Home remedies for a cold and cough during pregnancy

A common cold can cause a blocked or runny nose, sore throat, cough and tiredness. Pregnancy can also change nasal tissues, making congestion more noticeable. Cough may instead occur with allergic rhinitis, acid reflux, asthma or acute bronchitis. The character of the cough, fever, breathing, wheezing and duration help a clinician decide whether another cause needs attention.

Sip water or warm caffeine-free drinks, rest when your body asks for it, and use saline nasal drops or a humidifier for congestion. Honey in a warm drink may soothe a cough if it is suitable for you. Avoid smoking and second-hand smoke. Do not start a combination cold product, herbal remedy, decongestant or pain medicine without checking its ingredients and suitability for your stage of pregnancy; some products contain several medicines or are not appropriate for everyone.

Get urgent help for difficulty breathing, chest pain, blue lips, confusion, fainting, severe dehydration or coughing blood. Contact your maternity team or clinician promptly for a high or persistent fever, wheezing, worsening symptoms, reduced fetal movement later in pregnancy, or inability to keep fluids down. A cough that persists, returns often or disrupts sleep deserves assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.

Which ingredients are suitable for me and my stage of pregnancy? Could reflux, allergy or asthma be contributing? What symptoms should prompt contact with the maternity team?