Hi Moms! I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and have had a lingering cough for about a week now and it seems to be getting worse. I do not want to take any OTC drugs even though my ob said it was fine to take Robitussin DM. I have coughed so much my throat feels raw and my abs have been hurting due to the constant cough. My cough is the dry kind, with not too much plehm. What natural remedies do you guys know of that I can try and that is 100% safe to try for me and my baby? I have been taking hot water, lemon, and honey every day. Doesn't seem to be helping.
Check with your OB and see if you can take the Hyland's cough syrup. It's a kids one, but I use it too. Otherwise, you can boil 5 radishes with 5 tsps of sugar until the color is out of the radishes completely (totally white)...usually about an hour's worth of time. Sip it warm and you can keep in fridge for about 2 weeks. My grandma used to make it for me when I was a kid and now when anyone in our house is sick I make a big batch.
Good Luck and feel better!
Nothing is ever 100% safe, even our drinking water. However, I did manage to get a cold while I was preggo and I just drank a ton of hot water... about your body weight in ounces. YOU WILL PEE ALL THE TIME, but you are flushing the virus out as well. Don't exceed your body weight in ounces as you will then start to flush out electrolytes. I took Emergen-C. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin and if the body doesn't need it it will shed it. However, watch out for Vitamin C flush which just means you get diarrhea.
Keep drinking the hot water with lemon and honey. Eat REALLY WELL - fruits and veggies (high in Vit. C), drink plenty of water and rest.
I know that is all easier said than done.
Congrats on your pregnancy!
Michele
I use the children's Hyland it's natural homeopathic... not sure about any of the ingredients while you're preggo though so I'd ask your OB... also, stay away from any white sugars or anything made with sugar including breads... that will help feed the bacteria.
Hot water with honey and lemon. It works for me.
congratulations & gargle with salt water.. works wonders!
Hey Sarah,
I was going to say what your last sentence expressed hot-warm water with lemon juice and honey throughout the day ( not sure if you are working or at home, but when I had my cough/tickle throat drama i drank it like once or twice an hour which causes you to run like crazy to the restroom. It could be an allergy thing to or that nasty post-nasal drip that drives you crazy, but the source is sinus in that case and it is common, warm or cool midst humidifier may help. Unfortunately coughs are for the most part lingering but they will eventually go away provided there is no undelying issue.
Try the Santa Monica Homeopathic Store in Santa Monica they are very helpful
I am 19 weeks pregger also and I started a cough and cold, and a friend told me about Oregano oil. It is pretty potent but it knocked it out within 24 hrs. We read on the internet about pregnant women using from what I found I was comfortable trying it, but that would be a personal choice. If you do try it, I would suggest that you put a few drops under your tongue and then chase it with 8 oz of water. It really is potent and if it gets on your tongue I can imagine it being pretty gross, but it really did the trick. The other thing that we use is collital silver, and that it just a great general remedy. You can get both these things at Whole Foods and they also have Homeopathic options. I hope you feel better soon :)
use a steamer in your room at night when you sleep, that's what I do for my kids. Make sure you have no mold in your house, but it is probably summer allergies. are you using cough drops?
Try a cool mist humidifier. You'll need to get one anyway for when the baby is stuffy too. If the cough is in your chest, it loosens things up in there so you can cough stuff up in the morning. It's worth a shot.
Do you put the honey in the hot water? We just swallow it straight from the spoon and that coats the throat. If you cough is getting worse, go see the doctor! Coughs usually last 9 days but should be getting better. Hang in there!
Hi Sara,
Whole Foods has the absolutely BEST cough syrup (in the medicine section). It is all made from herbs, has no harmful ingredients, and works 500% better than anything I have seen OTC. They have several options, depending on what your symptoms are. Ask one of their employees in that section of the market.
Traditional Medicinals makes a tea called "Throat Coat" that works well and taste good too. See if you can find a vaporizer that takes in vaporizer Vicks because the added humidity will help.
There is also a tincture you can get at health food stores called "red root" that is also ok with pregnancy.
Your key is to stay hydrated, drink plenty of liquids and humidity is your friend. Good luck!
Dear Sarah-
This is not "natural" but may help and may not be harmful to baby (confirm with your Dr.) - Whenever I have a cold I get a lingering cough that seems to last forever- my dr. prescribes me an asthma inhaler- there are a few different types; I think the one I use is the "as needed". Anyway, I only take it for a week or 2 and it clears up the cough. Since it's an inhaler it is "topical" as opposed to systemic so not as much gets into your system. Obviously you will want to check this out with your doctor; the last time I took this I was breastfeeding but not pregnant.
Good luck!
Hi:
Have you considered going to an Oriental Medical Doctor. They are schooled in herbal medicine and maybe able to offer you alternative means of support. My doctor is Dr. David Karaba at East West Medical Group in Fullerton if you want a referral.
Best wishes to you.
Margaret Sexton
I'd go see a homeopath and get a consultation (i can refer you if you need) or go to whole foods and get "chestal" homeopathic syrup by Borion ...perfectly safe
Add some ginger root to your lemon and honey mixture. It is spicy but it is so healing for the throat. Just slice up or shred some into the boiling water and let it boil.
I hope you have some other good advice on here! Good luck and feel better soon.
Sarah,
Something you might want to talk to your doctor about further, is the consumption of honey while pregnant (and nursing). Honey can be harmful to infants under one year of age. I still haven't had any honey, since I'm still nursing my one-year old. I haven't had any since before i got pregnant. I've missed it tremendously during colds since it is so soothing.
anyhow, just talkk to your doctor and get his/her thoughts. I've also attached a few links you might consider...