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Table of Contents
Your Immune System
Treating Cold During Pregnancy
Cold Prevention
However, many cold medicines can potentially harm the fetus, especially in the first trimester.For cold symptom relief during pregnancy, your healthcare provider may suggest some at-home remedies, nasal sprays, antihistamines, and other approved medications.
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Pregnancy and Your Immune System
Immune function evolves over the course of your pregnancy. But these immune changes don’t protect you from certain infections, including the common cold.
Your susceptibility to certain illnesses may change during the course of your pregnancy. Studies suggest that you may be most likely to get sick during the first trimester and least likely during the second.
However, one symptom to watch out for isfever. According the the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, fevers in very early pregnancy increase the risk of congenital heart defects, cleft lip, spina bifida, limb deficiencies, and other serious health issues.
For most people, the common cold won’t typically cause a fever.A high temperature may be a sign that you have a different illness, such as the flu orCOVID-19.
If you have a fever during pregnancy, reach out to your healthcare provider for treatment guidance.
Your Risk of Severe COVID-19 During Pregnancy
What Can You Take for a Cold During Pregnancy?
Many cold medicines contain ingredients that are not safe to take while pregnant.
The safest way to relieve cold symptoms when you are pregnant is to use natural remedies. Drug-free ways to ease a cold include:
Supplements like elderberry syrup, vitamin C, and zinc can also help to ease cold symptoms, but check with your healthcare provider first.
Cold Medicines You Can Taken When Pregnant
Cold medications that are approved for use during pregnancy include:
Before taking any medication during pregnancy, check with your healthcare provider to confirm it is safe for you.
Does Tylenol Cause Autism and ADHD?Acetaminophen is considered the safest pain reliever and fever reducer to use while pregnant. However, emerging research links the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy to a 20% increased risk of autism and ADHD.While more studies are needed, experts advise only using acetaminophen in pregnancy when required and at the lowest effective dose for a short time.
Does Tylenol Cause Autism and ADHD?
Acetaminophen is considered the safest pain reliever and fever reducer to use while pregnant. However, emerging research links the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy to a 20% increased risk of autism and ADHD.While more studies are needed, experts advise only using acetaminophen in pregnancy when required and at the lowest effective dose for a short time.
Cold Medications to Avoid During Pregnancy
The following medicationsshould not be usedduring pregnancy:
You may be more susceptible to colds during pregnancy. It’s hard to avoid the cold, but your best defense is to:
Overview of the Common Cold
Summary
Natural ways to relieve cold symptoms during pregnancy include keeping hydrated, flushing your sinuses, gargling with salt water, and running a humidifier.
Medications that are generally safe to take during pregnancy include antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, and cough medicines. Do not take decongestants, NSAIDs, or benzocaine throat lozenges or sprays.
Contact your healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter medications and if you have a fever. Getting enough sleep, eating right, and simple prevention measures (hand washing, masks) can help keep you healthy during your pregnancy.
What Cold Medicine Can I Take During Pregnancy?
A Word From Verywell
—RENITA WHITE, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of New Mexico Health.Which cold and flu medication is safe to take during pregnancy?Racicot K, Kwon JY, Aldo P, Silasi M, Mor G.Understanding the complexity of the immune system during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2014;72(2):107-116. doi:10.1111/aji.12289Waller DK, Hashmi SS, Hoyt AT, et al.Maternal report of fever from cold or flu during early pregnancy and the risk for noncardiac birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.Birth Defects Res. 2018;110(4):342-351. doi:10.1002/bdr2.1147Mohan Dass NL, Botto LD, Tinker SC, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Associations between maternal reports of periconceptional fever from miscellaneous causes and structural birth defects.Birth Defects Res. 2022;114(15):885–94. doi:10.1002/bdr2.2068Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Common Cold.Erebara A, Bozzo P, Einarson A, Koren G.Treating the common cold during pregnancy.Can Fam Physician. 2008;54(5):687–9.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?Servey J, Chang J.Over-the-counter medications in pregnancy.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(8):548–55.Alemany S, Avella-García C, Liew Z, et al.Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen in relation to autism spectrum and attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood: Meta-analysis in six European population-based cohorts.Eur J Epidemiol. 2021;36(10):993-1004. doi:10.1007/s10654-021-00754-4Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scand J Pain. 2017;17:445–46. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007Yau WP, Mitchell AA, Lin KJ, Werler MM, Hernández-Díaz S.Use of decongestants during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects.American Journal of Epidemiology. 2013;178(2):198-208. doi:10.1093/aje/kws427Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health effects of cigarette smoking.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of New Mexico Health.Which cold and flu medication is safe to take during pregnancy?Racicot K, Kwon JY, Aldo P, Silasi M, Mor G.Understanding the complexity of the immune system during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2014;72(2):107-116. doi:10.1111/aji.12289Waller DK, Hashmi SS, Hoyt AT, et al.Maternal report of fever from cold or flu during early pregnancy and the risk for noncardiac birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.Birth Defects Res. 2018;110(4):342-351. doi:10.1002/bdr2.1147Mohan Dass NL, Botto LD, Tinker SC, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Associations between maternal reports of periconceptional fever from miscellaneous causes and structural birth defects.Birth Defects Res. 2022;114(15):885–94. doi:10.1002/bdr2.2068Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Common Cold.Erebara A, Bozzo P, Einarson A, Koren G.Treating the common cold during pregnancy.Can Fam Physician. 2008;54(5):687–9.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?Servey J, Chang J.Over-the-counter medications in pregnancy.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(8):548–55.Alemany S, Avella-García C, Liew Z, et al.Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen in relation to autism spectrum and attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood: Meta-analysis in six European population-based cohorts.Eur J Epidemiol. 2021;36(10):993-1004. doi:10.1007/s10654-021-00754-4Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scand J Pain. 2017;17:445–46. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007Yau WP, Mitchell AA, Lin KJ, Werler MM, Hernández-Díaz S.Use of decongestants during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects.American Journal of Epidemiology. 2013;178(2):198-208. doi:10.1093/aje/kws427Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health effects of cigarette smoking.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of New Mexico Health.Which cold and flu medication is safe to take during pregnancy?Racicot K, Kwon JY, Aldo P, Silasi M, Mor G.Understanding the complexity of the immune system during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2014;72(2):107-116. doi:10.1111/aji.12289Waller DK, Hashmi SS, Hoyt AT, et al.Maternal report of fever from cold or flu during early pregnancy and the risk for noncardiac birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.Birth Defects Res. 2018;110(4):342-351. doi:10.1002/bdr2.1147Mohan Dass NL, Botto LD, Tinker SC, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Associations between maternal reports of periconceptional fever from miscellaneous causes and structural birth defects.Birth Defects Res. 2022;114(15):885–94. doi:10.1002/bdr2.2068Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Common Cold.Erebara A, Bozzo P, Einarson A, Koren G.Treating the common cold during pregnancy.Can Fam Physician. 2008;54(5):687–9.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?Servey J, Chang J.Over-the-counter medications in pregnancy.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(8):548–55.Alemany S, Avella-García C, Liew Z, et al.Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen in relation to autism spectrum and attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood: Meta-analysis in six European population-based cohorts.Eur J Epidemiol. 2021;36(10):993-1004. doi:10.1007/s10654-021-00754-4Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scand J Pain. 2017;17:445–46. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007Yau WP, Mitchell AA, Lin KJ, Werler MM, Hernández-Díaz S.Use of decongestants during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects.American Journal of Epidemiology. 2013;178(2):198-208. doi:10.1093/aje/kws427Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health effects of cigarette smoking.
University of New Mexico Health.Which cold and flu medication is safe to take during pregnancy?
Racicot K, Kwon JY, Aldo P, Silasi M, Mor G.Understanding the complexity of the immune system during pregnancy.Am J Reprod Immunol. 2014;72(2):107-116. doi:10.1111/aji.12289
Waller DK, Hashmi SS, Hoyt AT, et al.Maternal report of fever from cold or flu during early pregnancy and the risk for noncardiac birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.Birth Defects Res. 2018;110(4):342-351. doi:10.1002/bdr2.1147
Mohan Dass NL, Botto LD, Tinker SC, et al; National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Associations between maternal reports of periconceptional fever from miscellaneous causes and structural birth defects.Birth Defects Res. 2022;114(15):885–94. doi:10.1002/bdr2.2068
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Common Cold.
Erebara A, Bozzo P, Einarson A, Koren G.Treating the common cold during pregnancy.Can Fam Physician. 2008;54(5):687–9.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?
Servey J, Chang J.Over-the-counter medications in pregnancy.Am Fam Physician. 2014;90(8):548–55.
Alemany S, Avella-García C, Liew Z, et al.Prenatal and postnatal exposure to acetaminophen in relation to autism spectrum and attention-deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood: Meta-analysis in six European population-based cohorts.Eur J Epidemiol. 2021;36(10):993-1004. doi:10.1007/s10654-021-00754-4
Toda K.Is acetaminophen safe in pregnancy?Scand J Pain. 2017;17:445–46. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.007
Yau WP, Mitchell AA, Lin KJ, Werler MM, Hernández-Díaz S.Use of decongestants during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects.American Journal of Epidemiology. 2013;178(2):198-208. doi:10.1093/aje/kws427
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Health effects of cigarette smoking.
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