Аcute respiratory viral infections in early pregnancy can be dangerous. The risk of infection in a pregnant woman is much higher than in everyone else, and expectant mothers should protect themselves from respiratory infections with the same practices we use to protect ourselves from COVID-19 [1]:
reduce the number of contacts
wear masks in public places
wash hands thoroughly and often
Can I take cold medicine?
Most drugs that relieve cold symptoms are not recommended for pregnant women.
I have a runny nose! Is it a cold?
Your runny nose may not be caused by a cold at all. Approximately 20-30% of women in the third month of pregnancy develop so-called hormonal or pregnancy rhinitis [2].
Prolactin (a placental growth hormone), progesterone, and estrogen affect the nasal capillaries and increase the activity of the mucous glands. As a result, the nose is constantly stuffy and/or runny [3]. It usually clears up by itself a couple of weeks after giving birth. You can differentiate hormonal rhinitis from an infectious runny nose in that you don't usually sneeze with hormonal rhinitis.
What if it's a common cold?
If you developed viral rhinitis your nasal discharge will be thin and transparent, and you will probably sneeze often. The truth is that there is not much you can do for a runny nose during the first trimester. If it becomes unbearable, ask your doctor which medicine you can take safely. On average, a common cold will last between four and ten days [3].
My mom treated childhood colds with honey and lemon — does this help?
A hot drink rich in vitamin C and soothing honey won’t hurt, but it won’t get rid of your cold. Drinking plenty of water can help reduce symptoms and prevent dehydration (which can be caused by a fever); you can flavor it with honey, berries, and citrus fruits (oranges and lemons) [4]. These homemade beverages have no antiviral properties, but flavored water, tea, and juice can be more palatable when you have a cold than plain water.
What if I have a fever?
A temperature above 38 ℉ (100.4 ℃) should be treated, as it may pose a risk to your baby [5, 6]. Don’t self-medicate, and check with your doctor which drugs and dosage can help you without affecting your baby.
