Cough during pregnancy

It is very difficult to resist viral infections, especially when the "cold season" begins. Pregnant women, due to weakened immunity, are twice heavier. Cough during pregnancy is one of the signs of a cold. The cough can be dry or wet. But the main problem of coughing in pregnant women is that it is very difficult to treat it, because during this period, drug treatment is contraindicated because of possible harm to the fetus.

But to cure a cough during pregnancy is necessary, first of all, because with weakened immunity the usual cough can develop into bronchitis, viral tracheitis, pneumonia, etc., and in this case one can not do without medications.

Any disease, even the most insignificant, has a significant burden on immunity. In the blood, antibodies are produced that help the body cope with viruses. As a rule, only the maternal antibodies can penetrate the placenta, but if there is placental insufficiency, the infection can penetrate the child, which can cause anomalies at birth. That is why cough treatment should be started immediately, to minimize the risk of possible complications to a minimum.

Special caution should be shown to women who had a threat of miscarriage. When coughing, the pressure on the abdominal cavity rises, which can cause the tone of the uterus. Hypertension of the uterus can provoke not only miscarriage, but intrauterine hypoxia of the fetus (lack of oxygen) due to spasms of the vessels of the uterus.

Coughing is a kind of defensive reaction of the body, it arises when the receptors are irritated, which leads to the withdrawal of phlegm from the respiratory tract. As part of phlegm, there are pathological bacteria that, if left in the bronchi for a long time, lead to pneumonia. Before starting treatment, it is necessary to find out the type of cough (wet, dry) and the cause of its appearance. With dry cough (unproductive), sputum is not secreted or is released in small amounts. For a cough to take the form of a productive (wet), it is necessary to form a mucus. For this, special antitussive drugs are usually used. But pregnant women are not allowed to take any medicines. But dry cough during pregnancy can cause significant discomfort (persistent swelling, loss of voice, night coughing attacks) that the benefits of using an antitussive drug exceed possible risks for the mother and child.

Absolutely harmless medicines do not exist, all drugs can cause an allergic reaction or some other side effect, especially in pregnant women. In this regard, it is not recommended for a long time to take medications, if there is no improvement in a few days, it is better to repeatedly consult a doctor. It is often possible to do without taking any medications and cure cough with the help of effective alternative medicine.

[1], [2]

Causes of coughing during pregnancy

There are several reasons for coughing, among them various viral diseases (whooping cough, measles, tuberculosis, sinusitis, etc.), allergies, acute respiratory infections, smoking. Cough during pregnancy usually occurs against the background of ARI, often with a cough, a woman suffers from a runny nose, fever, weakness and other manifestations of a cold. In the case of dry cough, you can not wait for it until it goes into the wet one, for several reasons. First of all, with a dry cough, the abdominal cavity is under constant pressure, it interferes with full rest at night. Therefore, to treat, or rather to calm the dry cough should be without delay.

One of the most common causes of cough is chronic or acute inflammation in the upper and lower respiratory tract. If a cough appears on the background of the cold, the cause may be a runoff of mucus on the back of the nasopharynx, which leads to irritation of the mucosa and, consequently, to a coughing fit. With inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis) cough appears as a reaction to the inflammatory process.

Inflammation of the bronchi, lung tissue (bronchitis, pneumonia) leads to the appearance of cough due to the accumulation of sputum in the lower respiratory tract in large numbers. Allergic diseases can also provoke a cough, this reason is also widespread among pregnant women. Allergic cough is caused by obstructive bronchitis, bronchial asthma, allergic tracheitis. Much less often a cough occurs against the background of neurotic reactions of the body, diseases of the ear passage, stomach, diaphragm, cardiovascular system, thyroid gland.

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Symptoms of coughing during pregnancy

Cough during pregnancy occurs for a variety of reasons, but many are mistaken, suggesting that cough only develops on the background of respiratory or lung diseases. Cough can talk about heart failure, oncological disease, tuberculosis. With such conditions, a long-lasting cough is usually a concern.

Cough against a background of a viral infection, for example, with the flu, at the beginning of the first days has an unproductive nature, and then there is mucus, possibly with purulent impurities. The person has chest pains, cough accompanied by temperature, weakness, headache.

If the cause of the cough was bronchitis, then it has a productive character from the very beginning of its appearance. A sharp and violent cough is the main symptom of bronchitis, which is a complication of a cold. With bronchitis, the temperature rises slightly, there is weakness, lethargy. If the bronchitis flows into a chronic form, then the cough is deaf, with sputum, sometimes with impurities of pus, in the future the sputum gets a brownish tinge. Coughing attacks are exacerbated in the cold, in stuffy rooms, causing pain in the chest. The temperature can be insignificant, there is a general weakness.

With bronchial asthma, cough has a chronic, very severe character, sometimes it can provoke an attack of suffocation. This cough aggravates at a certain time of the year, usually in the spring or autumn, occurs under the influence of an allergen. As a rule, with bronchial asthma, the mucus is very dense and transparent, is released in a rather small amount.

Pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis in chronic form cause frequent attacks of dry cough. As a rule, cough is worse at night. Possible pain in the forehead, under the eyes.

With diseases of the pleura, there is a dry cough that gives pain in the sternum. Inflammation of the pleura is accompanied by very high fever, shortness of breath, severe pain in the chest. With tuberculosis for the first time, the cough has a mild form, mostly dry, then develops into a heavy wet cough that exhausts the person. It usually intensifies at night, bloody impurities may appear in the mucus. With the disease, the temperature keeps at the level of 37-38 degrees, the person sharply grows thin, he is tormented by profuse sweating, chills. Diseases, as a rule, develops as a result of contact with the patient.

With the disease of whooping cough from the very first days, a very violent cough begins, which often results in vomiting.

Measles is accompanied by a dry, debilitating cough, a rash appears on the skin and mucous membranes, and the temperature rises.

When the cancer process in the lungs appears first dry, and then wet cough with the release of pus. If the cancer is in the bronchi, then the sputum is similar in color to the raspberry jelly.

Heart failure is accompanied by a debilitating dry cough, dyspnea occurs, seizures usually occur with tension, aggravated at night, very similar to an asthmatic attack, with the only difference that if heart failure stops, coughing stops. With heart failure, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness - all these signs tend not to cause suspicion and the disease goes unnoticed.

Moist cough during pregnancy

Wet cough usually appears in the autumn-winter period, during an exacerbation of colds. Cough is a kind of protection of the body for the penetration of viruses, irritation of the mucosa, etc. A wet cough during pregnancy can be triggered by both common colds and more serious diseases - bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, pneumonia.

Physicians call wet cough productive, because it has an effect for the body, namely the excretion of bronchial sputum with the content of viruses. This is a good sign of the body struggling with the disease.

In diseases of the respiratory system, usually there is a moist cough, in the body there is an increase in bronchial secretion, resulting in sputum production with harmful bacteria and viruses. The type of sputum can say about the disease, for example, a clear color indicates bronchial asthma, a rusty hue - about pneumonia.

Wet cough manifests itself as one of the symptoms of various diseases to which respiratory organs are exposed. Often, a wet cough occurs with lung or bronchial disease (influenza, acute bronchitis, acute respiratory disease, tuberculosis).

Dry cough during pregnancy

A dry or unproductive cough, as a rule, causes more suffering. Attacks of dry cough can cause more irritation of the respiratory tract and can provoke even vomiting.

If a dry cough appeared during pregnancy, it could mean that the bronchial tubes can not get rid of the accumulated sputum. The body connects a cough to push the trachea and bronchi to the mucus's outlet.

For a long time, an uninterrupted dry cough can signal the inflammation of the lungs, especially if there is a high fever. If the temperature is not raised, but if there is a sensation of perspiration in the cough, severe pain, then in this case there may be sore throat.

Quite often, dry cough develops on the background of viral infections, respiratory diseases. If a cough has acquired a barking sound, then the inflammation of the larynx or vocal cords may have begun. In this case, you need to urgently start treatment, as the inflammation of the larynx can lead to suffocation. A deaf dry cough occurs during cancerous processes in the respiratory tract or tuberculosis. A dry paroxysmal cough, which can break before vomiting, may indicate pertussis or bronchial asthma.

To relieve the condition of a pregnant woman with a dry cough, you need, first and foremost, to calm him down. To do this, you can use some syrups (but not in the first trimester), which will soothe the mucous membrane and, probably, push the bronchi to the excretion of sputum.

Dry cough can appear for a variety of reasons, but the most common is respiratory disease. Very often cough is accompanied by a runny nose, fever, weakness, poor appetite, sore throat, etc. Wait until the dry cough itself goes into the wet can not for several reasons, primarily because of the strain of the abdominal muscles, which can harm the child, and a dry cough does not give a full rest at night. All this does not give the pregnant woman time to wait until the body cope with the disease on its own, it is necessary to calm the dry cough as soon as possible.

Calm the dry cough with special medications, they will have a soothing, analgesic effect. When choosing a drug, be sure to read the composition of the drug, it should not contain narcotic substances (morphine, codeine). During pregnancy, preference should be given to those drugs that are recommended by manufacturers to children under the age of three. But in any case, taking any kind of medication is not advisable, especially in the first trimester, it is better to try and calm a dry cough with alternative medicine. In this case, everything depends on the individual characteristics of your body, incl. Intolerance of some components. The most simple and effective aid for dry coughing are inhalations. The inhalation of a warm steam (especially boiled in potato tunics) will well soothe and bring long-awaited relief. You can also use a decoction of chamomile, sage, lime blossom, plantain. If you do not have a special inhaler - you can use the method that our grandmothers used - the inhalation of vapors over the pan, covered with a towel. But such procedures are contraindicated at high arterial pressure and temperature.

With a dry cough, the main treatment should be directed to transfer it to wet. As soon as the process of excretion of sputum begins, the bronchi begin to get rid of infection, bacteria and inflamed particles of the bronchi.

Of course, in the beginning you need to get rid of the cause of coughing (allergies, infections, etc.). But any drugs are better taken on the advice of a doctor, depending on the nature of the cough, he will appoint the appropriate (diluting or expectorant) drugs.

[4], [5], [6]

Severe cough during pregnancy

A severe exhausting cough during pregnancy causes not only great inconvenience, but also can cause strong painful sensations. When a fit of coughing begins, there is no way to breathe, a woman can not fully rest at night, a cough can be tormented until vomiting occurs. A strong cough during pregnancy occurs for various reasons, as already mentioned, the most frequent is the viral infection of the respiratory tract. Often a cough occurs against the background of the common cold - slime flows down the nasopharynx, which causes irritation of the mucosa and, accordingly, a strong attack of coughing.

Inflammation can begin in the throat, larynx, trachea - all this will cause coughing attacks. If the inflammation struck the tissues of the bronchi or lungs, bronchitis and pneumonia begin, as a result of which a large amount of mucus accumulates in the bronchi, which, together with the infections, is excreted by coughing.

In addition, severe attacks of cough can cause allergic conditions. Rarely there is a cough with diseases of the stomach, thyroid, heart, etc. As can be seen, there are plenty of reasons for the occurrence of a severe cough, but the main threat to a pregnant woman is the underlying disease, against which a strong cough developed. But the cough itself can not be ignored. With a strong cough, the woman has an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, and this is very dangerous for a woman in position. Tension of the abdominal muscles and high pressure in the abdominal cavity can provoke premature birth, placental abruption, miscarriage. Those. A severe cough during pregnancy is a serious threat, and it is impossible to delay and delay with treatment. Coughing is a natural defense of the body from the ingress of bacteria, viruses, dust, foreign particles into the lungs. When ingested into the bronchi, "unwanted guests" dismount with mucus, and then with a cough are pushed out. A kind of cough acts as a cleaning of the lungs from various contaminants that get there by inhalation. But do not completely rely on your immune system and wait until the body itself cope with the infection, especially the pregnant. First of all, the woman's immunity is in an oppressed state, so she is unable to perform her functions 100%, besides, coughing attacks can lead to unwanted complications of pregnancy.

The cough treatment should be started from the very beginning of the disease, so you can achieve a positive effect in the first few days, not allowing the development of more severe symptoms. A strong cough is a danger both for the mother and the baby, so in the first stages it is good to fight it with alternative methods, for example, honey with warm milk - will well calmed and relieve a fit of coughing. You can do chest massage with honey (if there is no allergy to honey). A woman should rest more, you need to drink a sufficient amount of liquid (tea with jam, lemon, warm compotes, herbal decoctions, etc.), it is advisable to ventilate the room as often as possible.

Consequences of coughing during pregnancy

Cough in the ordinary state of a person is not dangerous, quite the contrary. When coughing, the bronchi are cleared of accumulated mucus, pus, bacteria, etc. But cough during pregnancy carries an immediate threat to the baby, and it is necessary to start treatment as early as possible.

The consequences of coughing are felt almost immediately by a pregnant woman. A fit of cough provokes a tension in the abdominal wall, as well as the uterus. Frequent, long and regular attacks of coughing lead the uterus into a strong tone, which at the beginning of pregnancy can cause miscarriage, and in later terms - premature birth, but in either case, the life of the mother and child is seriously endangered.

But these are not the only consequences that cough can lead to. With hypertension of the uterus, blood circulation deteriorates, as a result the child in the womb of the mother does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients and develops oxygen starvation (hypoxia).

No less serious consequence is placental abruption, high blood pressure, which also leads to negative consequences during pregnancy. A severe dry cough can cause vomiting, which will result in dehydration, weakness, loss of important vitamins and trace elements. In addition to all added nights of inferior sleep. But all these conditions arise with neglected forms of cough, which is highly undesirable.

It is important to remember that cough does not develop on its own, it develops against a background of a certain disease, sometimes extremely difficult. It is necessary to know that absolutely different methods are used to treat dry and wet cough. Future moms any medication should undergo strict medical supervision so as not to harm themselves and the baby.

[7], [8],

Cough treatment during pregnancy

With a dry cough accompanied by sore throat (against a cold), inhalations that can be carried out with a special device, inhaler, or you can use the simple method of breathing vapors over a wide cup or saucepan are good. To enhance the effect, you can cover yourself with a towel. You need to breathe for about 5-10 minutes, during the procedure you should not have unpleasant sensations. In day you can repeat no more than 5 - 6 procedures, in this case you need to monitor your well-being.

Inhalations are contraindicated at high temperature, as it can rise even higher, after the procedure you need to give maximum rest to the throat - not to drink, not eat, do not talk.

Pregnant women are well suited for the following inhalations, which are permitted in such cases:

• honey - dissolve one part of honey in five parts of warm water (about 40 degrees), breathe over the resulting solution with the nose and mouth, alternately.
• tincture of sage - 2 tbsp. Spoon pour boiling water (200ml), under cover 20 minutes
• in boiling water, put the extract of needles (you can use essential oil), 2 teaspoons dried eucalyptus leaves, crushed garlic (1t spoon), tablet validol (as a source of menthol).
• soda - per liter of boiling water 2 -3 tbsp. Spoons of soda, such inhalations when coughing well remove spasm, besides do not cause allergic reactions.

Now on sale there are ultrasonic inhalers which use cold steam, such inhalers are well suited at high temperatures. But such devices must be filled with specially prepared solutions, therefore, before treatment, it is necessary to carefully study the composition of the drug, so that there are no contraindicated in pregnancy components.

When you cough, you can use rinses to calm the irritated throat. Good help to relieve cough attacks following recipes:

• mix in equal proportions eucalyptus, calendula flowers, sage. 1 tbsp. Spoon the resulting mixture with pour boiling water (200ml), then warm in a water bath for ten minutes, make sure not to boil. The resulting chilled broth gargle several times a day. This infusion has a short curative properties for only a few hours, so it's best to always use freshly prepared.
• in equal proportions take the leaves of raspberries, pine buds, mint, chamomile leaves althea root, clover flowers, mother-and-stepmother's grass, kipreya - 1 tbsp. Spoon the mixture with 200ml of boiling water, warm it in a water bath for about 15 minutes, then the broth is poured into a thermos (or you can use a jar wrapping it well) and leave for 2 hours, after the broth is infused, it must be filtered and used for rinsing several times in a day.
• 1/2 teaspoon of soda for 200ml of warm water

Reduces soreness in the irritated throat, softens the cough, liquefies phlegm, facilitates coughing and improves the general condition of a plentiful drink. When coughing, it is recommended to take the following broths and tinctures:

• take 2 dry figs and boil in milk for about 20 minutes. It is best to drink this decoction before going to bed in a warm form.
• warm milk, honey, butter and soda at the tip of the knife. You need to drink several times a day.
• prepare a mixture of dried apples, raspberries, raisins, dogrose and hawthorn, take 4 tbsp. Spoon brew 400 ml of boiling water. Warm in a water bath for 20 minutes, then turn off the fire, cover and let it brew for half an hour, drain. Drink infusion warm several times a day, for taste you can add a little honey.
• half a cup of dried fruits of the viburnum should be poured 400ml of boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes, then strain. You can add honey to the drink, take half a cup several times a day.

With a dry cough that developed against the background of laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, you can alleviate the condition of herbal remedies:

• prepare a mixture of equal parts of dog rose, chamomile, plantain leaves, herb primrose. Pour 2 tbsp. Spoon mixture 400ml of boiling water and slowly warm in a water bath for 20 minutes, then let the broth cover and let it brew for 30 minutes, drain. Take 1/3 cup several times a day.
• in equal parts of the herb thyme, flax seeds, anise fruit mixed, 1 tbsp. Spoon of the mixture to be poured 200ml of cool boiled water, to insist for two hours, then slowly bring the broth to a boil, allow it to cool slightly and strain. Decoction is consumed three times in 1/3 cup.
• 1 tbsp. Spoon of the root of the althaea should be insisted in a glass of cold water for 8-10 hours, this medicine is well prepared in the evening, then in the morning it will only drain and drink three times a day for 1/3 cup.
• To prepare as usual tea flowers of a clover (for a porcelain teapot to take 2 ч. Spoons), 15 minutes to insist and drink some times a day warm on half a glass, it is possible with honey (such tea approaches at disease of a bronchial asthma).
• with pneumonia, bronchitis, etc. Moist cough is well treated with infusion of three tablespoons of mother-and-stepmother (you need to mix flowers and leaves in equal proportions) into two glasses of boiling water. Insist an hour and a half in the thermos, then strain and drink 1/3 cup several times a day.

How to treat a cough during pregnancy?

Cough during pregnancy should be treated with one very important condition: do not harm the baby. Once a woman feels unwell, she should immediately consult a doctor. During treatment, it is also necessary to take into account the length of pregnancy, since in the first three months it is forbidden to use any medications, and in the last months some medicines are allowed.

Treatment of a pregnant woman should be aimed at relieving cough and eliminating the main source of the disease. With respiratory infection, the body can be helped by alternative means. With the proper use of herbs, you can get rid of even a very strong cough. The herbs work best when they come in direct contact with the diseased area - the throat. For these purposes inhalation, rinses are well suited. Well suited for both inhalation and rinsing pouch (sold already ready in the pharmacy). If there is no special inhaler, you can use a pot, a teapot (breathe through a spout), you can also fold a sheet of paper with a cone and thus breathe. When treating a cough, it is best to choose several methods (rinsing + inhalation + herbal infusions inside), with such an integrated approach, the effectiveness of treatment will be higher and recovery will occur more quickly.

If alternative medicine can not cope or there are any contraindications for treatment, for example, an allergy, then it is necessary to consult with the doctor about possible medication. As a rule, in such situations, natural preparations are prescribed, which includes herbs (plantain syrup, mucaltin). Rinses help to reduce pain and irritation. A wet cough during pregnancy is treated much longer, since strong drugs are not used.

For the treatment of a cough, fragrance is well suited, for this you need to drip a few drops into a special aroma lamp, if not, use a handkerchief or a napkin. You can use an asterisk, eucalyptus oil, sage oil for aromatherapy. In the treatment of cough, the main thing is not to let the process go, otherwise there will be serious complications.

Preventing cough during pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is important to ensure that the weakened body receives a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals, especially in the cold season, when the "cold season" begins.

If you are going to where there will be a lot of people (women's consultation, work, transportation, shop, etc.) you need to lubricate the nose with oxolin ointment, which will not allow the viruses to penetrate the body.

If someone from the household is unwell, you can fight the infection with the help of a fragrance: chop the garlic finely and arrange it around the room in small plates or saucers. Garlic contains a large amount of phytoncides (antimicrobial substances of plant origin), they will help protect against the spread of infection around the house.

We need to ventilate the rooms every day, even in the cold season. It is best to ventilate the room before going to bed for 15-20 minutes (it is not necessary to stay in a ventilated room at this time).

Aromatic oil is a wonderful antimicrobial agent. Eucalyptus oil, tea tree, fir, orange can be used to protect against viruses, both at home and in public places, lubricating the nose with a droplet of oil (provided that the aroma does not irritate and does not bring discomfort).

It is important to monitor the humidity in the room. When using heaters, it is good to get special moisturizers to prevent overdrying of air. You can moisten the air with a wet towel on the battery, but it's not as effective.

Cough during pregnancy is a protective function of the body, it removes bacteria and viruses from the bronchial tubes. Wet cough is inherently more productive, as there is a withdrawal of sputum with pathological contents outwards, whereas with dry it does not occur. In the treatment of dry cough, it is important to calm the irritated throat and help to make the cough become productive. Became wet. Cough for a pregnant woman is an immediate danger, as it causes overexertion of the abdominal muscles, which threatens complication of pregnancy. Treat cough, both dry and wet, you need right after it appears. In the early days you can try to cope with the disease with the help of alternative medicine, and if improvements are not observed or become worse, you need to urgently go to the doctor so that the process does not go too far.