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How to treat a cough in pregnancy?

Alexey Kryvenko, medical expert
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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There are many medications that contain herbal preparations, so they are allowed to be taken for cough during pregnancy. There are also many folk methods of treating this pathology, which are very effective.

How to treat a cough during pregnancy? Many women ask this question, since it is important during pregnancy not only to cure the symptoms of a respiratory disease, but also not to harm the child.

How to treat a dry cough during pregnancy?

Firstly, before you start treating a cough, you need to know exactly what caused it, because the treatment of this symptom cannot be separate from others. It is necessary to treat all pathologies of the respiratory system in a comprehensive manner, including cough. Cough is of great importance, since it is a protective mechanism of our body. It occurs when irritated by any object - mucus, a foreign body, microorganisms, edematous tissue. In this case, receptors in the bronchi, trachea, larynx or pharynx are irritated, which causes a protective reaction to such irritation. To treat a cough, you need to know some of its features - dry or wet, when it appears, constant or symptomatic. Such features make breathing easier and contribute to the fastest possible resolution of the pathological process in the bronchi.

Dry cough during pregnancy is very exhausting, as it causes additional irritation of the mucous membrane and damage to its integrity, which delays the recovery process. In addition, dry cough in the third trimester of pregnancy can cause complications in the form of premature birth. Therefore, it is important to treat dry cough correctly, and the main goal of such treatment is to change the nature of the cough to a wet one. For this, herbal medications are used, as well as traditional medicine methods.

Basic medications are mostly taken in syrup form, as it is an affordable medicinal form that also has a pleasant taste.

Gerbion is a herbal cough medicine that is also recommended during pregnancy due to its composition.

In the treatment of dry cough, a drug based on plantain has an advantage. GERBION plantain syrup has activity in dry cough. This is due to the fact that the drug contains biologically active substances and vitamin C. These substances bind to specific receptors in the gastrointestinal tract and they stimulate increased secretion by the bronchial glands, which increases the humidity of the cough.

The drug also has an immunomodulatory effect, which increases the synthesis of interferons and exhibits its antibacterial effect. Vitamin C, which is part of it, has an antioxidant effect and increases the resistance of blood vessels to the action of cytokines. It is used according to the same scheme.

In studies, Gerbion did not have a teratogenic effect on the fetus, so it is permitted during pregnancy.

Stodal is a homeopathic remedy with a combined composition, which has plant components - Pulsatilla, Ipecacuanha, Spongia, Rumex, Bryonia. This composition allows you to use the drug with carelessness during pregnancy. But you should strictly limit the dose, since the composition includes alcohol. Stodal has an effect on the cough center and reduces the severity of cough with a dry and unproductive nature. The drug also has antispasmodic activity in relation to the muscle fibers of the bronchi, which further reduces their spasm. The substances included in the drug have an additional expectorant and bronchodilator effect, and they also make the cough softer and liquefy sputum. All this contributes to the wide possibility of using the drug at the beginning of a cough. The drug is available in the form of syrup and is used fifteen milliliters three times a day. During pregnancy, such a drug is allowed due to its minimal harm in accordance with the herbal composition.

It is also possible to treat dry cough with other drugs for a more pronounced effect and to prevent complications. For this purpose, lozenges and throat sprays are used.

How to treat a wet cough during pregnancy?

The appearance of a wet cough is a good sign, which indicates positive dynamics of the disease. When the alveoli of the pulmonary tree begin to clear from pathological secretion, a wet cough appears, which is initially unproductive and has a viscous character. Such a cough is poorly expectorated and requires additional means so that it becomes more mucous and goes away better. Then the breathing and general well-being of the woman improves. Therefore, if the stage has come in the treatment of cough when it has become more liquid, then it is necessary to improve the discharge of sputum and thus bring recovery closer. In this case, it is necessary to change the cough remedy, which will be aimed at wet cough. For this, medications in the form of herbal syrups are used, as well as traditional methods of treatment, taking into account the state of pregnancy.

Among the medicinal preparations, the same Herbion syrup, but with ivy extract, which is aimed specifically at wet cough in pregnant women, shows a good effect.

GERBION ivy syrup is indicated for wet cough, since due to its composition it liquefies phlegm and improves its removal. The drug helps to reduce the level of calcium in the muscle cells of the bronchial tree and activates beta-adrenergic receptors, which in turn expands the bronchi and improves the outflow of mucus. The drug also activates the work of second-order alveolocytes and this increases the synthesis of surfactant, which improves the protective mechanisms of the alveoli. The drug is available in syrup and is taken five milliliters twice a day. If the drug is taken regularly, then on the second day you can feel the effect, and after three days the cough will remain only slight.

There are also other herbal preparations in the form of syrup that are indicated for wet coughs.

Dr. Theiss is an effective medicine for the treatment of cough, which has virtually no contraindications due to the composition. This drug has an expectorant and mucolytic effect due to the effect on the glands of the bronchial tree and the reduction of mucus secretion. The main component is plantain, which, in combination with other components, has a different mechanism of action, so it is recommended for wet, unproductive cough. The drug is available in syrup and is used in a tablespoon, that is, fifteen milliliters three times a day.

There is also Doctor Theiss with echinacea extract. This drug is available in the form of tablets and lozenges. This drug does not have a pronounced effect on cough, but is more of an immunomodulator, so it can be used for this purpose in complex therapy. During pregnancy, this drug is allowed due to its minimal harm in accordance with the herbal composition.

Read also: Cough drops

Mucaltin is an expectorant, the main component of which is the medicinal plant marshmallow. This drug is recommended for wet, unproductive coughs, as it enhances the bronchodilator effect and promotes the movement and better removal of sputum from the lower respiratory tract. The drug also has an anti-inflammatory effect and coats the bronchial wall, which reduces the irritating effect of viruses and bacteria and accelerates recovery.

The drug is available in the form of 50-milligram tablets, as well as in the form of syrup under the name of the main active ingredient - Althea. It is used one tablet three or four times a day. During pregnancy, such a drug is allowed due to its minimal harm in accordance with the herbal composition.

Bronchicum is a herbal preparation based on thyme, which has an antispasmodic and bronchodilator effect, as well as anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties. It has an effect on bronchial secretions and promotes the synthesis of a larger amount of liquid compound sputum, due to which the secretion becomes more mucous, and the bronchi are cleared faster. The drug for the treatment of cough is used in the form of an elixir and is taken one teaspoon five to six times a day.

Aerosols have a good effect in treating wet cough due to their local action, which reduces local swelling of the mucous membrane and the secretion leaves the bronchial tree better.

Givalex is an effective and efficient drug used in the complex therapy of respiratory diseases. It has an antibacterial effect, antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory.

The drug is used with caution during pregnancy, but it is very effective in case of bacterial lesions. At the same time, it locally disinfects mucous membranes and relieves tissue swelling, which improves breathing and sputum is better expectorated.

Bioparox is a local antibacterial agent that has activity against many microorganisms. It is often used to treat cough, especially if the cough is caused by tonsillitis and is accompanied by the release of purulent sputum.

This is a spray that contains an antibiotic, so it is really very effective, but it should be remembered that there is no data on clinical trials of this product during pregnancy. Therefore, the drug can be used during pregnancy as a local remedy, but only on the doctor's recommendations and strict indications.

Throat lozenges coat the mucous membrane of the epithelial lining of the respiratory tract well, and therefore improve the severity of a cough when it is wet. Similar lozenges are used, the same as syrups - Doctor MOM, Faringosept, Mucaltin. Such lozenges, due to their rich herbal composition, have an expectorant and bronchodilator effect, and also relieve swelling of the mucous membrane, reduce the severity of the inflammatory reaction. Due to such effects, phlegm is better removed, transforming a dry cough into a wet one with a faster resolution of the situation.

Isla-Moos is a lozenge that has a pronounced local effect on cough and helps reduce it. This drug is developed on the basis of Icelandic moss extract and due to this it additionally acts on dryness and sore throat. The local immunomodulatory effect of this drug is also expressed, which increases its effectiveness in the treatment of cough as a symptomatic remedy. The drug is available in the form of lozenges and is used throughout the day when feeling a rough cough or sore throat, it is possible to take every two hours, but not more than the daily dose of twelve tablets. No side effects of the drug were found, use during pregnancy has no teratogenic effect.

Folk remedies for the treatment of wet cough are used very widely, as they are available and easy to prepare. There are many herbs that promote the discharge of phlegm, as well as folk remedies.

Linden and viburnum have long been considered a good remedy for treating coughs and any manifestations of viral infections, given their diaphoretic and detoxifying properties. It is very useful to drink linden tea with the addition of ground viburnum instead of water or plain tea, and you can also add raspberries if there is no allergy. In this case, such tea warms very well and, thanks to the diaphoretic effect, it reduces swelling, improving the outflow of sputum through the bronchi.

Eucalyptus contains a huge amount of vitamins B, C; amino acids; phytoncides; tannins; flavonoids; calcium, phosphorus, chlorine, magnesium, iodine, which contributes to its widespread use for coughs in pregnant women, since it has an anti-edematous effect and improves the outflow of sputum through the respiratory tract.

Therefore, plantain leaf tincture is highly recommended to be drunk even instead of medications.

Compresses for wet cough during pregnancy have a very good effect. In case of wet unproductive cough, such compresses improve expectoration and facilitate breathing due to their local vasodilatory effect. For compresses, you can use various warming agents - potatoes, borsuchi fat, honey.

Honey has a pronounced immunomodulatory effect, and also improves local blood circulation, which improves the outflow of sputum. For such a compress, you need to take honey, warm it up to a liquid state, spread this solution on the skin and put a piece of woolen fabric on top, then wrap it up and lie like this for about twenty minutes.

A potato compress also improves local blood circulation, increases bronchial dilation, and phlegm easily moves through the respiratory tract. It is better to do such a compress at night, but you should be careful with the temperature of the potato to avoid burning. For such a compress, you need to boil the potato in its shell, then mash it and wrap it in calico fabric. You need to put it on your chest, preferably on some clothes, and then cover it with a woolen scarf. You need to keep such a compress until it cools down.

You can buy fish or borsuchiy oil at the pharmacy, which you also need to smear on your chest and cover yourself with a warm scarf. Such products help to thin mucus and quickly resolve the cough.

Treating cough with a nebulizer during pregnancy is of great importance and highly effective. This is due to the fact that inhalations have a very good effect on sputum, and with the help of a nebulizer, the active substance gets directly into the bronchi, where the "center" of the cough is. A nebulizer is a delivery device that helps transform liquid into steam, which is inhaled by a person through a special mask with a tube. Thanks to this device, you can directly deliver the medicine to the respiratory organs. Treatment with steam inhalations is very effective especially for wet coughs, since this helps to better discharge sputum, it becomes less viscous. As an active substance for the treatment of wet cough, it is good to use a physiological solution with ventolin. Hormones during pregnancy for inhalation can be used only with a doctor's prescription.

You can also do inhalations at home, if you do not have a nebulizer at home. You can use baking soda for steam inhalations at home. To do this, add two tablespoons of soda to a liter of hot water and mix, you need to breathe this solution for up to twenty minutes a day. Even for pregnant women, such inhalations are allowed and they can be used up to five times a day.

Due to its alkaline properties, soda can make phlegm more liquid and cough easier to clear because the alkaline base liquefies the polysaccharide complexes of phlegm.

There is another method of inhalation at home, which is widely known. To do this, you need to boil potatoes in their shells, then mash them without peeling them. Then you need to bend over the pot with hot potatoes and cover yourself with a towel and breathe for a few minutes. The hot steam from the potatoes expands the bronchi and liquefies phlegm, which is very good for a wet cough.

But it should be remembered that you cannot do any warming procedures if you have bacterial tonsillitis or pneumonia. Compresses and heat inhalations are only possible for flu and other viral infections.

A great method for treating a wet cough during pregnancy is massage. It is very good for loosening viscous mucus and can be easily used by pregnant women. Such physical influence improves local blood circulation, lymph drainage and mucus becomes more liquid. You can take several procedures of special therapeutic massage, but you can also just ask your husband to do a few massage movements, which also gives a good effect. Such movements should have the character of stroking towards the axillary lymph nodes, as well as vibration. After the massage, a drainage position is recommended, which can completely drain the bronchial tree and the cough will become less pronounced.

Treatment of allergic cough during pregnancy is of particular importance, since it is necessary to use antihistamines along with expectorants. If a pregnant woman suffers from bronchial asthma, and now she is sick and has a cough, especially in spring or summer, when there are provoking factors, it is necessary to add antiallergic drugs to the treatment. Then this will reduce the risk of exacerbation of bronchial asthma. If a woman does not have bronchial asthma, but she has a burdened history of allergic diseases, then it is also necessary to additionally add an antihistamine for cough. If the cough is allergic in nature, that is, it appears in a certain place for a certain trigger factor, then it is imperative to use such treatment. You can add an ampoule of antihistamine to the inhaler - Tavegil, Suprastin. There is also an option for using systemic antihistamines for allergic cough.

Erius is an antiallergic drug used to treat allergic reactions. The mechanism of action of the drug in the treatment of allergic cough is due to the inhibition of histamine receptors by blocking them, which prevents histamine from showing its activity. Due to this, there is no tissue edema, increased secretion of sputum and possible skin rash. The drug does not cause a hypnotic effect, like its predecessors, due to which it is widely used. During pregnancy, this drug has not been tested very widely, so its use in the first trimester is not recommended. Erius is available in the form of tablets and syrup. Syrup for adults, as a more pleasant form, can be used one teaspoon twice a day. Side effects of the drug are possible in the form of dizziness, headache, rapid heartbeat, liver dysfunction with an increase in liver enzymes, dry mouth and throat.

It is also necessary to approach the issue of cough treatment with differentiation in accordance with the period of pregnancy. Cough during pregnancy in the first trimester should be treated with restrictions on drugs from the group of antihistamines and antibiotics. During this period, it is necessary to give preference to herbal and folk remedies for the treatment of cough. In the second and third trimester, herbal syrups can be used to treat cough during pregnancy, as well as antibiotics according to strict prescriptions in case of a bacterial process.

Treatment of cough during pregnancy with folk remedies

The use of folk remedies for the treatment of cough is of priority importance, since there are many methods that are very effective. They can be used as independent methods of treatment.

Recipes for cough during pregnancy using milk are very common due to their pronounced effect and pleasant taste, in addition to minimal harm. Milk is a natural product, rich in nutrients and vitamins. It has many properties that can be used even by compresses. A very common method of treatment is using hot milk. To do this, you need to boil the milk and add honey and soda to it. Such milk with honey and soda is very useful and it helps to liquefy viscous sputum. You can also add a little oil to such milk, which reduces irritation of the bronchi.

Another widely used method of treatment is a combination of milk and mineral water. Borjomi is best suited for this, since it is puddle water that promotes the breakdown of polysaccharides in bronchial secretions, and sputum becomes more liquid, and cough more productive. To do this, add half a glass of mineral water to a glass of warm milk, then drink it warm at least three times a day.

Treatment of cough with radish during pregnancy is also often used, although it seems a surprising phenomenon. But radish, especially black variety has a pronounced mucolytic effect and in combination with honey its beneficial properties increase. To do this, black radish juice should be mixed with honey and aloe juice, and take this remedy by teaspoon three times a day.

Honey is a rich natural product that is often used in various branches of traditional medicine. Honey for the treatment of cough during pregnancy is very often used as compresses, teas, infusions and other recipes. It has a mild effect and many immunomodulatory properties, which not only treats cough, but also prevents the development of complications in the form of a long dry cough after an illness.

Onion with honey has an effect not only on cough, but it also has a bactericidal property and inhibits the synthesis of components of the bacterial wall. To prepare the recipe, grated onion juice should be mixed with liquid honey in a one-to-one ratio and taken one teaspoon every four hours during the acute period. Then on the second day, when the symptoms decrease, you can take it three times a day.

Honey compresses are also very useful. To prepare a honey compress, use one tablespoon of honey, dry mustard and a teaspoon of olive oil. Mix these ingredients and make a compress, which is placed on the chest and covered with cellophane film, and then with a woolen scarf. This remedy improves the outflow of sputum through the bronchi, and the cough becomes less pronounced. The use of the remedy is possible only in the absence of allergies to the components, as well as in the case of viral etiology of the process.

Medicinal teas made from herbs and fruits are often used. Lemon is a well-known remedy for coughs and viral respiratory diseases. It is added to tea, where it also has a diaphoretic effect, thus removing toxins. If you drink this tea with ginger, the beneficial properties increase. Ginger and its fruits are widely used in medicine, especially in the treatment of respiratory diseases in pregnant women. To treat coughs, it is used as an expectorant and pain reliever, which is especially important when the bronchial mucosa is irritated by a dry, hacking cough. Ginger is also known for its high immunomodulatory effect. Therefore, it can be used as a preventive measure for pregnant women in particular.

How to treat a cough during pregnancy is a difficult question on one hand, but on the other hand, it is very simple. It is necessary to differentiate between dry and wet cough, and also to be wary of complex medications in the treatment of cough in the first trimester. Many methods of traditional medicine in the treatment of cough are very effective, so they can be used without fear during pregnancy.