Flu Remedies While Pregnant

Pregnant women can be more susceptible to diseases as their body changes and loses some of its resistance to illness. Unfortunately, many traditional cold and flu medications are not recommended during pregnancy, because they present a danger to the baby. If you are pregnant and you come down with the flu, there are a few things you can do to ease and treat your symptoms.

Natural Remedies

• Always try to drink plenty of fluids and take your prenatal vitamins daily, whether you are sick or not. Try drinking herbal teas or fruit juices to get the nutrients and fluids that you need. You can also try to suck on Popsicles. Even a few ounces at a time is better than no fluid at all. If you cannot eat a normal diet during this time, try to eat dry toast.

  For digestive issues, try the "BRAT" diet. This stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. Doctors recommend these foods for upset stomachs.

Medications

• Some medications are safe during pregnancy. Always consult with your obstetrician before taking any medicine. Certain medicines are acceptable for pregnant women. Throat drops and sprays do not have high medicinal contents, and they aren't ingested as fully as other medications. If you can find herbal lozenges, that's even better. Suphedrine is generally considered safe. Avoid combination drugs that treat multiple symptoms at once, as they may contain unsafe medications. Robitussin (the original kind) has been considered safe for pregnant women for several years. You can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy for aches, pains, and fever reduction. Take only the recommended dosage to be safe. With any medication, you should try to take it only sparingly during pregnancy. If you can suffer through your symptoms without medication, that would be best for your baby overall.

Complications

• Dehydration can be dangerous during pregnancy. If you go for 24 hours without being able to keep down food or liquids, call your doctor. She may recommend that you go to the hospital for IV fluids until you are able to ingest them normally.

  High fever can also be dangerous, so you should call your doctor if your temperature rises over 101 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also call your doctor if you begin to cough up yellow or green mucus or if you have shortness of breath or serious chest or throat pain that does not go away quickly.

  It is also safe to take the flu vaccine during pregnancy; to prevent the flu, you should consult your doctor about getting vaccinated against it.