When you found out that you are pregnant, everything matters. From the moment you wake up, to the moment you fall asleep is always a big deal. Everything is about you and your baby. Same is true when it comes to your health. When you are sick, you worry about the little one inside your tummy and so on and so forth.
If there is anything we wanted to have when we are pregnant, then that is about having a fit and healthy body. And when we say a healthy body, it also talks about our entire immune system. But what happens when you feel sick such as having dry coughs? How can you manage it? This article will give you ways on how to handle dry cough during pregnancy.
What is a dry cough?
Coughing is a normal reaction for clearing our throat and lungs from any irritants. Dry cough, on the other hand, is a kind of cough that doesn’t carry up phlegm. It is an occasional cause and this coughing indicates medical attention because it can be serious. It is often caused by viral infections such as cold and flu and sometimes from allergies. The presence of irritants and microbes in the air passage could cause dry coughs as well.
Why does it occur during pregnancy?
When a woman is pregnant, her immune system is likely to change. These changes somehow cause colds or cough during pregnancy. There are so many reasons why a pregnant woman experiences dry cough and these are the several causes that pregnant women should not take for granted:
- Low immunity: During pregnancy, the immune system of the mother weakens and is prone to different allergies and infections. That’s the reason why pregnant women were easily affected by dry coughs.
- Allergies: If a pregnant woman is allergic and keeps on exposing herself to allergens, then it may also lead to dry cough as it will create irritation in the airways.
- Allergic Rhinitis: An irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose and it is often caused by hypersensitivity.
- Asthma: You are likely to experience breathing difficulties and dry cough during pregnancy if you are already diagnosed with asthma.
- Air pollutants: Exposure to different pollutants of air such as cigarette, gas, smoke from vehicles can trigger a dry cough
Prevention
Taking and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are the best ways to prevent having a cold and cough during pregnancy. When a person is pregnant, you always take into consideration the different factors that might affect your health. These are the common ways on how to prevent having cough not only when you’re pregnant but also even those who are normal beings who are prone to having this. These ways are:
- Watching your diet. Make sure you are eating nutritiously as much as you can.
- Getting enough sleep is important. When you are pregnant, make sure you get enough sleep every day. Rest is highly needed since pregnant women easily get exhausted.
- Do exercise on a daily basis. Since you are pregnant, just perform walking outside your backyard every morning. Good enough to sweat yourself a little.
- Make it a habit to drink a lot of water every day
- Taking prenatal vitamins that are prescribed by the doctor. This is not just going to make you healthier, but also the child in your tummy as well.
- Avoid allergens that will tolerate dry coughs such as dust, dirt and other pollutants.
- Keep your distance against people with flu. Wearing face masks would be better.
Is there any effect on the baby in the tummy?
Dry cough only lowers the immunity of the mother and not the baby inside her womb. However, we can’t deny the fact that they are actually connected to each other in so many ways. Even if the baby is strongly protected by the placenta, still there is also a possibility that the little one would most likely be affected. It may lead to impairment during birth, most especially if cough and cold were not treated for a long time.
To avoid this thing to happen worse, eat healthily and go for regular check-ups. Do not take for granted dry coughs because it may lead to complications. Remember that when you are pregnant, even the smallest issue would make a great impact on your baby.
What are the common complications that a dry cough can lead to?
Dry cough if not treated and was taken for granted for a long time may actually lead to complications that may appear later in the pregnancy. Take a look at some effects on the pregnant woman:
- A disturbed sleeping pattern happens due to discomfort. Too much coughing would tend to make a body delicate and fragile. Lack of sleep can actually make it worse.
- Leaking out of urine due to too much coughing
- It can cause physical, mental and emotional stress to pregnant women which may distress the baby.
- Dry cough can leave a feeling of vulnerability and makes the body weaker which results in loss of appetite.
When to see a doctor?
When things get rough, do not ever hesitate to visit a doctor. It is important to pay a visit to your health provider once in a while if symptoms are causing you discomfort such as inability to sleep or losing your appetite. Do not take for granted these signs as these are what we called warnings that should be considered.
If you experience to cough phlegm with too much chest pain and is causing you to breathe hard, make it sure to call your doctor right away. You must be prescribed antibiotics to kill infections.
Final words
A dry cough is common during pregnancy. It is very important to see a doctor once in a while. You might think that dry cough is just a minimal health issue, but no, it’s not. It may lead to different complications more than you could ever imagine. Always implement your healthy diet and have adequate sleep for your body to be active and strong enough to fight viruses that may be encountering. Always remember that your body is also the body of your child. Make the best happen to give your child a healthy home inside your body.
Read also:
- Cholestasis of pregnancy cause symptoms and cure
- Should you be worried about a brown vaginal discharge
- Pregnancy tips what every pregnant woman should know
