Is it normal to develop a cough during pregnancy

Drink plenty of fluids — Drink water, juice, or broth to add necessary fluids back into your body. Eat well — Even if you cannot stomach larger meals, try eating small portions often.

Reduce congestion — Place a humidifier in your room, keep your head elevated on your pillow while resting, or use nasal strips. Alleviate your sore throat — Suck on ice chips, drink warm tea, or gargle with warm salt water. Acetaminophen i. Tylenol can be used to alleviate fevers, headaches , and body aches. Anesthetic sore throat lozenges can ease the pain in your throat. Codeine and dextromethorphan can often be used as cough suppressants.

A Special Consideration: Whooping Cough Whooping cough is a contagious infection that is characterized by excessive, violent coughing followed by an intake of breath that makes a whooping sound. Want to Know More? Mayo Clinic Staff. Whooping Cough. Can I get pregnant if…? Share this post:. Safe Medications to take During Pregnancy. Getting Pregnant. Popular links under Pregnancy First Trimester. Popular links under Baby Baby Month by Month. Popular links under Toddler Toddler Month by Month.

Baby Products. Bookmark BookmarkTick BookmarkAdd save. These include Hepatitis B and the seasonal flu vaccine. Hepatitis is a transferable disease that can spread to the foetus from the mother. The flu vaccine will keep you and your baby protected. Flu vaccines must be administered in the form of a shot containing the inactive form for maximum effectiveness.

No, a dry cough only lowers the immunity of the mother and not the baby. A foetus is resilient in nature and is protected by the placenta. However, not treating a cough, cold, or flu for a long period of time may affect cognitive development of the baby and lead to impairment during birth. As a precautionary measure, eat healthy and go for regular check-ups. Although a dry cough can be alleviated with the right diet and medication, complications may require unexpected visits to the doctor.

You should consult a doctor if you experience:. It is crucial to visit a doctor as soon as any of the above symptoms appear. You can take over-the-counter medication for combating a dry cough.

Do keep these tips in mind before taking self-medication:. Ryan Margau Dr. Simon Raphael Dr. Phil Shin Dr. Dainty: Patient-Centred Outcomes Dr.