Will catching a cold during pregnancy affect the fetus?

In winter, the weather is cold and the temperature difference is large, which can easily cause colds, especially for pregnant women, whose bodies have weaker resistance to diseases and are more susceptible to colds. Catching a cold during pregnancy may have some adverse effects on the development of the fetus, especially if you don't see a doctor in time after catching a cold, and take oral medication on your own, which may cause greater harm to the fetus. Below we will introduce some adverse effects of catching a cold and how to prevent it.

1. The impact of cold on the fetus

Colds are divided into common colds and influenza virus colds. If it is just a common cold, the main symptoms are sneezing, nasal congestion, and no fever, and the symptoms are relatively mild. In this case, a pregnant woman's cold generally will not have any effect on the fetus.

If the cold symptoms are severe, such as persistent high fever and the cold is caused by influenza virus infection, the cold may have a certain impact on the fetus.

Generally speaking, a cold in early pregnancy has a relatively greater impact on the fetus, because this period is a critical period for the development and formation of various organs of the fetus. The impact of a cold in the second and third trimesters on the fetus is relatively small, because the fetus's various organs are basically formed during this period and rarely cause adverse effects. However, if a severe cold occurs during this period, prolonged high fever will also hinder the development of the fetus in the uterus.

2. Improve immunity and prevent colds during pregnancy

1. Carry out outdoor activities regularly to enhance your ability to adapt to cold air. Every day from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning and from 1:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon, the outdoor temperature is high and the air is good. Pregnant women should go out and exercise for about 30-60 minutes during this time.

2. Drink plenty of water and eat more fruits and vegetables. Drinking plenty of water can speed up circulation in the body, help remove viruses from the body, and prevent dehydration. Fruits and vegetables contain a variety of vitamins, especially vitamins E and C, which can help immunity.

3. Get enough sleep. During pregnancy, you need more sleep than usual, ensuring 8-10 hours of sleep a day. It is best to fall asleep after 9 o'clock in the evening and then sleep for another hour at noon.

3. Treatment of colds in pregnant women

For mild colds with only sneezing, runny nose and mild cough, no medication is needed. Just get enough rest, drink plenty of water and keep warm, and you will recover without treatment. The following tips may help you relieve your cough or cold symptoms:

1. Eat a balanced diet and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. A proper diet provides you with the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

2. If you have a sore throat or cough, drink some hot honey lemon water to make you feel better.

3. Gargling with salt water can help treat throat infections.

4. Get more rest. Sleep helps the body restore itself.

5. Drink more water. When you have a cold, drinking something hot will make you feel especially comfortable. You can drink some hot orange juice as it is rich in vitamin C.

6. If your sinuses are blocked, you can drop two drops of tea tree oil or marjoram essential oil on a tissue and smell it every once in a while.

7. Taking some cold and heat-clearing granules can relieve cough or cold symptoms.

During pregnancy, any oral medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor. Sometimes the illness itself has little effect on the fetus, but due to the use of some inappropriate drugs, it will enter the fetus's body through the placenta and cause a great impact on the fetus's development. If you have a cold during pregnancy, try to drink more water to help quickly expel the virus.