some soups, hot chocolates etc. Will make you feel a bit more comfy if nothing else!

12) Nice warm bath - sitting in the steam will help loosen things. Some soothing bubble bath can help - or you could look at some scents and things you could add to the water too?

13) Wrap up warm.. I know I'm stating the obvious but the way the weathers changed you really need to take care not to worsen your symptoms - so scarf, gloves and a hat really will help (esp a scarf to keep neck / throat warm - but take of when inside as getting too hot will harbour germs )

14) It's pretty basic but if all else fails try some paracetamol. I didn't like taking it while pg - even though you can and it's deemed "safe" - but it's worth a try to have two or even just one tablet and see if it helps - especially if you have a temperature, shivers, aches, pains.

15) Also very obvious but hard to make yourself do sometimes: drink plenty - water is really good but alternate with fruit juices / cordial if it's easier.

So, I think that's all I can think of for now - it's not like we can just grab a lemsip or some nightnurse - so have had to find ways to manage it! Hope some of that is some use! x

Very good post.

I checked regarding Olbas Oil, as I had a cold a few weeks ago, and apparently you cannot use it in pregnancy. I had the baby version and couldnt use that either.

x

D'ya know, I was told olbas oil rather than vicks because of camphor in the latter - it 'may' cross the placenta and they don't know the effects apparently.... ?! What was it about the olbas and baby olbas that you were advised against?

I could do the old "I used olbas in pg and me and baby are fine" but those kind of sweeping statements mean pretty much Jack So maybe it's the old pine-disinfectant-smelling karvol capsules instead?! Or snuffle babe (baby vicks?!) xx

I have no idea why it says it. I checked it out (I am sure it was the leaflet inside the box and on google and packaging) and it said not to use in pregnancy.

x

aw thanks for that!! great post. as Iv just come down with a flipping cough nad can feel a cold sneaking up on me. asked the MW today what can I take basicaly she said nothing

honey and lemon for me. x

Urggghhhhh... it happened

To add to the above; sleeping with the window cracked / open - depending on temp! It's bad enough feeling like you've slept with a pillow on your face but having no air made it worse for me!

Also, we have one of these: http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Electric-Vaporiser_5071/ which can be used from 3months of age, so to side-step the olbas oil I've been using I think I'll try this tonight. We tend to only use it for little one though as the refill pads are about £3.50 for 5! *edit* just looked at ingredients and it has camphor in, plus the good old disclaimer of 'consult gp if pregnant. Humph. Will see how I go.

I felt better after a bath / shower from the steam but then worse shortly after - I think it's the same if you use a bowl of hot water with or without stuff in too - as it brings everything to the surface and dilates blood vessels etc. so makes you more bunged up - so directly before bed wasn't the best idea!

I've been trying to drink lots of water, mainly because I think I have an infection of some kind (results not back yet ) but I could do without the extra trips to the loo

I feel so attractive though - shiny nose with vaseline on, spare tissues tucked in my bra strap, coughing and spluttering, achey back made worse from coughing and spluttering, plus general disheveled look from disturbed sleep (can't breath & little one has cold too so waking in the night). Oh yeah, and just before sneezing, hold your stomach / pelvic floor muscles in. Possibly more relevant if you're on baby no.2+. 'nuff said. x

Well ive had a crappy cold for about a month now (im not joking it started before my bday and that was at beg of sept) i feel crap and have had sinusitus, tonsilitus etc and there is absolutely nothing that I can have I had just started to feel better today and now im feeling crap again, feeling very sorry for myself as well im fed up with it, I have been taking some paracetamol as I would be going mad else. Not that its doing anything
I def recommend the hot drinks, even if its just juice (I love warm ribena) and def recommend comfort eating if nothing else I have used vaseline in past before not knowing you couldnt - im not sure if its just precationary etc. I even got told when id got tooth ache (which turned out to be my sinuses pressing on my teeths nerves) that I couldnt use bonjela, i just think all these things we cant use/eat sometimes are a bit ott, I obv dont want to put my unborn child into any kind of danger, and dont in any way recommend anyone using things you've been told you cant, but would love to know why its all changed so much since even my mum had me... and thats not that ling ago.......25 years???

xx

Hey girls,

Only menthol crystals are suitable for use in pregnancy x

Lol at my moaning well I was finally given some antibiotics after having my cold/sinusitis fir over a month and I feel tonnes better one thing I didn't know was you can take paracetamol with cocodamol (sp) double check with ur go 1st but mine said I could and this seemed to work for pain whereas paracetamol on it's own didn't x