A cough by itself cannot harm a pregnant woman or her baby. However, there are nuances that pose a danger to a woman in the 3rd trimester. For example, a dry cough does not produce phlegm. Remaining in the respiratory tract, it enters the bloodstream and goes to the baby. Note that the appearance of a cough can signal the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis and other formidable diseases. If a pregnant woman has this symptom, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. It is important to establish a diagnosis in time and begin adequate treatment.
If it is impossible to see a doctor right away, you need to know which cough pills during pregnancy are allowed. It is very important for the expectant mother to choose the most harmless drug or method of treatment. You should also always remember that there are means that are strictly prohibited for women in position. Therefore, when buying this or that drug in a pharmacy, you need to clarify whether it is permissible to take it from 7 months. In general, a cough during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester is most gently and relatively safely treated with folk remedies.
General recommendations
If your pregnancy is over the 7th month, you have a cold and cough, do not be zealous with an increase in the volume of fluid you drink. In your position, this will be fraught with edema. Indeed, in the last trimester, the kidneys have an increased load, and excess fluid will accumulate in 
the body. In order to somehow compensate for the adverse effects of an increase in fluid volume, during an exacerbation of a cold, it is necessary to drastically cut back on the amount of sugar and salt consumed. This will help minimize fluid retention in the body. You can drink fruit drink made from fresh or frozen cranberries or lingonberries. These berries contain a natural antibiotic that will protect the kidneys.
Even the most useful and effective thermal procedures are categorically contraindicated in the 3rd trimester. They are dangerous in that they can cause bleeding. Any inhalations, compresses and applications should not be hotter than 42-43 degrees. Time for each procedure is allocated strictly on an individual basis.
The main criterion is the well-being of the pregnant woman. Please note that at elevated temperatures, any thermal activities are prohibited.
Regardless of the season, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the room where the pregnant woman is coughing and humidify the air in it. Note that humidification of the air is one of the most effective methods of additional therapy for dry coughs. You can use a special electrical device for this. But if he is absent, the situation will be saved by an ordinary sheet moistened with water (as an option - a towel), hung in the room.
Dry cough treatment
When a dry cough suddenly appears during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester, the woman is seized with anxiety. And her worries are fully justified: because of attacks of coughing, the uterus will more often come in tone, and this threatens premature birth. And if the cough began in the 9th month, shortly before the preliminary date of birth, there is a risk of infecting the baby right when it is born. Thus, it must be treated as quickly and as harmlessly as possible. After all, not a single mother-to-be wants to cough during childbirth, and even risk the health of a newborn.
The third trimester is convenient for the treatment of dry cough in that the range of acceptable drugs is significantly increased in comparison with the first trimester. This leaves room for maneuver: you can choose the drug that is right for you. Consider what can be safely used in the last phase of pregnancy.
Medicines. Usually, a dry cough occurs in response to irritation of the lining of the throat. To eliminate it, it is necessary to use enveloping and softening agents. Doctors recommend treatment of cough during pregnancy with Stoptussin syrup, as well as with Libeksin and Falimint drugs. These medications gently reduce the intensity of coughing attacks and reduce their number. However, you should always remember that absolutely harmless drugs do not exist. Therefore, you need to try to take the medicine as little as possible.- Inhalation. An unproductive cough during pregnancy is annoying, as a rule, at night, preventing the expectant mother from fully resting. Inhalation is advisable to stop coughing at night. It is an effective way to reduce the intensity of cough attacks, soften the throat mucosa and eliminate bacteria that occupy it. Do not make the inhalation solution for dry coughs too hot. In addition, it should contain ingredients to soften the throat.
- Compresses. If the body temperature is normal, it is allowed to wrap the throat with a warm woolen cloth. You can also warm it up with boiled pounded potatoes wrapped in a warm cloth. Wool retains heat well and helps to reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process.
Medicines. Usually, a dry cough occurs in response to irritation of the lining of the throat. To eliminate it, it is necessary to use enveloping and softening agents. Doctors recommend treatment of cough during pregnancy with Stoptussin syrup, as well as with Libeksin and Falimint drugs. These medications gently reduce the intensity of coughing attacks and reduce their number. However, you should always remember that absolutely harmless drugs do not exist. Therefore, you need to try to take the medicine as little as possible.What to do with a wet cough
As for a wet cough, first of all, you need to determine its productivity. A productive cough can be considered a cough in which a significant amount of sputum is coughing up. And an unproductive wet cough is characterized by an increased viscosity of mucus. Therefore, it is quite difficult to cough up it.
With an unproductive cough, recovery is slowed down. Sputum contains a huge amount of harmful bacteria that actively multiply in it. Thus, for pregnant women in the 3rd trimester, it is extremely important to do everything possible to remove mucus from the bronchi as soon as possible.
So, what can you do for this:
- Medicines. Among the wide range of drugs that improve the expectoration of sputum, two cough remedies during pregnancy are considered effective and relatively safe: Lazolvan and Mukaltin. They thin the phlegm and increase its volume. This helps to speed up the excretion of mucus. In order to achieve optimal results, it is recommended that the mentioned medicines be taken after the inhalation procedure.
Inhalation. A very effective way of treating a wet cough is inhalation with an ordinary soda solution and any allowed decoctions of medicinal herbs. The temperature of the inhalation solution should not exceed 50 degrees. Breathing with a decoction or a solution of soda is allowed no more than 10 minutes. The effectiveness of inhalation will increase if it is done in the morning. Thus, you will improve the coughing up of phlegm that has accumulated in the bronchi during the night.- Thermal applications. Boiled and mashed warm potatoes remarkably warm the throat, enhance local blood circulation, and promote productive expectoration. The main advantage of such potato applications is their ability to keep warm for a long time. In addition, it is impossible to burn yourself with them. Moreover, you can control the temperature of the applications yourself.
- Massage. Vibration massage will help speed up the expectoration of sputum. The area of influence is the collar zone of the back. By lightly tapping and rubbing it, you will stimulate high-quality bronchial drainage, free them from mucus and increase local blood circulation. It is allowed to combine this massage with rubbing. For grinding, it is permissible to use fir oil or the well-known "Zvezdochka" balm.
Inhalation. A very effective way of treating a wet cough is inhalation with an ordinary soda solution and any allowed decoctions of medicinal herbs. The temperature of the inhalation solution should not exceed 50 degrees. Breathing with a decoction or a solution of soda is allowed no more than 10 minutes. The effectiveness of inhalation will increase if it is done in the morning. Thus, you will improve the coughing up of phlegm that has accumulated in the bronchi during the night.Traditional methods
Traditional medicine recipes that can be used by pregnant women in the 3rd trimester are presented in a fairly wide range.They are distinguished from pharmaceutical drugs by the relative safety of their use. And yet, despite the comparative harmlessness of folk remedies, only the attending physician can give permission for their use.... After all, any ingredient in the "grandmother's" recipe can provoke an allergic reaction in the expectant mother or in the fetus.
Here are some of the most effective anti-cough in the 3rd trimester and time-tested recipes.
- Figs with milk. Take 3-4 medium-sized figs and fill them with 0.5 liters of milk. Put on low heat, wait for a simmer and simmer over low heat until the milk turns brown. You need to take the finished medicine 3 times a day in a warm form, 100 ml at a time. Natural honey can be added if desired.
Sage with milk. Pour a tablespoon of dried sage into a standard glass of milk (200 ml). Put the milk on fire and wait until it boils. Then remove it and wrap it in something warm. Let it brew for about 3-4 hours. Drinking the finished potion is recommended before going to bed.- Honey radish. Squeeze the juice from the radish (preferably black) and mix it with natural liquid honey. The ratio is 2: 1 (2 parts - radish juice, 1 part - honey). Stir the drug well (you can shake it additionally). Take 2-3 full tablespoons 3 to 6 times a day.
- Onion with honey. Grate 0.5 kg of onions on a fine grater and add 2 tablespoons of natural liquid honey to the resulting puree. Take onion-honey puree should be half a teaspoon three times a day. It is advisable to do this between breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. This mixture is also suitable for external use. It can be rubbed into the chest if the cough is too severe.
- Hazelnuts with honey. Chop the hazelnuts and mix in equal proportions with honey. It is necessary to take the drug 3-6 times a day for a teaspoon.
- Honey horseradish. Grate horseradish root and squeeze out the juice. Mix it with natural liquid honey. The proportions are 1: 2. You should use the finished product 3-5 times a day, little by little. Please note that it must be washed down with water.
- Herbal decoction. Take coltsfoot herb and marshmallow root (2 parts of each ingredient) and oregano herb (1 part). Mix all ingredients. Take 3 teaspoons of the herbal mixture and pour boiling water over it. Leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Then strain and drink half a glass 2 to 6 times a day.
- Cabbage compress. Break off a large whole leaf from the head of cabbage and thickly spread it with natural honey. Then attach it to your chest (honey side down). Wrap the top with a winter scarf or terry towel. It is advisable to do this before bedtime. In the morning, remove the compress, wash the skin on your chest with water at a comfortable temperature and wipe it dry.
Sage with milk. Pour a tablespoon of dried sage into a standard glass of milk (200 ml). Put the milk on fire and wait until it boils. Then remove it and wrap it in something warm. Let it brew for about 3-4 hours. Drinking the finished potion is recommended before going to bed.Ingredients for rinsing and inhalation
If pregnant women cough, gargle with gargle as an adjunct to primary therapy. This should be done after meals, in between breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. To get the best results, you need to gargle at least 5-8 times a day. The most effective rinsing agents are:
collection of herbs with anti-inflammatory properties (most often they consist of calendula, coltsfoot, plantain, chamomile, sage);- ordinary drinking water with table salt or baking soda dissolved in it (as an option - apple cider vinegar).
collection of herbs with anti-inflammatory properties (most often they consist of calendula, coltsfoot, plantain, chamomile, sage);Inhalation is the most effective and quickest way to treat coughs for colds. Ideally, inhalation is carried out using a special device - a nebulizer. You can buy it at almost any pharmacy.
If the device is absent and the purchase is clearly not expected, you will have to use an improvised tool. For inhalation, you can use a saucepan, a teapot spout or a folded paper bag. If the body temperature is within normal limits, it is recommended to additionally cover your head with a rug or blanket.
To quickly and efficiently get rid of a dry cough, you need to do inhalations with chamomile, thyme, plantain, marshmallow, sage, St. John's wort and linden. If the cough is wet, breathe a decoction of the string, coltsfoot, yarrow, eucalyptus, wild rosemary, lingonberry and snake mountaineer.
By the way, for inhalation it is permissible to use not only dried herbs, but also aromatic essential oils. The latter reduce inflammation and have a soothing effect on the mucous membrane covering the upper respiratory tract.
Let's summarize
A cough, especially if it is combined with a cold in a pregnant woman, is a reason for bed rest. Rest helps to speed up the onset of recovery, as well as avoid the development of complications. The treatment prescribed by the doctor should be supplemented with light food, vegetable juices, fruits, berries and positive emotions.
You should also balance your diet. So you will help the body to quickly cope with the illness and recover from the illness.
The mother-to-be should contact the doctor as soon as the first coughing begins. After all, measures must be taken as quickly as possible. Remember that delaying treatment ("maybe it will pass by itself") is very harmful to the child. Immeasurably greater than even taking pharmacy drugs that do not correspond to the gestational age.
To prevent the onset of cough in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy, preventive measures must be taken. Indeed, during this period, the intrauterine formation of the child's body is completed, and the expectant mother must make sure that the baby is born healthy.
