Inhalation with a cold for pregnant women

Throughout the entire period of pregnancy, a woman is in a state of constant risk of contracting viruses, because her immunity is significantly weakened. Due to the physiological restructuring in the woman's body, pregnancy lasts for 9 months, however, the immune system suffers, chronic diseases can worsen, and the load on the internal organs of the expectant mother increases.

A runny nose is one of the signs of a cold that you need to start fighting with when it first appears. Inhalation for a cold during pregnancy is a good way to get rid of the disease without taking pills.

Due to the local therapeutic effect, inhalations are among the safest methods of dealing with nasal congestion. The main thing is to follow the rules of the procedure! The lack of systemic action ensures the safety of the fetus, because many drugs are prohibited during pregnancy due to the negative effect on the unborn child.

Features of the procedure

First, let's take a look at what inhalations can be. When vapor with medicinal particles is inhaled, a therapeutic effect is exerted on the nasopharyngeal mucosa, which makes it possible to reduce the degree of inflammation and restore nasal breathing.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the condition of the pregnant woman and the type of medication, inhalation can be:

1. hot, when you need to inhale the steam of hot water with medicine. For this, essential oils, herbal infusions or decoctions can be used;
2. cold, if solutions of room temperature or aromas of garlic, onions are used.

In case of hyperthermia, only cold inhalations are allowed, since they do not have a general warming effect.

Inhalation with a cold for pregnant women is prescribed in the following cases:

1. with an infectious rhinitis, when rhinorrhea appears after infection of the body with microbes and damage to the nasal mucosa. In this case, it is necessary to control the level of hyperthermia, because at temperatures above 37.4 degrees, hot inhalations are prohibited;
2. with allergic rhinorrhea, however, the main treatment is to stop the effect of the provoking factor. If contact with the allergen cannot be avoided, inhalations will help reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa and restore nasal breathing;
3. with vasomotor rhinitis, which can be caused by inhalation of polluted air, hormonal fluctuations or nervous experiences;
4. after frequent hypothermia, when a cold bothers every 2-3 months.

If the cause of rhinorrhea is hormonal fluctuations, pregnant women will not be able to completely cope with a cold. Usually, nasal congestion begins in the second trimester and continues until delivery. Thanks to inhalation with medications, it is possible to alleviate the course of rhinitis and relieve a woman of the symptoms of the disease.

Nebulizer inhalation

A runny nose can be the first symptom of a cold, which, as it progresses, is accompanied by the appearance of a cough and sore throat. Cough is highly undesirable during pregnancy due to the high risk of premature birth or spontaneous abortion. When coughing, high intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressure is created, which is fraught with an increase in the tone of the uterus.

With this in mind, it is recommended to start treatment as soon as nasal congestion is noticed.

Nowadays, inhalation has been greatly simplified thanks to modern devices that convert liquid into vapor. The nebulizer can be used at any age, even babies, because it is absolutely safe.

After the medicinal solution enters the apparatus, it is crushed into small particles that are released with steam through a special tube or mask. Thanks to the nebulizer, the medicine penetrates into the most inaccessible parts of the respiratory tract, providing a healing effect.

There are several types of devices that differ in price and structure. Among the advantages of the device should be highlighted:

• control of the temperature of steam, which is supplied directly to the respiratory tract, which prevents burns of the mucous membrane;
• clear dosage of the drug;
• ease of use, care and storage.

It is forbidden to use oil solutions and herbal decoctions in the nebulizer due to strong contamination, as a result of which the device can become a source of infection.

Nebulizer preparations

To cure a runny nose and not harm the fetus, you need to choose the right medication for inhalation. Only a doctor will help with this, because he will be able to assess the risks and benefits for the pregnant woman and the unborn child. Here are some medications that are allowed during pregnancy:

1. non-carbonated alkaline water (Essentuki, Narzan or Borjomi). 4 ml of water is enough for one inhalation session lasting 5-7 minutes. The procedure can be repeated up to 4 times per day. The nasal mucosa is moistened and the local defense is strengthened;
2. saline. Its action is similar to alkaline mineral water;
3. tincture of calendula - reduces the severity of inflammation. For dilution, a saline solution is required, which is taken in a ratio of 40: 1 to calendula. For inhalation, you need 4 ml of the diluted medication.

Separately, it should be said about the drug Sinupret in the form of drops. The solution is available in a 100 ml bottle, has a brown tint and a bitter taste. The composition includes:

1. gentian root, which protects the mucous membrane and reduces inflammation;
2. sorrel - increases the level of hemoglobin and improves the absorption of iron in the body;
3. verbena - reduces the viscosity of phlegm and stimulates its excretion;
4. primrose flowers - enrich the body with vitamin C, flavonoids, as well as carotenoids, which together strengthens the immune defense;
5. elderberry - a source of essential oils, vitamin C, activates metabolism.

Note that the composition also includes alcohol - about 17%. The drug is one of the universal during pregnancy, since the antiseptic effect is only local, without affecting the internal organs. Medicine:

• reduces swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa;
• reduces inflammation;
• strengthens the immune system and provides local protection against infection;
• fights viruses and bacteria, but the medicine does not belong to antibacterial agents;
• prevents the development of sinusitis, the accumulation of viscous secretions in the paranasal sinuses and the appearance of pus.

Sinupret affects all organs of the respiratory system and the ENT department. The therapeutic effect covers the auditory tube, ear, nasopharynx, larynx, as well as the lower respiratory tract.

It is recommended to shake the bottle before use so that the precipitate is evenly distributed throughout the entire volume of the solution. To obtain a finished medicine for the procedure, it is necessary to dilute Sinupret with saline solution 1: 1. For one inhalation session, 4 ml of a diluted solution is required, therefore, it is necessary to dilute 2 ml of Sinupret with two milliliters of saline. The frequency of the procedure can be up to three times a day.

Folk recipes for inhalation

Note that many medicines, especially herbal medicines, can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, if you are prone to allergies, it is recommended to coordinate the use of any agent with your doctor.

The duration of hot inhalation should not exceed 5-7 minutes. If the procedure is carried out in the usual way (without a nebulizer), the distance from the nose to the hot liquid should not be less than 30 cm. The steam temperature is 55 degrees.

Here are some recipes for rhinitis:

1. Boil 5-7 potatoes, drain the water, cool a little and inhale the vapors through the nose for 5 minutes. You can also sprinkle potatoes with baking soda, which will enhance the healing effect;
2. in 400 ml of hot water, you can add 5-7 drops of fir, tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil;
3. sea ​​salt (10 g) must be dissolved in 450 ml hot water, in which 4 drops of essential oil are already present.

Cold inhalation can be prepared with the following ingredients:

1. a small onion should be peeled, chopped and inhaled for 15 minutes three times a day;
2. instead of onions, you can take several garlic cloves or a combination of them;
3. essential oil can be dripped onto a handkerchief (three drops) and the aromas can be inhaled for 15 minutes;
4. the onion can be peeled, separated in layers and removed from each layer. It must be applied to the nasal mucosa for a quarter of an hour.

Runny nose prevention

A woman, having learned about pregnancy, needs to be especially careful about her health. The course of the entire pregnancy and the health of the unborn child depends on this. Prevention of infectious diseases, including rhinitis, should be started at the planning stage of conception.

It consists in the sanitation of chronic foci of infection, especially in the ENT organs and the respiratory tract. In addition, it is recommended to take vitamins and normalize nutrition. If a woman is engaged in hardening the body, this is a huge plus for immunity.

As soon as a woman finds out about pregnancy, many drugs are prohibited, so only the immune system has to fight diseases. To facilitate the course of pregnancy and prevent the development of diseases, it is recommended to adhere to some recommendations:

• regular rinsing of the nasal cavities with saline solutions. To do this, you can use solutions with sea salt, for example, Aqua Maris, No-salt or Salin. At home, you can prepare the solution yourself. To do this, dissolve 10 g of salt in 490 ml of warm water;
• good sleep and rest, absence of severe stress;
• healthy food (fruits, herbs, fresh vegetables, cereals, low-fat broths, fish, cottage cheese);
• a sufficient amount of liquid drunk per day. Depending on the preferences of the pregnant woman, unsweetened fruit drinks, fruit drinks, tea, mineral water without gas or decoctions of herbs are allowed;
• regular airing of the room, wet cleaning and humidification of the air using a special device. This will reduce the concentration of microbes and allergens in the air, as well as prevent drying out of the nasal mucosa and its irritation with polluted air;
• contact with sick people as little as possible and avoid crowds during an epidemic. If you need to communicate with an "infectious" person, you must use a disposable mask. This will reduce the risk of infection of a pregnant woman with viruses by airborne droplets.

For pregnant women, walks in the fresh air are important, as well as climate change. Inhalation of sea air and water procedures strengthen immunity and improve mood, which is especially pleasant for a woman "in position".