Sick with One and Another on the Way

Hi! That sounds awful... I'm so sorry you're going through that. Here are some tips for the cold: warm air humidifier, rubbing vicks on your chest and on the bottom of your feet (homeopathic), nasal irrigation -- this is incredible for breathing again (for a video on how to do it, go to http://mayoclinic.com/health/nasal-lavage/MM00552), for the cough try cayenne pepper, which really helps clear the sinuses and break up congestion -- make a drink with water, a 1/8 or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, juice from a whole lemon, and a tablespoon maple syrup. Hopefully it won't be too rough on your stomach.

For your tummy -- I've heard great things about ginger tea, peppermint and the morning sickness lollipops. I found that if I ate a lot of protein and ate a little bit all day long (of the right things), and had a quick protein drink first thing in the morning, the stomach acids wouldn't kick in as quickly and I wouldn't get nauseous as easily. I had a Carnation Instant Breakfast first thing every morning and that really helped.

I remember having a horrible cold when I was pg with my third,which was a month ago when I had him. But you can take Robitussin,its very safe during pregnancy. Hope that helps, and wish you luck on feeling better.

Hi, S. -

Definitely, if you have any concerns, check with a pharmacist. Things I've tried that are natural for a sick
stomach are cola syrup (I think this is what it's called - it's sold at pharmacies), peppermints, and flat (shaken up & defizzed) ginger ale. Another trick - sounds terrible but worked for me - Caro syrup (just a tsp. or so - regular light kind that you cook with). One last idea: ginger candy.

For cold symptoms I use lemon and honey tea (this is what is now recommended for my son), lots of water, sitting in a steamy bathroom, boiling water to get moisture in the air.

If you're super congested with a lot of coughing, my son uses a nasal rinse (not nasal spray and different than a neti pot). This is a squeeze bottle with a tube going to the bottom - you have to buy salt packets made for this system, too (would be about $20 total, but worth it). If you do try it, put the bottle to one side of your nose and, when you begin to squeeze the water bottle, blow out really hard. Let it drain out and blow. :) It's easier than it sounds (and not to be gross, but you wouldn't believe what comes out).

I hope that you feel better!

S.

Tylenol and benedril and (I think) sutafed (the pseudo-ephedrine kind that you have to get from the pharmasist's counter) are safe. Also, Vicks vapor rub and a humidifier can really help. Call your OB first thing tomorrow and ask him what you can take (I'd verify the sutafed and benedril for the first trimester ... I'm remembering from several years ago). The pharmacist may also be able to tell you.

Do you have any family nearby or neighbors or friends who could come for a day, or even a few hours, and take care of your little on or even do dishes/laundry so you can rest? Or church members? It's not a bad idea to ask for some help.

Sorry you've been so sick! I am prego too and at my first appointment the nurse gave me a list of "Safe Medications for use in Pregnancy". Here is what it says:

Common colds and flu:
Tylenol-fever, aches, pains
Sudafed-nasal congestion
Robitussin DM-for cough and bronchial congestion (I used this and it worked wonders for me!)
Ocean Saline nasal drops-for nasal stuffiness
Benadryl or Chlortrimeton-for allergies, runny nose, and post nasal drip
Throat Lozenge- for sore throat
Warm salt water-gargle 3-4 times a day

Indigestion and Heartburn:
Tums
Liquid antacids
Pepcid AC

Diarrhea:
Immodium AD (Tablets or Liquid)

I know that the doctor's offices are closed today, but a pharmacist should be able to answer any other "pregnancy safe" questions that you may have. I hope this helps. Get feeling better soon.

I am sure there are other solutions out there, but I had this problem with my third baby. I couldn't stop getting sick, I didn't want to move off the couch and I had a horrible cold! The cold went away, I think I took benedryl and tylonol to help with the headache and constant runny nose, but the nausea hung around for 7 months! The only thing that would help it was apples. I know that all pregnancies are different with food but apples seemed to help with every one of mine and crackers NEVER worked. I also had a healthy supply of Tums on hand too. Tums are good for heart-burn but I did use it for settling of the stomach too.

Good luck and remember it is only temporary!

ginger ale or ginger candy for the nausea and anything spicy to clear your head (my favorite excuse to sit down with a bowl of chips and salsa!) Good luck!

Ugh...nothing worse than being sick...can't call in when you're a mommy!!! My mom (OB-GYN PA)told me to take the Coriseden (sp) HBP...the same stuff they have for people with high blood pressure. I took the Cold and Flu one! It has tylenol and a safe decongestant, but there are lots of different types, but all should be safe. If you have a pregnancy book (What to Expect or Your pregnancy week by week, they may have some suggestions too...or if your OB gave you a little book like mine did, they usually cover okayed medications in pregnancy) Then the normal stuff, warm shower to get the steam, chicken soup, lots of rest (nap when your girl naps, have her bring toys to you to play with, turn on a video for her so you can dose- I know...God forbid a video for under 2, but sometimes you need it...Noggin works good too if you have it...just put up gates to keep her contained if you do fall asleep-, keep diapers and stuff close so you aren't having to trapse about, and let the house go for a couple days). Hope you feel better soon!

For the tummy, Ginger Ale, crackers and (I know it sounds crazy, but it worked for me) either peppermints or lemon candy...sour works too and sometimes better than the plain. Just suck on them slowly.

I just want to caution you that my OB really discourages taking anything in the first 12 weeks because everything major is developing in the baby. Then the other meds people are listings on here he says are okay after 12 weeks. I would check with your Dr.

I am pregnant (8 wks) along and I am absolutely dying. I feel miserable and can hardly keep things down as well. I have 16 month old. My Dr said 1/2 Unisom (sleeping pill over the counter) taken at night with 50 mg of B6 at night and in the morning is okay to take now and it has really taken the edge off, although I am still miserable. Good luck. I am having a horrible time as well.

Hi!
The doctor told me that keeping a humidifier in my son's room is a good idea and my friend had her sinuses rebuilt and the doctor told her to keep a humidifier in her room. I bet it will help you. I know that taking medication in the first trimester is a very touchy issue and you should always ask your doctor. I think that the humidifier would probably help your cold. It would also be a good idea for the little girl also. It is a great white noise for her also. You can always sleep with you head elevated to help with the drainage. The doctor also told me that I could use Clairitin when I got sick when I was pregnant. Clairitin is so expensive that I just went to Costco and got the generic brand. Crackers would be an option for the upset stomach.

I know that WishGarden Herbs makes an herbal tincture that is for colds and flu in pregnancy. You should be able to get it in a health food store, or order it on line. It is no fun being sick while pregnant! I think they also make a product specifically for tummy troubles in pregnancy as well!

http://www.wishgardenherbs.com/index.php?load=pregnancy&a... here is a link with products--the two you are looking for are toward the top of the page.

Good luck!

Hi S.,

You SHOULD talk with your doctor, of course, before taking anyone else's advice.

That being said, Chlor-trimeton or Tylenol cold night/day were some things that sort-of worked for me with a runny nose. Benadryl doesn't seem as strong to me, but I know it's ok too. My doctor didn't want me taking any more than 2-3 days worth of Sudafed- so, it's ok, just limited. Your doctor could give you a prescription for codeine for a cough. That's the ONLY thing that really stops my bad coughs.

Make sure you talk to your doctor first or a nurse on duty after-hours at least, and read all the drug interactions. Sometimes acetaminophen (Tylenol) is in multiple drugs- don't double up.

All these things I've mentioned have been ok'd by 2 of my OB's while I was pregnant.

Hope you get to feeling better SOON!! It's NOT FUN being sick while pregnant! I'm 6 months along now and just got over the stomach flu this week- NOT FUN!! :)

Not a fun situation. Its so hard when you don't feel good and have the energy you want to engage your little one. When my little one was this age I had aterrible flu and felt awful about laying next to her while she played, but it was okay, we brought out toys she hadn't seen in a while and huge fat crayons and a piece of poster board and she did very well entertaining herself. We also read books and watched a few dvds (which I didn't want to do, but it worked).

As far as keeping stuff down, Vernors (a type of Ginger Ale, we buy it as Soopers) always worked. Chicken soup is wonderful and another great way to get protein and vitamins are Ensures. My ob-gyn also recommended propel water so I wouldn't become dehydrated and that helped a lot too. Hope you feel better soon.

If your tummy is upset, try opening a coke and letting it sit until it is flat, then sip it. The coke syrup helps with upset stomache. For a cold, you might try green tea with honey and lemon, it will help keep your nose cleared out.

Ok, obviously you want to check with your doc first.

That said, my doc gave me a list of things I can take during pregnancy. For morning sickness they recommend half a Unisom taken with Vitamin B6. Apparently Unisom is one of the few drugs that was actually tested on pregnant women sometime a long time ago, but they know its safe. Anyway, that should help with the morning sickness.

As for the cold, my doc allowed me sudafed and Dayquil/nyquil. Can't remember the dosage, but chat it over and I'm sure they'll let you know.

Finally bulk up on the vitamin C! Since it is water soluble vitamin and will get flushed out of your system, you can take the supplements to help you avoid this in the future.

When I was in my first trimester and sick all of the time my Dr. told me to take half of a unisom at night. I was not sick to my stomach during the day at all. Once it wore off at about 6 or 7 at night I would feel yucky again. But your husband will be able to help with your little one by then!! I was maybe a little bit more tired during the day, but I figured I would rather be tired than sick. I am not sure what you should take for the cold.

With my first pregnacy..I was told to take a half a Unisom at night...it is a sleep aid so if you take it during the day (especially when you are already sick and in your first trimester) will knock you out. Also, I was told it was not habit-forming but late in my first trimester when I realized it was not working for my intense nausea I stopped taking it and didn't sleep for 3 nights...Not something you want to have happen when you have another child to care for. Ginger herbal teas, ginger supplements, even cooking with fresh ginger can help. Sour candies helped me a bunch...you can also get a prescription for nausea if it is terribly bothersome. I did. Ask for one that doesn't cause sleepiness (Phenergan may work well but causes extreme drousiness..it is also an antihistamine but is used primarily for nausea). Make sure you are eating something small and bland foods frequently (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast called a BRAT diet) is what was recommended for me. Do not eat and drink at the same time...eat just a small amount...a tablespoon of food, a bite of dry toast...wait a half hour...take another bite or a small sip of liquid (pedialyte was recommended to me by my doctors office but it tastes terrible so I chose a sports drink with electrolytes). If i took more than just a small bite or a tiny sip I would get sick. If your symptoms are not quite that severe make sure you are eating something to keep your blood sugar level every two hours.

As far as your cold. You can take Claritin, Benadryl and pseudaphed (only the kind behind the counter...do not use the new pseudaphedrine-free stuff). Tylenol is also safe to take. Be sure to watch the dosages and make sure you do not exceed the recommended dosage for a 24 hour period...do not take two different antihistamines together or within the same 24 hour period, this will cause overdose. Try to drink lots of fluids and don't eat anything really heavy. Typical foods that cause morning sickness include meats, anything greasy, even the smell of cooking foods so try to plan your meals around healthy alternatives that avoid common morning sickness triggers and require little preparation.

It's okay to have a couch day or two as well. Block off a safe area for your child to play where you can watch her and try to get some rest. It doesn't make you a bad mom. Also, zonk out as soon as you can when you put your daughter down for her nap/s. It's okay if your home isn't as clean as you would like for a few days. We understand, we've been there! Hope you are feeling better soon!

for keeping your tummy settled, try ginger tea -- just plain ginger with as much sugar as you need and some water -- hot with lemon makes it more paletable -- you can even do ginger ale if you can't sotmach the tea

airborne and vitamin C (like 3000 units) and some zinc should take the edge off and help you get better faster

Hi S.!

I recommend Wishgarden Herbs Cold Remedy for Pregnancy and also their Stuffy Nose Steam. To see the Cold Rememdy go to http://www.naturalchoices4baby.com/catalog.php?item=144

I am in Longmont, and have a 1 oz size of this in stock. If your hubby couldn't make it down, should this be something that you want, I could try and coordinate bringing it up to you (Berthouds not that far...)

For settling your tummy, Their Calm-a-Tum for Pregnancy is wonderful! http://www.naturalchoices4baby.com/catalog.php?item=143

If you are interested in getting these remedies, let me know! I am so sorry you are not feeling well!

H. Gaitten
Owner, Natural Choices
www.naturalchoicesforliving.com
____@____.com
###-###-####

I'm so sorry that you're feeling horrible! It's definitely hard during that 1st trimester when you're nauseous and having to take care of another child. I experienced that while pregnant with my third and having a 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old at home! UGH! Even though the thought of eating made me feel ill, I still tried to eat several little meals thru-out the day that included a lot of carbs - toast, crackers, pasta, cereal without the milk. Ginger Ale also seemed to help settle my stomach. I'm not much of a Ginger fan, but there are a lot of things to try, including candied ginger, ginger lollipops, and raw ginger. You might have to go to a health food store for these things, but it's supposed to be great for morning sickness!

As far as the cold, there are healthy alternatives you can try, but not many. Humidifiers are great to use around the clock in the house. Flushing your sinuses out with saline will help head congestion. Again, a health food store will carry a Netti (I can't remember how to spell it?) Pot - it looks like a small tea pot that you fill with saline. You tip your head to the side over the sink and put the spout in one of your nostrils and pour the solution in. It feels a little weird going thru your sinus cavities and draining out your other nostril, but it can help immenseley! If you can't find one, you can try doing the same thing with just a bottle of saline that you can find in the cold medicine section of any grocery store. If you have a cough, you can try swallowing a tablespoon of honey. It's supposed to help coat your throat and reduce coughing, and you can take it more often than regular cough medicine. If your throat hurts, try gargling with the warmest temp. salt water you can. Mix approx. a 1/2 teasp. of salt with a half cup of water. Again, you can do this as many times as needed. The best thing to do is rest!! I know that's hard to do with a little one, but lay down when she does and take the opportunity to do so when your husband is home (that's wonderful he's being so helpful!). There are over the counter medications they say you can take while pregnant, if all else fails - talk to the pharmacist at the store. Don't feel guilty if you have to use those!!

I hope that maybe something in this message will be helpful to you!! Good luck with everything!

I am a birth doula, while I am not a medical professional and I encourage you to advise your OB or midwife, I do have a list of safe medications in pregnancy. For cold and sinus you can take Actifed plain, Tylenol, Benedryl, Eucalyptus Oil (topically). For Nausea you can take Emitrol, Vitamin B6, Nextrex, Maclanzine or Bonine, Spearmint Oil (Aromatherapy). I think you should try many of the natural methods listed on here first, they are all very good. Please feel free to contact me if you have anymore questions or have thought about using a doula!

Is your stomach hurting b/c of being sick or preggo? If it's a head cold and queasy due to baby, try eating something (crackers...) before sitting up in the morning. There are candies called Preggy Pops that have ginger in them to calm stomachs. May work for upset due to flu also!

Not sure what meds you can take for your cold - definitely try to drink as many fluids as you can to avoid dehydration.

It will get better! Keep your chin up!

Homeopathy is safe--there are lots of remedies at Whole foods or Vitmain Cottage. They worked for me when I was pregnant. I prefer Alpha CF. Also, homeopathy and acupuncture work great for morning sickness!
Good luck!
J.

I tell everyone about ginger to settle the tummy I only could handle ginger snap cookies, others say ginger tea, I know the cookies work. For the cold Vicks on the bottom of your feet, Clean white socks then go to bed. I also put it on my chest, and up my nose. Good luck

Have you thought about making an appoinment to see a chiropractor? Chiropractic care is an integral part of the prenatal and postpartum care during pregnancy. It helps keep you feeling good in a natural DRUGLESS way and assits you in coping with the physical stresses of an ever changing body (such as controlling symptoms of nausea, heartburn, & headaches, relief of back, neck & joint pain, can help with a safer delivery, prevention of a Cesarean Section, and leads to 24-40% Shorter Labor time). Additionally, people who come into a Chiropractor when they are sick, tend to heal 3x faster.

Most chiropractors would do a free consultation and exam. It might be worth it, just to see the condition your spine/body are in.

S.,

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having such a rough time; morning sickness is bad enough without having a cold to contend with.

Sprite or ginger ale often helps settle the stomach, as do soda crackers (saltines or oyster crackers). Something else I recently learned is that dill helps. That's why some moms crave pickles...so, you may want to try having a dill pickle spear to see what happens.

As for the cold, I speak from experience when I say you might want to consider Juice Plus. In fact, I couldn't tolerate the pre-natal vitamins and switched to the Juice Plus with no problems. It's completely safe to take while you're pregnant because it's all whole food...17 fruits & veggies in a capsule or chewable that you take 2x/day. I have found that when I start getting run down, it prevents me from getting sick and I rarely do catch colds. If you'd like more information, feel free to contact me via email. In the meantime, try to drink lots of water or other CLEAR fluids.

I wish you the best of luck. Hang in there!