Virus/Coughing In Pregnancy

Updated on June 06, 2007
C. asks from Charlotte, NC
20 answers

I am going on the 15th week of my first pregnancy and I have been sick with a cold/respiratory type virus now for a week. I went to the doctor yesterday, and of course there is nothing they can give me for this. My question is in regards to the coughing that goes along with this. I have coughed until my stomach, back, and what feels like my bladder is all sore. Has anyone had this type of thing while being pregnant? I think my biggest fear is hurting my baby or my pregnancy in some way. I just don't see how coughing as hard as I am isn't messing something up. The doctor tried to assure me that the baby is safe inside of me, but I guess I just need a little more reassurance that my baby should be ok through this.

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So What Happened?

Thanks all for your comments/suggestions!! I called my OB/GYN after the primary doctor didn't prescribe me anything to take. They had given me a card with medicines to take in the 2nd trimester, so I called to make sure that I was far enough along. I have taken a couple of Tylenol cold, but mostly Robitussin DM b/c I wasn't sure that Sudafed type meds that were in the Tylenol cold were ok. We tried the humidifier in our bedroom last night, but I think that made the coughing worse. Warm tea seems to work quite nicely for a short period of time. I feel much better about my baby being safe despite the non-stop coughing. Thanks again for your help. Hopefully this will find its way out of my body soon...meanwhile my husband seems to have picked it up. :)

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V.C.

answers from Charleston on

When i was pregnant I caught a cold and the only medicine my doctor told me i could take was Robitussin.

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M.G.

answers from Gadsden on

The baby will be fine it is well protected even in the worst of coughing fits! I would try some of that vicks vapor rub and see if that helps a little bit and make sure you drink a lot of water. More than anything, rest rest rest...Take naps, put your feet up, just don't do anything too crazy, so maybe you can get better faster. It sucks to get sick while you are preggo, cus it is ten times worse and takes forever for you to get better. I hope you feel better soon! And don't worry! The baby is fine, plus it is getting all your bodies antibiotics against this cold!

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A.C.

answers from Dothan on

When I was about 3 months pregnant with my third I had a terrible virus to the point I could only get out of the bed to go to the bathroom, it was awful. After about the third day my doctor prescribed phenergan but until then I was very ill and weak. He was fine and your baby will be also. Also do not base your pregnancy on anyone else's and your ob knows better than anyone and make sure that you get plenty of fluids that will help break up the cough.

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S.W.

answers from Myrtle Beach on

C.,

First, congratulations on your pregnancy! I am days away from delivery, but over the summer when I was 6-7 months pregnant, I had severe bronchitis. I coughed so hard I would vomit, and ended up bruising my ribs on both sides just from the strain of it (that took 6 weeks to heal!). I was afraid I would go into labor or hurt the baby also. But like your doctor said, the baby is safe - and she was. My doctor prescribed Keflex for the infection and it worked pretty quickly. Also, like others mentioned, there are a few over-the-counter remedies that should help. Your doctor should have a list of those for you.

Hope you feel better soon!

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V.B.

answers from Charlotte on

I am currently pregnant too. I am 13 weeks and in the begining I was sick like that. My doctor gave me a prescription for phenergan for the vomitting and I took regular sudafed for my cold. Even though I don't have alergy problems, this helped me out a lot and I knew it wouldn't hurt the baby. Have you tried Halls for your coughing? Those won't hurt the baby either. Trust me I am on my 5th child. I wouldn't tell you anything wrong, but if it makes you feel better, ask your doctor about the medicines I told you about.

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K.J.

answers from Richmond on

You shouldn't have to suffer!!! Didn't your doctor give you a list of medicines that are safe during pregnancy?? If not ask for one. I know during my pregnancy, I had bronchitis and strep throat within two weeks of each other. I was told Robitussin was safe to take, and I did take it, not to mention I was on an antibiotic as well. Needless to say, I now have a very healthy 9week old baby boy!! Definitely ask your doctor about that list, they should have something that lists everything that is safe during pregnancy, from diet sodas to what to take for gas problems. Good luck and I hope you feel better!!

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M.D.

answers from Norfolk on

Hello C.,
I sympathize with you. I spent 9 months basically with a cold. I think your immune system is probably weakenened when you are pregnant. When you went to the dr. for your cold, did you go to your OB/GYN or your regular doctor? I am very surprised that they didn't offer you the z-pack. It is basically like 7 days worth of pills and by the end of the pack, your better. They gave those to me several times. Later or in my pregnancy. They only offered it once, the other times they told me there wasn't anything they could do for me, then I asked for the z-pack and they gave it to me. the coughing got so bad when I was further along that I was urinating on myself because that far along, you don't have a lot of control of your bladder. That was VERY VERY frustrating. Hang in there, it is all worth it.
M.
VA Beach

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T.P.

answers from Charlotte on

You may not seem like you are going to survive but your baby will be just fine. My sister literally coughed her 4th baby out in the delivery room, she just had #10. I was so sick in my last trimester that I couldn't even get out of bed. I was coughing so hard I had dry heaves. I was on Robotussin, Musinex, and cough drops until I thought I was going to be even sicker to my stomach. I didn't even believe in preservatives, dyes, etc. when I was pregnant but I had to take something to give some relief. I had to get onto all fours when I coughed so I could catch my breath. Hang in there! Try buying Organic Swanson's Chicken Broth in the carton that way you can just pour what you want. Heat it well and drink. It really helps with congestion. Also make sure you are slathering on lots of Vicks under your nose and on your chest and you can take the 4 hour Sudafed (red) pills.

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J.C.

answers from Birmingham on

when i was pregnant with my daughter who is now 10 months i got a very bad cold and you described exactly what i had. my dr told me to take mucinex and it worked the cough went away, slowly but eased up quickly. how ever all dr's are not the same so ask yours first. hope u get to feeling better. let me know what your dr says about using mucinex.

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L.W.

answers from Norfolk on

I just went through this! I don't like to take medications anyways so I always try the natural ways first. The only relief I found was a nice warm cup of tea sweetened with honey. It really stopped my coughing. The tea I used was honey vanilla chamomille and then sweetened with at least a tablespoon, maybe two (the more honey the better for your throat). Hope you feel better!

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A.W.

answers from Norfolk on

hey. i just got over with the same thing that you have. i am also 15 weeks pregnant with my second child. my doctor also wouldn't give me anything. i had to have fluids by vein mine got so bad because i wasn't keeping fluids down. the baby will be just fine. they are tough. i did what my grandma suggested. a little bit not a lot of whisky and honey. let it slide down your throat slowly. i know the doctor's say no alcohol but your not even getting a spoonful. if not green tea helps me. i hope i have been a little helpful.

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D.B.

answers from Greensboro on

I had a respiratory infection during my 19th week of pregnancy and I was hospitalized and sent home with a script of robitussin with codine. Have you asked if they can give you something?

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C.C.

answers from Richmond on

I am a Mother of 2 and carrying my third child and I had the flu with my first and I was exremely sick, but the baby was completely fine. I assure you that becauce I gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

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R.C.

answers from Asheville on

There is an old home remedy my mom used to give us when we got really bad coughs. Its honey, a squeeze of orange, and a little bit of whisky. I know that alcohol is a huge NONO when your pregnant but it is just a little bit to fill the bottom of a tea cup. It really does work. Otherwise just hang in there, once your about 20 weeks the Docs should be more willing to give you medicine, it is just that the first trimester is SO important to development they dont want to risk anything. ALSO, like others said, your baby is VERY well protected in there.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

With every pregnancy (4 of them) I had horrible coughing. I was coughing in labor with #3. You DO NOT want to be coughing after the birth, ouch! It may differ because you're earlier in your term than I was, but I was able to take mytussin and tussinex (these have oxycontin in them). Mostly this was to help me sleep. I also slept a lot sitting up in a recliner or with lots of pillows in bed which seemed to help. I'm fine now and so are all my kids. Good luck, I know it's tough to be sick and pregnant.

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M.B.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

I agree with the other post that the baby is very well protected. However, You need lots of rest and TLC right now. I would call my Dr. and ask about maybe a caugh drop or even the triminic cough patches for children. They shouldn't hurt the baby and would help you get some rest. (Please ask your dr. before using them though)
Hugs
M.

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C.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

I have get like that each fall for 3 weeks. And in 2003 I was pregnaunt with the same symptoms. The coughing won't hurt the baby. You do need to make sure you are hydrated, and have as clear a passage way as possible - Oxygen. I have a health, active and very smart 2 yr old - will be 3 in Dec. I didn't take anything. My Doctor said that if I had problems breathing I could take something I forgot what, but he prefered I didn't.

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L.S.

answers from Charleston on

I want to start off by saying I am NOT an herbal practitioner, I just know this has worked for me. Take about 1 Tablespoon plus 1 tsp of lemon juice and add it to about 1/4 cup hot water. Add a crused clove of garlic, a pinch of cinnamon, and a few drops of honey. Mix together and drink. This can be used up to 3 times a day. I know it sounds gross, but it works!

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B.Z.

answers from Richmond on

Hey there,

I am now 20 weeks pregnant with my second. I just recently recovered from a very nasty cold which included a horrible cough. It was bad enough that I called my OB and family doctor. They both assured me that Mucinex (which is over the counter) is safe to take. There are 3 different ones, one made just for coughs. All 3 are safe. I took it only at night and it really did help. But, if you are uncomfortable with taking anything, know that this too shall pass. Your baby will be just fine! It's just h*** o* you.

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S.

answers from Spartanburg on

The reason your doctor said that the baby is safe inside you, is that your little baby is swimming in quite a bit of water, and is extremely small at this point. There may be some movement back and forth when you cough, but no different than if you were walking or running somewhere. I know that most doctors will let you take tylenol products while you are pregnant and if they did not tell you to take anything you may want to ask if you can take a cold/sinus medicine that will help alleviate your symptoms and help your cough a little. Plus you can also take Collidal Silver and that will help knock the virus right out. You can get it at your health food store and take 1 tsp 2-3 times a day for about a week and you will probably notice a huge difference and since this is all natural it will not harm the baby in anyway. I remember I had the flu when I was around 5 months pregnant and I thought I was going to throw up my baby, but everything was fine and she is now a healthy 5 year old. Don't focus so much on your sister, there are a number of things that could have caused her to go into early labor, and at 24 months the chances of survival are still really low, so try not to think about that. you will probably have no trouble. Take care.

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