Although your immune system is generally strong during pregnancy, the changes in hormones can cause your mucus membranes to swell making it more difficult to get rid of coughs and colds. Many over-the-counter drugs are not recommended during pregnancy as they can affect your developing baby. Supporting your immune system will help prevent colds. With a newborn in the house, you want to stay as healthy as possible.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Increase your intake of Vitamin C to 1000mg (but do not exceed this level).
- Kiwifruit and citrus are good sources of Vitamin C.
- Kiwifruit contain almost twice as much vitamin C as oranges.
- Freshly squeezed juices with lemon and ginger will boost your immunity
- Zinc intake.
- Increase intake of Vitamin B complex.
- Add fresh garlic to foods.
- Eat fresh pineapple for sore throat or freshly juiced pineapple.
- Drink ginger tea, make as follows:
Grated fresh ginger
Two cloves
Cinnamon stick (optional)
Place spices in 4 cups water and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Add fresh lemon juice and honey to taste and serve. - Prepare an inhalation as follows:
Two drops each of essential oils tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus in bowl of boiling water
Sit with head bowed over bowl, close eyes and inhale, covering head and bowl with towel. Stay under for as long as possible, deeply breathing, to clear the sinuses and respiratory tract. - Avoid visiting people who are ill.
- Self help acupressure points Lung 1, Lung 7 for chest infection (both are considered safe throughout pregnancy)
- Self help acupressure points Large Intestine 4, Stomach 36, Spleen 6 (AVOID these points during the first eight months pregnancy).
- Avoid Ibuprofen in third trimester of pregnancy as it can delay the onset of labour and could have adverse effects on foetal development.
- Avoid aspirin-based medication during pregnancy as it is linked to Reye’s Syndrome, a rare brain and liver disorder in children.