Managing Cold and Flu Safely During Pregnancy

How to manage the flu and pregnancy, top tips on what you can do if you fall ill during winter pregnant.

Being pregnant means that your health is also affecting the health of your unborn child, making treating cold and flu symptoms confusing and unknown. Fortunately, many medications can be taken while pregnant which means you are able to treat any symptoms safely and effectively.

There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of becoming ill over winter. When you are pregnant your immune system typically becomes weaker leaving expecting mums more open to viral and bacterial infections. Getting the flu vaccination reduces the risk of infection and complications, it also helps to protect mums and babies for up to 6 months after birth.

Other things you can do are:

Wash your hands often
Get plenty of sleep and rest
Eat a diet high in fruit, vegetables and protein
Avoid friends or family who are sick
Exercise
Reduce stress as much as possible.

If you do happen to fall ill over the winter months, as a cold is a very common mild viral infection, there are plenty of methods to relieve symptoms at home. Your body will present typical cold symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, blocked sinuses and congestion which will typically hang around for a week as your body is fighting off the infection. There is no cure for the cold except to let your body fight it off. You can relieve symptoms by taking over-the-counter medication recommended for pregnant women, drinking plenty of fluids and getting a lot of rest.

The flu is more serious than a cold and it is recommended that if you become ill with the flu you see your doctor as soon as possible. Being pregnant and catching the flu means you are at a much higher risk of complications. Antiviral medications will be recommended to treat the flu which works best when started within 48 hours after symptoms start.

Antivirals will not cure the flu, there are used to reduce the amount of time you are sick, relieve symptoms and most importantly reduce the potential for serious complications. When you are recovering from the flu you should also make sure you are getting plenty of rest, keeping warm and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Most of your local community pharmacists will be providing the influenza vaccine to keep you protected against any nasty colds and flu during the winter months. They are also able to recommend medication or pain relief that will be suitable for use during pregnancy if you find yourself sick and needing some relief.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. It is not intended as medical or health advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your individual medical needs.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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