6 Home Remedies for a Cold & Cough During Pregnancy 2024

As far as home remedies for cough during pregnancy go, you’ll be limited in what you can take safely while pregnant. For some, this might take some getting used to. After learning what’s kosher and what’s not, though, you may find that natural remedies are your preference.

What can pregnant women take for a cold? We have a few suggestions outlined below, as well as a host of natural ways to beat any respiratory illness plaguing you at home.

Is it Safe to Use Cold Medicine While Pregnant?

Many women prefer to minimize their unborn child’s exposure to chemicals, over-the-counters, and other ingested substances that may harm their child or inhibit his or her development. When in doubt, taking a homeopathic approach is always best, but not all medicine for flu-like symptoms is dangerous to a child in utero.

In 1970, the FDA prioritized pregnant women in the eyes of their over-the-counter review process^[1]. After this overhaul, many commercial ways to treat cough symptoms were taken off of the table of recommendations during pregnancy.

The good news is that not everything is totally off-limits. There are also many ways to heal naturally, which we will dive into further below.

What Types of Cold Medicine Are Safe for a Pregnant Woman?

According to the American Pregnancy Association, the following over-the-counter^[2] cough suppressants can all provide relief safely, even if you’re already pregnant:

• Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, Ofirmev, Mapap, Pharbetol, FeverAll, Tylophen, Children’s Acetaminophen, Infant Pain Reliever, Tactinal, and Acephen
• Anesthetic throat lozenges
• Codeine, a pain reliever
• Dextromethorphan, also known as Delsym, Robafen Cough, Tussin, or Vicks DayQuil

Although there are a ton of different over-the-counter medications available for nasal congestion, sore throat, and persistent cough, many of them are actually just the same stuff^[3] under a different brand name.

Our best advice against respiratory infections like the common cold? Take care of yourself and avoid contact with pathogens outside of your home whenever possible.

Let’s explore some of these natural remedies for your immune system. 

Adequate Hydration

Drinking lots of water is probably one of the most important habits^[4] to maintain especially when pregnant.

Just like with any other mild cough or respiratory tract infection, you may be at increased risk for dehydration^[5], which may prolong your recovery period. Try to drink plenty of water at both hot and cold temperatures. 

Hot, Non-Caffeinated Tea

The antiviral properties of raw honey speak for themselves. When mixed with hot water, lemon, and other natural, detoxifying ingredients, the concoction is excellent for relieving cough and cold symptoms during pregnancy. 

Chamomile, rooibos, apple cider vinegar in hot water, and other herbal teas hydrate the mucous membranes and can help clear your sinuses as you recover.

Salt Water Gargle

Warm salt water, in a ratio of about one teaspoon of salt for every cup of warm water, is completely safe for pregnant women.

A saltwater gargle acts as an antiseptic treatment for bacterial infections in the mouth. It can also act as a cough suppressant and even help you prevent^[6] an upper respiratory tract infection before it even has a chance to set in.

Vitamin Supplements

Vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are all extremely beneficial^[7] to anybody with a cough or cold, even during pregnancy. Vitamin supplements formulated for women are the perfect way to get exactly what you need daily quickly and conveniently.

If you prefer to eat your vitamins in whole-food form, zinc-rich pumpkin seeds and vitamin C-rich citrus fruits are two of the best ways to get your fill in easily. Spending some time outdoors with sun protection can also prompt your body to produce more vitamin D, which is both a mood-booster and a vital compound that helps your body utilize the rest of the vitamins and minerals in your diet.

Humidifiers

Humidifiers during pregnancy are a perfectly safe way^[8] to relieve a sore throat and other cough and cold symptoms during pregnancy. These devices can also keep your skin moisturized, keeping the air moist enough to prevent your body as a whole from drying out.

Avoiding Throat and Lung Irritants

Avoiding exposure to any kind of smoke is the best way to prevent a potential irritation and infection while pregnant. Other irritants, allergens, and toxins like pollen, mold, dust mites, and household cleaners should also be avoided whenever possible.

How to Boost Your Immune System to Prevent a Cold

Just like any other time in your life, a healthy lifestyle is one of the best natural ways to treat coughing during pregnancy. Aside from living well, you might also consider one of many natural home remedies safe for anybody experiencing cold symptoms, including pregnant women.

Some of our top tips to treat cough and other respiratory conditions like allergic rhinitis and the common cold include the following:

• Homemade chicken soup, or any other hearty, rich, and easy-to-digest meal that includes a lot of warm water
• A healthy diet overall, one that includes healthy fats, plenty of protein, and complex sources of carbohydrates
• Anti-inflammatory foods like dark, leafy greens, brassicas, raw garlic, and berries to boost your immune system
• Using compresses at cool temperatures, or even taking a cooling bath
• Trying an herbal remedy—grated ginger and spearmint are both great in tea
• Alternative medicine, such as acupuncture
• Meditation, breathing exercises^[9], and a gentle stretching routine can be a great way to relax your body and stimulate the healing process
• Massage with coconut oil is also another great natural remedy to put your body and mind at ease

Being sick is never any fun, but the good news is that you don’t necessarily need cold medicine for a stuffy nose. For the sake of your developing baby, it’s always best to keep things simple when treating a cold during pregnancy.

Does Catching a Cold During Pregnancy Harm Your Baby?

Some experts claim that the cold, the flu, and other various infections pose little risk to your baby if your symptoms are mild and short-lived. 

The CDC^[10], however, cites this study^[11] indicating the contrary—maternal cold or flu with a fever during early pregnancy has been linked to at least eight different birth defects:

• Gastroschisis
• Anencephaly
• Colonic atresia or stenosis
• Encephalocele
• Limb reduction defects
• Spina bifida
• Bilateral renal agenesis or hypoplasia
• Cleft lip with or without cleft palate

Cold and flu without fever, on the other hand, do not generally correlate with any of the above. Their top recommendation is to take precautions against falling ill both before conceiving and throughout your pregnancy, especially in the first and second trimesters.

When to See a Doctor

If coughing during pregnancy is disrupting your patterns of eating and sleeping significantly, we recommend consulting your doctor. If your fever exceeds 102F, you might be dealing with something more than an ordinary cough or cold.

In addition to these warnings, watch out for dry coughs that leave you winded every single time. Whooping cough is one serious condition that needs to be addressed immediately. It’s characterized by all of the following symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• A low fever
• Dry cough, often followed by a big intake of breath—this is where whooping cough gets its name

According to the CDC^[12], receiving the Tdap vaccine during your third trimester, anytime between weeks 27 and 36, confers some amount of immunological protection to your unborn baby for a few months after being born. This has them covered until they receive their own whooping cough vaccine—usually, somewhere around their two-month mark. 

The Bottom Line

Our favorite home remedies for cough during pregnancy make your recovery period a relaxing, reflective experience. A warm bath, a hot cup of tea, and plenty of rest are all great ways to keep both you and your baby healthy.

Again, if your symptoms worsen, do not hesitate to contact your physician. For most, cold and cough symptoms will subside within a week or two. After recovering completely, you’ll be back on track to smooth delivery.

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