Is a cold during pregnancy dangerous for my baby?
introduction
A cold is more common in pregnant women because the mother's immune system has to take care of the child in the womb. Many expectant mothers worry if they have a cold during their pregnancy. Usually, however, this concern is unfounded, as a cold during pregnancy does not pose a threat to the growing baby in the womb. However, if the cold lasts more than a week and is accompanied by additional symptoms such as high fever or severe pain, a doctor should be consulted.
How dangerous is a cold during pregnancy for my baby?
The occurrence of a cold during pregnancy worries many expectant mothers. However, it is usually harmless and the risk of harm to the baby as a result is extremely low.
The common cold is usually an infection of the throat or the nose / upper respiratory tract, which is either caused by bacteria or viruses. Since the mother's immune system has to supply two organisms during pregnancy, it is easier for such pathogens to cause an infection during this time. Nevertheless, the bacteria or viruses usually do not get deep into the baby in the womb and are limited to the head / neck area.
With normal cold symptoms such as cough, slight pain and fatigue, the expectant mother can therefore not be concerned about the health of an unborn child. A slightly increased body temperature of up to 39 ° C can also still be classified as harmless.
On the other hand, a cold during pregnancy is potentially dangerous if the temperature rises above 39 ° C. This also harbors the risk for the pregnant woman of premature birth with possible complications. If the cold lasts longer than a week and is associated with additional symptoms, a doctor should be consulted for the safety of mother and child and for a speedy recovery. These symptoms can include, for example, the above Persistent fever above 39 ° C, severe pain, purulent or bloody sputum when coughing, severe breathing problems or the presence of an underlying disease such as be a defect in the immune system. The further procedure and possible therapy with drugs that do not endanger the unborn child can then be discussed with the doctor individually.
Last but not least, you should immediately consult a doctor if you are infected with the real flu, as this can represent a real danger for the unborn child with complications or permanent physical damage. A so-called secondary infection in the case of an existing cold, i.e. an additional bacterial or viral infection of the pregnant woman with a cold, is also risky. Since the immune system is already under strain here, it is more difficult for the body to fight the additional infection effectively. The physical weakness of the expectant mother due to the already existing cold makes such a situation more difficult.
For general information on the topic, we recommend our overview pages: Common cold during pregnancy or Infections in pregnancy
What can I do to minimize the risk to my baby?
To protect your unborn baby if you catch a cold during pregnancy, it is advisable to follow a few simple instructions.
In order not to catch a cold from a bacterial or viral infection, pregnant women should avoid close contact with sick people.
Do you want to avoid a cold as much as possible? - We have the right article for it: How can you prevent a cold?
It is also advisable to avoid large crowds due to the risk of infection through close physical contact. This can be particularly relevant in the flu season. Pregnant women should also ensure good hygiene, for example through frequent thorough hand washing or the use of disinfectants, in order to avoid infection with pathogens. Furthermore, every woman who wants to have children is strongly recommended to have a vaccination against the real flu (influenza), as this can lead to complications or even damage and malformations in the unborn child.
Read more about this under: Breastfeeding despite a sore throat
What medication can I take for the common cold?
In general, it should be noted that pregnant women should not take any medication at all when they have a cold, but should try to cure the cold with other, non-medicinal means.
Since no medical studies are carried out on pregnant women, no information is available on potential side effects. Medicines should be avoided, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, as this is where the risk of damage to the fetus is greatest.
However, if the symptoms are severe for the pregnant woman, it is possible to take either the pain reliever ibuprofen or paracetamol if the pain is more severe. Ibuprofen should only be taken up to the 28th week of pregnancy, as taking it after this period could block part of the unborn child's bloodstream. Taking ibuprofen from the 28th week onwards could also delay the birth. For the relative harmlessness of both pain relievers during pregnancy, however, it is also advisable to take them for a short period of time and not to take them for weeks or even months. Cough relievers with the active ingredient acetylcysteine are controversial. Some package leaflets contain warnings for pregnant women, others allow it to be taken without harm to the unborn child.
Read more on this topic at: Medication during pregnancy, ibuprofen during pregnancy, paracetamol during pregnancy
You don't want to take any medication, but still want to do something about your symptoms? Then read our article about Home remedies for a cold
What medication should I not take for the common cold?
In general, pregnant women are advised not to take medication during pregnancy if they have a cold. Certain active ingredients can even endanger the unborn child and, in the worst case, cause physical harm.
In the case of severe pain, we advise against taking preparations containing acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), as these have a blood-thinning effect and can thus increase the unborn baby's tendency to bleed. Ibuprofen as a pain reliever should also no longer be taken after the 28th week of pregnancy, as this can lead to complications and also damage the unborn child (it can block part of the child's blood circulation).
The use of cough syrup containing alcohol is also not recommended. If a bacterial infection makes it necessary to take antibiotics, penicillin or so-called cephalosporins can be used.
Do you want to know more about it? - Then read our article on: Antibiotics in Pregnancy
In addition to some medications, the intake of certain, especially Herbs that induce contraction and stimulate contraction are not recommended. These include, for example, the coneflower (Echinacea), ginger, the taiga root, the tree of life (thuja) or camphor.
These home remedies can help
Since it is advisable not to take any medication to protect the child if you have a cold during pregnancy, home remedies are often used.
First of all, the sick pregnant woman should allow herself a lot of rest and sleep in order to be able to fully recover. It is also helpful to ensure that there is sufficient heat supply. This can be done, for example, with a warm foot bath.
In addition, you should drink a lot to help the body heal the cold quickly. If the expectant mother suffers from a cough, cough suppressant onion juice can be used instead of the often alcoholic cough syrup. With a stuffy nose, nasal sprays with sea salt help, but other ingredients should be avoided.
Steam baths, e.g. with chamomile tea can also clear the inflamed and blocked airways. If there is also an uncomfortable scratchy throat, it helps to gargle with sage tea. Gargling with thyme tea or diluted apple cider vinegar is helpful if the sore throat is severe.
If there is also a slightly increased body temperature, you can lower this again with cool calf compresses. Once the pregnant woman is on the mend, short, slow walks in the fresh air can also speed recovery. Nevertheless, you should always consult a doctor if the symptoms do not improve after several days or even worsen under self-treatment.
You can find even more tips on our main page on the topic: Home remedies for a cold
