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Pregnancy

Loaded with the cold - but what remedies are ok to use?

15 replies

WeeS · 01/03/2013 21:29

I was at my GPs this week when I felt the cold just coming on & mentioned it to her. She just said take paracetamol, you don't need anything else..... But I can't breathe & under normal circumstances would be taking every cold remedy available! ..... I'm not a very good patient at the best of times Wink
Is it ok to use Vicks Rub? Or Olbas Oil?

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HavingALittleFaithBaby · 01/03/2013 22:39

Definitely take regular paracetamol and inhale with plain steam. Olbas oil does the usual best not to take any meds in pregnancy, Vicks does the not know to be harmful but ask your doctor. Make sure you're getting enough fluids and vitamin c. Hope you feel better soon!

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ThePskettiIncident · 01/03/2013 22:42

Honey, lemon and grated ginger was my drink of choice with a cold.

Steam also very good.

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ZuleikaD · 02/03/2013 06:32

Paracetamol.

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Fluffeh · 02/03/2013 06:36

I've been using Vicks vaporub just at night midwife said it was fine to use. I've also been eating my body weight in soothers. They coat my throat in sticky stuff making the cough less painful.

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bangersmashandbeans · 02/03/2013 06:38

I believe anything with decongestant in it can be potentially harmful to the baby.

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ZuleikaD · 02/03/2013 07:44

Pretty sure you're not supposed to eat Lockets and stuff.

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cluelessnchaos · 02/03/2013 07:47

I used a saline nasal spray, calpol do a kids one, or there are some natural sea salt ones. It's only salty water. You squirt it up your nose and it helps a little to unblock your nose.

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WeeS · 02/03/2013 08:09

Thanks everyone. Have been taking paracetamol, steaming my head over hot water (did use a couple drops olbas oil though once), a bit of Vicks & drinking hot Ribena. Just woken feeling so much better than yesterday when I was feeling shivery & fevery, not nice!

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Calmisthemantra · 02/03/2013 08:23

Sympathies. Ive had awful coughs/colds in this pregnancy.

Vicks on the soles of your feet at night then giver with socks. It really helps!

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AmandaPayne · 02/03/2013 08:26

My midwife said a bit of Olbas Oil on the pillow was fine. you are only inhaling a teeny weeny bit and you aren't applying to the skin.

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Flisspaps · 02/03/2013 08:37

Zukiela Lockets are just sweets, I can't see any kind of medication in the ingredients list.

Sugar
Glucose syrup
Honey
Glycerol
Citric Acid
Vitamin C
Monopropylene Glycol
Colors E122 and E142[1]

So mainly sugar, sugar and more sugar, marketed as medicine!

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SuffolkNWhat · 02/03/2013 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toadspawn · 02/03/2013 08:44

Real honey and lemon is very effective

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BelleEtLaBaby · 02/03/2013 11:03

If you can be bothered to make it, real chicken soup (ie not canned) is a natural anti inflammatory and will help with swelling in your nasal passages.

Honey and lemon, with paracetamol, also good. I prefer the soluble ones, just sip them and they will soothe your throat.

Steam, steam, steam. It really helps. Put a drop of olbas in if you like but I think the effects are very temporary and prefer just steam.

Spoonfuls of honey will help you if you are coughing.

A neti pot or nasal rinse like saline will also help your nose.

DH and I have had a stinking cold all week. I'm 13wks. Ive been doing the above stuff and he's been on the sudafed and beechams powders. Am very Envy

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Christelle2207 · 02/03/2013 11:49

I had a cold at 13-16 weeks, yes it lasted that long so I sympathise.
Things like Sudafed or max strength cold and flu remedies are a bit no no as decongestant is bad, though I would not worry about ones you use externally. Having said that my gp did say that the risk of decongestant harming baby is "very small". Things like strepsils (standard ones) are also fine as long as you keep within the limits on the box.

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