A persistent cough during pregnancy is an uncomfortable situation. The cough itself is a harsh problem, but constantly coughing with a heavy belly is beyond imagination.
When you get pregnant, everything that happens to you affects your baby as well. You may remember having cough medicine whenever you got the seasonal flu in the past. Now, you might wonder if it’s safe for your unborn child or not. Medicines can relieve your cough, but they might affect your baby as well.
Research shows that the use of over-the-counter medication in pregnancy has adverse effects on the fetus. So, you must avoid the usage of medicines without a doctor’s prescription.
Meanwhile, you must know of some of the easiest home remedies that you can use to treat cough during pregnancy. But, first, let’s get to know why a cough during pregnancy happens in the first place.
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Causes of Cough During Pregnancy
When you get pregnant, your body becomes vulnerable. Your hormones surge, and your emotions disrupt. If there are already some clinical problems present, the cough during pregnancy can be persistent. Here are some of the causes behind it:
Allergies
Most dry coughs during pregnancy are due to allergic reactions to weather, food, or certain products. You may start eating new foods due to cravings, or your body just reacts differently to the environment now. It can lead to a persistent dry cough.
Weak Immune System
If you have a weak immune system, you get more prone to common infections. Your body’s defenses become weak to protect itself against infections e.g. dry cough. You must add immune-boosting foods to your diet, to have a healthy immune system so that your baby grows healthily.
Asthma
If you already have a history of asthma, you are at great risk of breathing problems e.g. cough during pregnancy.
High Estrogen Levels
During pregnancy, the levels of estrogen increase. This contributes to a dry cough which is persistent.
Acid Refluxes
The acid from the stomach affects the respiratory tract and can cause a dry cough.
Air Pollutants
Air pollutants e.g. smog, dust, smoke, and gas can cause a dry cough in pregnant women.
Symptoms of Cough During Pregnancy
Here are some of the common signs of cough during pregnancy:
- Uncontrollable cough
- Block in your throat
- Irritation and itching sensation in the throat
- Nausea and even vomiting
- Sleeplessness
- Accumulation of Mucus with wheezing
Home Remedies for Cough During Pregnancy
The home remedies that I am going to share with you consist of ingredients that are very easily available in your kitchen:
Water Gargle
Doctors at Faisal Hospital say that water gargling is a very common natural remedy that you can use. Warm water gargles can work like a miracle for a dry cough during pregnancy.
The ideal way to do warm water gargling is to take the water to the back of the throat. You may add a pinch of salt to the warm water. Even ginger juice drops can be added to it for extra effect. You will feel better after 2-3 times. Remember to do warm water gargles every night before sleep.
Chicken Soup
You must remember the childhood days when you would get sick and your mother would prepare a hot steamy bowl of chicken soup for you. The same remedy is a holy grail for dry cough during pregnancy.
It’s better to eat chicken soup rather than popping pills to get rid of the cough. It will immediately soothe the sore throat and itchiness due to persistent coughing.
Garlic
Garlic is a vegetable you use in your everyday cooking.
Prof. Col. Dr. Nazli Hameed who is one of the top gynecologists in Pakistan says that not only does it give your cooking a tasty touch, but it is also the best home remedy for dry cough during pregnancy.
Make a juice of garlic and consume it to relieve dry cough. You can also mix lemon or honey to add taste.
Sleeping Technique
You know very well that you need a good night’s sleep when you are pregnant. This gets disrupted when you are having a hysteric episode of coughing right through the night.
The trick to a good night’s sleep is to alleviate your head while you are sleeping. Use two soft pillows and sleep on your side. Keep honey at your side table, and consume half a tablespoon when you need it.
Almonds
If you are going nuts with coughing, nuts might be a solution.
You may already know the benefits of almonds. This super nut is long known for its cough-relief symptoms. Add it to your list of natural remedies if you get a dry cough during pregnancy. This is also one of the safest and healthiest home remedies to get relief from persistent cough.
Honey
Among many other advantages of honey, it is also widely used to treat sore throat. It not only fights the infection-causing bacteria in your throat but acts as a cough suppressant.
You can use honey in different ways, such as with warm water or with certain juices or herbal teas. It soothes the throat walls which are itchy due to persistent coughing and gives you immediate relief.
Apple Cider Vinegar
There is no doubt about the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar. Ingesting it makes your body more alkaline, which makes it more effective against fighting cough-causing viruses.
This tangy, tarty drink can naturally cure a cough during pregnancy. When you feel the first symptoms of coughing, you can start drinking ACV right away.
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with some water or black tea, and have it two to three times a day.
Coconut Oil
You may have used coconut oil in your beauty regimen. The great thing is, you can use it to treat a cough as well.
Rub coconut oil on your chest or eat it with tea, broth, oatmeal, smoothie, or another way. It has antiviral properties that can help with several symptoms of seasonal flu, dry cough, and cold.
Rubbing it on your chest with a little peppermint oil can help clear nasal passages so you can breathe easier and ingesting it can help soothe a sore throat and reduce coughing.
Bottom Line!
You don’t need cough syrup to help with a cold. With these home remedies that are pregnancy-safe, you’ll be feeling better in no time. It’s recommended that you never try to treat a cough during pregnancy with self-medication. It can be harmful to your baby.
If you feel like the cough is persistent, and you are not getting relief even after trying home remedies, contact a well-known gynecologist in Lahore to get more advice on how to treat a cough during pregnancy.
You can book an appointment by visiting Healthwire.pk
