Although pregnant women try to stay as healthy as they can throughout pregnancy, occasionally they will catch a cold or flu. In fact, women may be slightly more susceptible to infections during pregnancy, so common sense would dictate that they should avoid getting run down or exposing themselves unnecessarily to illness. If a mother has young children, this may not be entirely possible, but she can try not to be fatigued and can practice extra cleanliness in hand washing and food preparation. Should an expectant mother catch a cold, it is most important that she continue to eat well and keep herself hydrated. As long as she does not become seriously ill, she can be reassured that her cold and any other Bacterial Infection will not be dangerous to the baby.
Although a pregnant woman with a cold feels just as sick as a nonpregnant woman with a cold, most doctors na midwives would advise to forgo any over the counter preparations. However, it is reassuring to learn that statistically these preparations pose very little danger to the baby. For this reason practitioners vary widely in their advice on over the counter drugs. Sine won’t hesitate to tell an uncomfortable expectant mother to take aspirin or non-aspirin compounds like Tylenol. However, there are alternatives that may make the mother feel better without any risk, and they should be tried first.
In certain situations a pregnant woman should consult her doctor. If she runs a high fever, her doctor may advise her to take something to bring the fever down. If she develops an ear infection or a strep throat with Bacterial Infection Symptoms, her doctor may subscribe an antibiotic that has been safely used by other women during pregnancy.
While most infections rarely have any effect on pregnancy, certain one can be serious. The three most common are rubella, herpes simplex, and toxoplasmosis. In addition to affecting the mother, these infections have the potential to cause congenital malformations or serious illness in the newborn.