What cold and flu meds are safe during pregnancy?
Treatment options for flu and colds are more limited when you are pregnant, but there are safe ways to boost your immunity and ease symptoms.
When you are pregnant, anything you take can affect not just you but your baby. At the same time, you may be more vulnerable to infections like colds and flu, and complications such as bronchitis, because pregnancy affects your immune system (source).
Your lowered resistance is likely due to your body having to support another life, so your own resources have to be shared. However, you can still have a healthy pregnancy by supporting your immune system in simple ways – eat healthily, exercise regularly (unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise), control your weight gain, get good quality sleep, don’t smoke or have alcohol, wash your hands frequently, steer clear of people who are ill, and get a flu shot, says Durban-based specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sunkaran Pillay.
The flu vaccine is safe at any stage in pregnancy and the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend it for pregnant women. If you have children at home or caregivers, they should be vaccinated too.
If you still get flu, it’s best to tell your healthcare provider straight away, Dr Pillay says. The CDC and some other authorities recommend pregnant women be prescribed antivirals to ease symptoms and shorten the length of infection. Otherwise, you will generally be advised to rest, and have plenty of fluids (water, clear broths) to keep hydrated and maintain amniotic fluid volume and your increased blood volume. Have water throughout the day (flavour it with fresh mint, lemon or berries).
You can use saline nasal drops or spray to relieve congestion or try steam inhalation – fill a basin with hot water, put a towel over your head and inhale the steam, or take a hot shower. Gargle with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat (a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water, several times a day), and sip honey and lemon in warm water or a cup of decaffeinated tea. There’s also no harm having some chicken soup, like grannies often recommend, says Dr Pillay.
Take care
“Don’t take over-the-counter medication without first checking with your healthcare provider – some may not be suitable in pregnancy,” he says.
It’s best to avoid all medication for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy – a critical period for the development of your baby’s vital organs. After that, some cold and flu medications are considered safe, including paracetamol for aches, pains and fever; certain natural expectorants for coughs; saline nasal sprays for congestion; and vitamin C to support your immune system – speak to your healthcare provider. (Vitamin C also assists with iron absorption and is important for foetal development, including bone and ligament development, possibly helping lower the risk of genetic defects.)
Medications to avoid while pregnant (unless your healthcare provider recommends it), as they raise the risk for problems, are codeine; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen; flu medications with decongestants; and certain cough mixtures.
“Always consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication when pregnant,” says Clicks pharmacist Waheed Abdurahman. “Also check medication labels for the SAHPRA (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority) approval mark. Play particular attention to pregnancy warnings on labels, and if you have questions about a medication’s safety, consult the patient information leaflet.”
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