There may be nothing worse than being pregnant and feeling terrible. Being sick with a cold, the flu or some other malady may be even worse for pregnant women, whose medication options are limited. If you have a cold while pregnant, then the symptoms can seem worse than if you weren't expecting - this is because your mucus membranes, including those in your nose, have a tendency to swell and get more irritated. That means a stuffy nose is more uncomfortable, and throat tickles may be more prevalent. The first thing to do is to check with your doctor or midwife to see what treatments she might recommend first and which are not OK to take. There are a few medications that are generally considered safe for pregnancy. If you have a cold, those include Sudafed, Tylenol, Halls and Robitussin DM. Natural ways to alleviate symptoms include gargling with warm salt water and using saline drops to help nasal congestion.
Your grandmother's old Vicks remedy - slathering a bit on your chest - also can help and is safe. Prop yourself up while sleeping to facilitate breathing, and try a BreatheRight strip, which can open nasal passages. For stomach problems, most antacids are considered safe for heartburn, while Emetrol can be an effective anti-nausea medication. For diarrhea, drugs like Imodium and Kaopectate are safe to take after the first trimester but only for 24 hours. Regardless of the affliction, it's always in your baby's best interest to ask the doctor what's safe to take. If you're on medication when you find out you're pregnant, ask the doctor immediately if you should continue taking it. Never stop cold turkey - doing so may be more detrimental than tapering off, especially in the case of antidepressants.