6 Flu drugs that are safest to drink pregnant women & bull; hello healthy

Even though pregnant women have tried to maintain their health, there will be conditions that make you catch the flu. Especially when the weather is erratic and the body is not completely healthy. However, even though there are many cold medicines on the market, you shouldn't just choose them. The following is an explanation about cold medicine for pregnant women.

Is it safe for a pregnant woman to take cold medicine?

Some cold medicines may be safe to take during pregnancy. However, other cold medicines may not be safe because they are feared that they can affect the development of the fetus in the womb.

If the gestational age is less than 12 weeks, pregnant women should first consult a gynecologist before taking cold medicine.

The reason is, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is a critical period in the development of the fetal vital organs.

In general, avoid taking any type of medication without first consulting your obstetrician.

Wrong taking flu medication while pregnant can actually be dangerous for the development of the fetus in the womb.

Cold medicine for pregnant women that can be purchased at a pharmacy

Basically, influenza, aka flu, can heal on its own.

The existing treatment usually aims to strengthen the immune system so that pregnant women can recover quickly.

Here are some cold medicines for pregnant women that can be purchased at a pharmacy:

Paracetamol

If pregnant women feel the need to take medication, you can take paracetamol without having to redeem a doctor's prescription.

Paracetamol is included in a list of cold medicines that are safe for consumption by pregnant women.

This medicine does not cure flu, but is effective in relieving flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and body aches.

Use this drug according to the recommended dosage.

If the recommended paracetamol dose does not improve the condition, there is no need to hesitate to consult a doctor immediately.

Antihistamines

Other cold medicines for pregnant women that are safe to consume include dextromethorphan and expectorant drugs containing guaifenesin.

Antihistamine drugs, such as Benadryl and Claritin are also classified as safe to consume as cold medicines for pregnant women if the cause is allergies.

Antiviral drugs

Quoting the CDC page, antiviral drugs are also generally safe for pregnant women to drink during the flu.

This medicine is only available by prescription and is most effective when taken by pregnant women within 48 hours (2 days) after flu symptoms appear.

Research from Clinical Infectious Disease shows that antiviral drugs have a greater benefit for pregnant women than the potential risk of side effects.

In addition to relieving symptoms and making pregnant women recover quickly, antiviral drugs can also prevent serious flu complications, such as pneumonia.

Doctors often prescribe the oral antiviral oseltamivir as a cold medicine for pregnant women.

Rules for taking cold medicine for pregnant women

As mentioned above, pregnant women should not take medication to treat the flu carelessly.

It is important to consult a doctor before taking any type of medication.

The reason is, what a mother drinks and eats can affect the fetus in her womb.

Read carefully the rules for using these cold medicines. Take the drug according to the recommended dosage and duration.

Avoid prolonging, stopping, adding, or reducing drug doses indiscriminately.

In addition, it is also important to pay attention to the ingredients contained in it.

Generally, flu drugs for pregnant women that are sold in the market are a combination of several kinds of symptom relievers.

Symptom relievers include:

Lower heat
Antihistamines
Pain relief
Decongestants

Some pregnant women are less aware that they are taking double doses of medication because they do not read the composition of the ingredients contained in the drug.

For example, you are taking a fever-reducing medicine that contains paracetamol.

After that, take cough medicine which turns out to contain paracetamol too.

Some combination medicines may also contain drugs that you should not take during pregnancy.

Therefore, avoid taking drugs that contain lots of ingredients to treat many symptoms.

Instead, choose a single drug to treat one specific symptom you are experiencing.

Natural cold remedies for pregnant women

If pregnant women are worried about the safety of the cold medicines that have been mentioned above, it is okay to relieve flu symptoms in other ways.

You can treat flu in traditional ways that have been known for a long time.

Here are natural cold remedies that can be tried to relieve flu symptoms during pregnancy.

1. Get enough rest

Quoting on the American Pregnancy page, pregnant women with flu are at high risk of experiencing a number of serious health problems due to flu complications, one of which is pneumonia.

Things to remember, what happens when pregnant not only affects your body, but also the fetus in the womb.

Adequate rest is the most effective cold medicine for pregnant women recommended by doctors.

Avoid doing strenuous activities for a while or until the pregnant woman's condition has completely recovered.

2. Drink a lot

In order for a runny nose, sore throat, and coughs due to the flu quickly get better, you should drink lots of water. Why?

In fact, drinking water can be a natural cold remedy for pregnant women.

When you have the flu, the body fluids of pregnant women will decrease and make you more prone to dehydration.

If you don't drink a lot, instead of recovering quickly, your condition will get worse.

In addition, drinking lots of water can also help thin the mucus under your nose, so you can breathe more easily.

In order to meet body fluids, make sure you drink at least 8 to 12 glasses per day or 1500-2500 ml.

3. Warm compress

The flu can cause pain in the sinus area, which is the area around the eyes and cheekbones. Pregnant women can do warm compresses to help relieve pain.

Pregnant women can also collect hot water in a large basin. Then, place your face on the basin to inhale the steam.

So that the steam doesn't go anywhere and the water doesn't cool down quickly, use a small towel to cover your head.

Inhale the steam that is produced slowly and repeat this method until the breathing begins to be relieved as a cold medicine for pregnant women.

4. Use extra pillows

Place an extra pillow under your head to free breathing and reduce mucus buildup in your nose and throat.

However, make sure the pillow you use is not too thick and hard to make it more comfortable.

Using a pillow that is thick and hard actually makes your neck sore. You can include additional pillows as a preparation for childbirth so you can sleep comfortably.

5. Use a humidifier as a cold medicine for pregnant women

A dry room due to the use of air conditioning can exacerbate the flu that pregnant women experience.

So that the air in the room is more humid, you can use a humidifier as a cold medicine for pregnant women.

This air humidifier is also effective in helping to clear the upper respiratory tract, reducing the itching sensation in the nose and throat, and avoiding dry mouth.

However, you shouldn't use a humidifier at random. Humidifiers that are used excessively can make the air in the room too humid.

If the air is too humid, mold and bacteria can easily breed.

6. Eat a healthy diet

Eating lots of nutritious foods can turn out to be cold medicine for pregnant women in the future.

In order to recover quickly, it is also important to pay attention to food intake for pregnant women who are consumed every day.

Make sure the food you eat is nutritious and high in nutrients.

Don't forget, eat lots of vegetables and fruit, especially those containing vitamin C.

The content of vitamin C in it helps the immune system increase, so that pregnant women recover quickly from the flu.

Vaccines as cold medicine for pregnant women

To deal with the flu, pregnant women can also get the flu vaccine before they get sick and have to go back and forth to buy medicine.

Quoted from the American Pregnancy Association, the flu vaccine or shot is proven safe for pregnant women and babies in their womb.

Apart from preventing flu infection during pregnancy, this vaccine can also protect babies from exposure to the flu virus for up to 6 months after pregnancy. You can take the flu vaccine at any time during pregnancy.

Avoid getting the flu vaccine in the form of a nasal spray (LAIV).

The vaccine contains a live strain of the virus and is therefore not recommended for use during pregnancy.