Your immune system functions more slowly when you are pregnant, but this is beneficial because it protects your developing child and prevents your body from mistaking the fetus for anything else. However, the drawback of this immune suppression is that it leaves your body less able to fight off many common cold viruses, leaving you more susceptible to symptoms including a stuffy nose, cough, and sore throat.

The good news is that your infant isn't suffering from any of the worst cold symptoms. The environment of the womb really shields the unborn child from chilly insects.

You should rest, drink plenty of water, be patient, and make sure your healthcare provider is informed of all of your symptoms—including any fever—when you have a cold. Colds are generally just an uncomfortable annoying irritation. Your doctor can also recommend cold remedies that are thought to be safe to take while pregnant, if necessary. What you should know to feel better is as follows.

Symptoms of a cold during pregnancy

A cold typically starts with a scratchy or sore throat that lasts for one or two days. Other symptoms then gradually start to show, such as:

• A runny, then later stuffy, nose
• Sneezing
• Mild fatigue
• A dry cough, particularly near the cold’s end, which may continue for a week or more after other symptoms have subsided
• Low-grade fever (usually under 100 degrees Fahrenheit)

What causes colds during pregnancy?

Most often, a virus called a rhinovirus—which spreads readily from person to person—causes colds. You may get colds frequently because there are at least 200 different types of viruses that cause them.

How long does a cold during pregnancy last?

The average duration of a cold is 10 to 14 days. It's true that you can catch a fresh cold right before the conclusion of the current one, so you might be right if you feel like you're continually sniffling.

Is it a cold — or the flu?

You can usually tell the difference between a cold and the flu by taking stock of the symptoms:

• A cold, even a severe case is not as severe as the flu. Its symptoms normally appear gradually, with little to no temperature. After a day or two, the sore throat that typically precedes a cold disappears, leaving the runny nose and cough as the primary symptoms.
• Influenza, aka the flu, • Compared to a cold, it is more severe and appears more quickly. A high fever (usually between 101 and 104 degrees F), headache, chills, sore throat that usually gets worse by the second or third day (unlike with a cold), often severe muscle soreness, and general weakness and fatigue are some of the symptoms of the flu, which can linger for a few weeks or longer. Additionally, you could occasionally sneeze and have a cough that gets worse.

How to feel better if you get a cold during pregnancy

You don’t have to endure a runny nose and hacking cough when pregnant, even though many cold-relieving drugs are usually off-limits during pregnancy. Not everything on the drugstore shelf works as well as some of the best cold cures. Here's how to recover more quickly:

• Rest. The length of a cold doesn't always decrease when you take it to bed, so pay attention to your body's requests for rest.
• Stay active. Engage in light to moderate, pregnancy-safe activity if you feel up to it and are not experiencing a fever or cough. This could potentially expedite your recovery.
• Keep eating. Even though you most likely don't feel like eating, trying to eat a nutritious diet when you do feel like it will help alleviate some of the symptoms of your cold.
• Focus on foods with vitamin C. They can assist in naturally enhancing your immune system. Taste the whole range of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, bell peppers, papaya, broccoli, red cabbage, spinach, strawberries, melon, kiwi, and mango.
• Chow down on more zinc. Pregnant women should try to get 11–15 mg daily from all sources, including your prenatal vitamin; it may also help strengthen the immune system. Overindulge in cooked oysters, turkey, beef, pig, eggs, yogurt, wheat germ, and oats.
• Drink up. Your body will lose necessary fluids for both you and your infant if you have a fever, runny nose, or sneeze. Keep a thermos of a hot soup, such as chicken broth, or a hot drink, such as ginger tea, close to your bed for an especially calming experience. Make an effort to stay well hydrated as well; the color of your urine should resemble pale straw. If all you're thirsty for is cold juice or water, that works too.
• Supplement safely. It's a good idea to take your prenatal vitamin, which includes zinc and vitamin C, even if you have a cold. Just make sure you have your doctor's okay before taking any more supplements beyond your prenatal.
• Sleep easy. Elevate your head with a couple of pillows to facilitate easier breathing whether you're sleeping or lying down. Nasal strips may also be helpful because they gradually open your nasal passages to facilitate breathing. They are totally drug-free and available for purchase over-the-counter.
• Moisturize your air. If the dry air in your house irritates your delicate nasal passages and throat, you can help them by misting the room at night with a warm or cold air humidifier. Adults can use either type, but never use a warm-air version in a baby or toddler's room for safety reasons.
• Use saline nose drops, sprays or rinses. These aid in moisturizing your nasal passages, and since they don't contain any medication, you can use them as much as necessary without risk. Simply stay away from neti pots as they are more likely to spread bacteria.
• Gargle with saltwater. Warm salt water, prepared by adding 1/4 teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of warm water, can be gargled to relieve sore or scratchy throats, eliminate post-nasal drip, and manage coughs.
• Eat honey. It has been demonstrated that a few teaspoons alone, or when combined with hot water and lemon, can help suppress the type of dry cough that frequently follows and coincides with a cold at least as well as over-the-counter cough syrup.

What can pregnant women take for a cold?

When you're sick in bed with a cold, reach for the phone to call your practitioner and ask which over-the-counter medications are safe to use during pregnancy and which will be most effective for you personally.

Make important to confirm with your practitioner the safety of any prescription or over-the-counter drug or supplement that has been advised by a different healthcare provider, such as a therapist, nutritionist, or pharmacist. Additionally, be wary of multitasking medications, including as over-the-counter pain killers, as they may contain components that are unsafe for pregnant women to use. Certain medications you regularly take might not be safe to take while pregnant.

What cold remedies are therefore usually regarded as safe to use while pregnant? The following is a list:

• Acetaminophen: Tylenol and other acetaminophen-containing medicines are generally regarded as safe to use for a brief period of time if you have a fever, severe headaches, or body aches.
• Cough medications: Most cough drops, expectorants (like Mucinex), cough suppressants (like Robitussin or Vicks Formula 44), vapor rubs (like Vicks Vapo Rub), and expectorants are thought to be safe to use while pregnant, but check with your doctor about dosage.
• Some nasal sprays: While pregnant, you can use the majority of steroid-containing nasal sprays; however, consult your doctor about dosage and brand recommendations. When you're expecting, taking simple saline drops or sprays is always safe and can help soothe and moisten a congested nose.
• Some antihistamines: Pregnancy is frequently a good time to take Benadryl and Claritin, but make sure to consult with your doctor first. Certain physicians may suggest avoiding certain drugs during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Before using any drug, prescription, over-the-counter, or homeopathic, make sure to consult your healthcare provider. Furthermore, don't wait to call the doctor or refuse to take a prescription medication because you believe that pharmaceuticals in general are dangerous to take while pregnant. Not many are. However, make sure the prescribing physician is aware of your pregnancy.

Medications to avoid during pregnancy

Though further research is needed, some of the drugs that may help with cold symptoms are not recommended for expectant mothers since they may complicate pregnancy and harm the unborn child. If you should happen to accidentally ingest one of these drugs, don't freak out. Tell your physician about it, but it should be alright. Not allowed medications include:

• Some pain relievers and fever reducers. Research indicates a correlation between pregnancy issues like low birth weight and premature delivery with analgesics such aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve), particularly in the third trimester.
• Most decongestants. The majority of medical professionals advise against using decongestants like DayQuil, Sudafed, or Claritin-D. Decongestants should only be used after the first trimester and in moderation (e.g., once or twice daily for no longer than a day or two), according to even those experts who support their usage.
• Some nasal sprays. Unless your doctor gives the all-clear, stay away from non-steroidal nasal decongestant sprays that contain oxymetazoline (such as Afrin). Many will advise you to use these sprays as little as possible (one or two days at a time) after the first trimester, while others will warn you to completely avoid them while you are pregnant.
• Alternative or homeopathic remedies. Take no more than echinacea, zinc supplements, and over-the-counter herbal medicines without a doctor's prescription.

How to prevent a cold during pregnancy

In addition to avoiding people who are obviously ill, try washing your hands with soap and water a little more frequently and meticulously than you used to. Make sure your hands are totally dry after washing and shaking them by using a towel. Keep an alcohol gel with 60% alcohol on the label with you for last-minute hand sanitizing.

However, don't hold it against yourself if, in spite of your best efforts, you still catch a cold—or several—during your pregnancy. It is nearly hard to prevent viruses, particularly during the winter. Pregnancy has numerous benefits, but unfortunately, one of them is that you are more susceptible to colds and other infections. And keep in mind that this too will pass.

When to see a doctor

Call your doctor if:

• Your fever is more than 101 degrees.
• You can't even eat or sleep because of how bad your cold is.
• You're coughing up mucus that looks green or yellow.
• You cough and have wheezing or chest pain.
• You have throbbing sinuses.
• If symptoms persist for longer than ten to fourteen days, it's likely that you have a secondary infection from your cold, in which case you may need to take a prescription medication for the protection of both you and your child.