What can you get for a cough in pregnancy?

What can be used for cough during pregnancy? This question worries many women, since the respiratory system is affected quite often due to its barrier function, especially in pregnant women. Therefore, this question is worth it precisely because of its importance, because the mother worries primarily about her child. They use medications and folk remedies, but the priority is the issue of not harming the baby with such treatment.

Cough Remedies During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a period when another life develops in a woman's body and at this time it is necessary to be very careful about nutrition and taking any pharmacological drugs. The fetus is an agent foreign to the woman's body, because it contains 50% of the information from the father. The woman's immune system perceives it as an antibody to some extent, therefore, until the formation of its placenta with an individual barrier and blood flow, a state of relative immunosuppression develops. The state of relative immunosuppression of the pregnant woman's body contributes to the fact that the chances of getting any respiratory disease increase several times, therefore, pregnant women who have not previously complained of frequent illnesses suffer from respiratory pathology.

Cough is one of the symptoms of respiratory diseases and can be called a "watchdog" on the way to the lungs. It is important because it is a protective mechanism of our body. To treat a cough, you need to know some of its features - dry or wet, when it appears, constant or symptomatic. The main reasons that can cause a cough are the following:

• pneumonia;
• acute or chronic bronchitis;
• bronchial asthma;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• tracheitis;
• laryngitis;
• pharyngitis;
• otitis.

In any case, this is just one of the symptoms of the pathology, so you should not seriously treat the symptom, but you need to treat the disease, and the cough - in complex therapy.

For pregnant women, the choice of medication is very important, because along with being effective, it must have minimal impact on the child.

Doctor MOM is a cough medicine that doctors allow to take during pregnancy. This medicine is of plant origin and contains many medicinal herbs. It includes: menthol, ginger, aloe, nightshade, licorice, elecampane, basil. This medicine has an expectorant and bronchodilator effect due to its rich herbal composition. The medicine also relieves swelling of the mucous membrane, reduces the severity of the inflammatory reaction and due to this, sputum leaves better, transforming a dry cough into a wet one with the fastest resolution of the situation. The medicine has different forms - lozenges with different flavors, cough syrup, ointment that is spread on the chest. The syrup is used one teaspoon three times a day, lozenges - three times a day. During pregnancy, this medicine is allowed due to its minimal harm in accordance with the herbal composition.

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 during pregnancy with care. But you should strictly limit the dose, since the composition includes alcohol. The substances included in the drug have an expectorant and bronchodilator effect, and they also make the cough softer and liquefy sputum. 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 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.

Gerbion is a herbal cough medicine that is also recommended during pregnancy due to its composition. It is necessary to distinguish between two main types of this medicine, as they have different indications. Gerbion ivy syrup is indicated for wet cough, as due to its composition it liquefies phlegm and improves its removal. The medicine helps to reduce the calcium level in the muscle cells of the bronchial tree and activates beta-adrenergic receptors, which in turn expands the bronchi and improves mucus drainage. The medicine also activates the work of second-order alveolocytes and this increases the synthesis of surfactant, which improves the protective mechanisms of the alveoli. The medicine is available in syrup and is taken five milliliters twice a day. Gerbion plantain syrup is effective for 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 allowed during pregnancy.

Dr. Theiss is an antitussive that has an effect similar to Gerbion with plantain extract. This drug has an expectorant and mucolytic effect due to the effect on the glands of the bronchial tree and reducing mucus secretion. The main component is also plantain, but it has a slightly different mechanism of action, so it is recommended for dry and 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 Dr. 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 to a greater extent it is an immunomodulator, so for this purpose it can be used in complex therapy. During pregnancy, this drug is allowed due to its minimal harm in accordance with the herbal composition.

Mucaltin is an expectorant, the main component of which is the medicinal plant marshmallow. This drug is recommended for a drier cough, since 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 envelops the bronchial wall, which reduces the irritating effect of viruses and bacteria and accelerates recovery. The drug is available in the form of tablets of 50 milligrams, as well as in the form of a syrup under the name of the main active ingredient - Althea. It is used one tablet three or four times a day. During pregnancy, this drug is allowed due to its minimal harm in accordance with the herbal composition.

Lisobact is a drug that is often used for respiratory diseases. It is not used to treat coughs, as it has a slightly different effect. The drug contains lysozyme and pyridoxine. Lysozyme is a natural substance found in human saliva and has a bactericidal effect. Therefore, the main effect of the drug is antiviral and bactericidal. It increases local defenses and, thanks to vitamin B 6 in its composition, the drug has a protective property against fungi. It is used in combination therapy for the treatment of respiratory diseases as lozenges, one tablet three times a day. It is used during pregnancy due to the composition of the drug.

Read also:

• Cough drops
• What to do if you have a cough?
• Treatment of cough with phlegm

Other Cough Remedies During Pregnancy

There are also other medications that can be used during pregnancy. These medications also have indications in accordance with the nature of the cough and the characteristics of the drugs.

Zvezdochka for cough during pregnancy is a common remedy used by women for various pathologies of the respiratory system. Due to the huge number of strong substances - aromatic oils, eucalyptus and menthol - the drug has a pronounced stimulating effect on the receptors of the nasal cavity and this narrows the blood vessels. This effect is very useful for severe rhinitis. The drug also has a bactericidal property, so it is used by lubricating a small area of skin near the nostrils. To treat a cough, you need to inhale with a drop of such a solution. It is very important to take precautions in the form of avoiding excessive rubbing into the skin and using a large dose, as this can cause a burn of the bronchial mucosa.

Iodine mesh can also be used during pregnancy as a cough remedy. To do this, you need to take only iodine that has not expired. Apply to the chest area, but avoid the heart area. The effect of such treatment is due to the bactericidal property of iodine, which penetrates the skin. Iodine also has a warming effect due to the expansion of capillaries, which stimulates blood circulation and improves the discharge of sputum and reduces coughing. During pregnancy, this remedy is safe in the case of treatment once a day, with a preliminary test with iodine for sensitivity.

Cough mixtures during pregnancy that are safe for the child are the above-mentioned drugs - Doctor MOM, Althea syrup, Gerbion, Stodal, Doctor Theiss, as well as other mixtures - Bronchicum, Licorice syrup, Linkas. These drugs are allowed during pregnancy precisely because of their 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. 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.

Linkas is a multi-component cough medicine that has an expectorant, mucolytic and bronchodilator effect. The medicine is not recommended for concomitant diabetes mellitus. It is used in syrup, ten milliliters three times a day.

Cough compresses during pregnancy are also widely used due to their availability and good effect. In case of wet, unproductive cough, such compresses improve sputum discharge and facilitate breathing.

A honey compress can be used twice a day. 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 moves easily 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.

Cough drops and lozenges are also often used during pregnancy due to their local action. But here you should be more careful, since such lozenges can be absorbed and the risk of adverse effects is greater than when using other means. Lozenges that can be used for cough during pregnancy are Doctor MOM, Lizobact, Faringosept, Tantum Verde.

Faringosept is a drug that has a local bacteriostatic effect on coccal flora and fungi. The drug acts only locally, does not affect the intestinal biocenosis of a pregnant woman, so it can be used during pregnancy. When treating cough, the drug moisturizes the nasopharynx and increases the amount of saliva, which improves the rheological properties of sputum. Therefore, the drug is used to treat cough, one tablet three times a day.

Tantum Verde is a drug approved for the treatment of cough in pregnant women from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This drug has a local anti-inflammatory and analgesic property, which is especially effective for cough caused by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract or their trauma. The drug is taken one tablet three times a day until they are completely dissolved.

Cough tablets are not recommended for systemic use during pregnancy, as they have a pronounced effect on the fetus. This is especially true for codeine derivatives - Codeterpin, Stoptussin, Antitussin. Antibiotics in tablet form should be taken only according to strict indications and doctor's orders, as their harm can be greater than the expected result.

Dry cough remedies during pregnancy - this can be Herbion syrup with plantain extract. It is active against dry cough due to increased secretion of sputum by the bronchial glands, which increases the humidity of the cough. Tablets with a central mechanism of action against dry cough are prohibited during pregnancy.

Cough sprays during pregnancy also have a local effect, so they are very effective.

Miramistin is a solution that can be used as a throat spray. It has an antiseptic effect on many bacteria and fungi. The drug also has a reparative effect on the bronchial mucosa, which strengthens their walls and reduces the severity of cough.

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.

Folk remedies for cough during pregnancy

Folk remedies for cough during pregnancy are of priority importance, since herbal preparations and other useful substances do not harm the unborn child. Many means are used - fats, oils, physiotherapeutic and physical methods of treatment.

Massage during pregnancy is an effective means of improving the discharge of sputum. Such physical influence improves local blood circulation, lymph drainage and sputum becomes more liquid. After massage, a drainage position is recommended, which can completely drain the bronchial tree and the cough will become less pronounced. Cupping during pregnancy for cough can be used together with massage or individually. For this, special massage cups are used, which have a suction effect and improve lymph drainage and blood circulation. Then the lavage of sputum along the bronchial tree improves, and the cough becomes more productive and is better coughed up. Such a remedy is very effective for cough and can be used during pregnancy, since it is not a harmful method.

A cough cake during pregnancy is an effective remedy, since it can be considered a kind of compress. To prepare such a cake, use one tablespoon of honey, dry mustard and a teaspoon of olive oil. These ingredients are mixed and a compress is made, which is placed on the chest and covered with cellophane film, and then a woolen scarf. Such a cake improves blood circulation, sputum discharge and makes breathing easier.

Cocoa butter, like other aromatic agents, stimulates the secretion of bronchial glands and improves the rheological properties of sputum. To treat cough, steam inhalations with cocoa butter are used, for which a nebulizer or simple home inhalations are used. To do this, you need to boil water, add two or three drops of cocoa butter to it, cover yourself with a towel and breathe for twenty minutes. After such procedures, the cough will become more productive.

Burnt sugar for cough is an old folk remedy that is often used to treat pregnant women because of its minimal harm. The effect of such a recipe is to treat dry cough and increase its productivity due to the changed properties of sugar. To prepare such a recipe, you need to take five tablespoons of granulated sugar, pour it into an enamel bowl and heat it on the stove, stirring constantly. In this case, the sugar should dissolve and darken a little to the color of caramel, but you should not heat it to a black color, because this is harmful. Next, you need to pour the sugar caramel into molds and form lollipops. Such lollipops need to be sucked at least three times a day, then the dry cough will become more viscous.

Baking soda is also widely used for coughs during pregnancy due to its alkaline properties. It can make phlegm more liquid and coughs are easier to get rid of because the alkaline base liquefies the polysaccharide complexes of phlegm. You can use not only a soda solution, but also do steam inhalations. To make a medicinal drink from soda, you need to heat milk until hot, add a teaspoon of soda and stir. You can also add honey and a little butter to make it softer for the throat. This solution should be drunk three times a day, one glass at a time, in addition to the benefits, it also tastes good.

You can also do inhalations from soda. To do this at home, you need to 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.

Honey for 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 illness.

There are many recipes for using honey for cough. One of them is using honey and aloe. Honey is a rich natural product that is often used in different branches of traditional medicine. The aloe plant also contains a huge amount of vitamins B, C, A, E; amino acids; carotenoids; phytoncides; tannins; flavonoids; calcium, phosphorus, chlorine, magnesium, zinc, bromine, iodine. For a medicinal solution of honey and aloe, you need to take two tablespoons of honey and ten drops of fresh aloe juice per half a liter of boiled hot water. This solution should be taken one tablespoon three to four times a day for a week.

Honey is also combined with other substances. Onion with honey has an effect not only on cough, but it also has a bactericidal property and inhibits the synthesis of bacterial wall components. Two main recipes can be used. Juice from grated onion should be mixed with liquid honey in a one-to-one ratio and taken one teaspoon every four hours during the acute period. You can also mix grated onion with honey and take this gruel according to the same scheme.

You can also use cabbage with honey as a compress. To do this, take the cabbage, dip it in boiling water for a couple of seconds until the leaves become soft, then spread honey on the cabbage leaf and apply this side to the chest, not to the heart area. On top, like any compress, you need to wrap it with cellophane film and woolen cloth. You can do this compress at night. In this case, breathing improves and the cough goes away better due to the removal of swelling of the mucous membranes.

Other substances are also often used as compresses, in particular, mutton fat and badger fat. This fat can be bought at a pharmacy in a glass jar. It gives a very good effect due to the improvement of local blood circulation, due to which the swelling of the mucous membranes of the bronchi decreases and the cough becomes softer and more productive. For this effect, it is best to make compresses at night by lubricating the chest area, with the exception of the heart, and then cover with a warm woolen cloth.

Propolis is also a beekeeping product, so it has an immunostimulating, antibacterial, antioxidant effect. Propolis tincture is used to treat cough, but alcohol is not recommended during pregnancy, so you need to make a different solution. You need to melt propolis and butter in a water bath, stir until smooth, and then take one spoon of this mass three times a day.

Recipes for cough during pregnancy using milk are very common due to their pronounced effect and pleasant taste, in addition to minimal harm. Milk can be taken hot, while you need to add honey and soda. Such milk with honey and soda is very useful and it helps to change the cough from dry to wet. Milk with mineral water is also used. Borjomi is best suited for this, since it is an alkaline water that helps to liquefy sputum with an unproductive cough. To do this, you need to add half a glass of mineral water to a glass of warm milk, then drink it warm at least three times a day. You can also drink milk with onions, for this you need to add a few drops of onion juice to warm milk and drink this milk warm. Milk with figs has a stabilizing and bronchodilatory effect, which is also used to treat cough during pregnancy.

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Herbs for cough during pregnancy

Phytotherapy is widely used for coughs during pregnancy, since many herbs have a pronounced affinity for the respiratory system and at the same time they are harmless to the unborn child. Many medicinal syrups are produced on the basis of herbs, so you can use these herbs with the same effectiveness, preparing infusions at home.

Thermopsis is a plant that is widely used to treat coughs. It contains many useful biologically active substances, saponins, essential oils, which have a good expectorant effect.

Coltsfoot is a natural plant that is included in various chest mixtures due to its pronounced effect on respiratory diseases. It contains mucous secretion that protects the epithelial layer of the bronchi and prevents its irritation with a dry cough. Also, due to the content of saponins and organic acids, coltsfoot is used for dry cough and helps to liquefy it.

Plantain is a plant that has many useful properties and is more active in dry cough. This is due to the fact that plantain contains biologically active substances that bind to specific receptors and stimulate increased secretion by the bronchial glands, which increases the humidity of the cough.

Chamomile contains many useful fatty acids that can react with polysaccharides in mucus and break them down, making the cough softer, more productive and all symptoms disappearing faster.

Fig is a fruit plant that contains many vitamins of group B, PP, C, as well as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, tannins and essential oils. All these components have an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect, as well as an expectorant and diuretic property. All these effects are complemented by a diaphoretic effect, which improves the course of not only respiratory infections, but also coughs.

Ginger and its fruits are widely used in medicine, especially in the treatment of respiratory diseases in pregnant women. For the treatment of cough, 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.

Licorice is used to treat cough during pregnancy in the form of root. This plant has an expectorant effect and a pronounced softening effect.

Sage is a medicinal plant that can increase the secretion of bronchial glands and a pronounced dry cough becomes softer, and also has a pronounced antimicrobial effect.

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.

Cloudberry is a healing berry that regulates permeability through the capillary wall and improves the saturation of the alveoli with oxygen, which improves the condition of a woman with severe symptoms of cough and other respiratory pathologies.

Wild rosemary is a plant that suppresses cough and contains vitamin C, which affects the immunity of a pregnant woman.

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.

Thyme and calendula are primarily distinguished by their antibacterial properties, so they dissolve purulent sputum and improve its outflow and breathing.

Radish is also often used to treat cough in pregnant women due to its pronounced mucolytic effect in combination with various substances. Black radish is used for this purpose. It can be mixed with honey and aloe juice, which also has a good effect on the severity of dry cough.

These herbs should be used as herbal infusions by brewing in hot water, and taken instead of tea for severe cough at least five times a day. Also very useful are mixtures of such herbs in the form of a chest collection in different combinations of components.

Other decoctions for coughs during pregnancy are also used from dried raspberries, blueberries, and viburnum.

Rubbing with oils and fats for coughs during pregnancy is useful for improving blood circulation and reducing swelling of the bronchial mucosa.

Inhalation is a good way to deliver a medicinal preparation or plant to the lower respiratory tract. A nebulizer is a good professional inhalation tool that can be successfully used for severe, unproductive cough. But you can also use a simple saucepan of water as an "inhaler".

Antibiotics for cough during pregnancy are not used if it is only for treating the cough itself. If the cough is caused by pneumonia, then taking an antibiotic is justified. Then the drug to which the suspected pathogen is most sensitive and which is the safest for the fetus should be selected.

Bioparox for cough during pregnancy is often used as a local antibacterial agent that has activity against many microorganisms. This is a spray that contains an antibiotic, and there is no data on clinical trials of this agent during pregnancy. Therefore, the drug can be used as a local agent, but only on the recommendation of a doctor.

An effective cough remedy during pregnancy is certainly one that relieves the symptom well and does not harm the future baby. In this case, it is better to give preference to medicinal plants and folk remedies.

It is very difficult to answer right away what can be used for cough during pregnancy, but having generalized all the drugs, preference should be given to those that are plant derivatives with differentiation of the nature of the cough and the corresponding drug. There are also many folk methods of treating cough, which should be used as a priority due to their simplicity and availability.