Pregnant, Head Cold, and Feeling like Death Warmed Over....

I can totally relate. Having colds are the worst when you are pregnant because you really can't take anything. That was when I got into natural remedies. First make sure you keep yourself warm. All the Mom advice of wearing hats and gloves and an extra sweater are important. Your immune system also controls your body temp so if it doesn't have to warm you it can work harder to fight off your cold. Second the chicken soup really is good advice. Recent studies have proven it isn't just an old wives tale, it actually can help cure colds. Another good one is hot apple cider. Even if you don't drink it, breathing it in can minimize nasal congestion, calm coughs, and settle your lungs. Drinking it also boosts your vitamin C but some people don't like the taste. Also it does help and isn't too expensive to get a new toothbrush or sterilize it. Having a vaporizer on is great too for calming lungs - most people have very dry homes in the winter. A friend of mine says she cut down on her family getting sick during the winter by cleaning the door knobs and wiping down the keyboards for the computers every day. I just heard that a keyboard can have 4x the amount of germs as a toilet seat so that probably did it. (gross) Well remembering that makes me have to go get something to clean my keyboard. Good Luck!

That particular starts in the head cold is going around. All in all symptoms are mildISH (a little congestion, a mild or no fever, etc.)... but everyone is knocked on their bum. My son has slept 20 hours a day for the past 3 days (doesn't that just sound DELICIOUS? I'm jealous), I didn't even crawl out of my PJs yesterday... and as long as I'm sitting, I'm fine.. but 2 minutes into standing up to go do something, I'm exhausted and back on my bum again.

Being pregnant will make it 10x worse, though, because not only is your immune system YANKING energy away from your motor system (why we're flat out like lizards drinking), but you have a baby hogging the rest of it. AND our digestive systems shut off when we're sick (ratiocination... aka being upright and not 'puddles' and digestion are the two biggest energy sucks, so our body shuts them off when we're sick)... which means your baby is actually eating you from the inside out. They always do that, but if you aren't eating or digesting well... you're not replacing what they're taking.

CHICKEN SOUP.

McDONALDS

Get some high fat easy to digest food (soup and fast food is the easiest to digest food out there) in you. Your immune system is almost pure fat with just a tiny amount of protein thrown in for structure... high fat diet is a HEALTHY diet when you're sick .... to help your immune system and to replace the nutrients your baby is leaching out of your muscles, bones, and organs.

And SLEEP OR WATCH MOVIES (if your toddler is awake). Don't cook. Don't clean. Save all your energy. You'll be well 2-3x faster if you can actually rest. Sick-Rules apply. It's time for a pink panther (or thomas the train, whatever) marathon.

When you're pregnant, there's isn't any reason why you can't take natural remedies--herbs, homeopathy, supplements, etc. Right now, with it being winter and you living in the North/Minnesota, I would recommend that you take 2,000 mg of Vit D every day. You can get a capsule from Solaray, or you can go see a Naturopathic doctor and get a tincture that you put in water and drink. I use the tincture. Since I've been using it (since Nov 2009), I haven't had a cold or the flu or sinuitis/rhinitis--and I ALWAYS suffered from one or the other every single winter, especially when I lived in MN (I've been in WI since 1997).

Another thing to consider would be buying some EmergenC Vit C packets and taking up to three of them a day in water. There are 1,000 mg of Vit C with other essential vitamins and minerals and really work. I always take Vit C when I get a cold--any type of cold--because it makes it clear up faster. Even when I'm feeling a little down; if a cold is starting, I want to knock it out right away. And don't worry about overdoing; any Vit C your body doesn't need, you'll pee out.

Are you suffering from a plugged-up nose? Sometimes using a Neti pot will help clear up a stuffy nose and will also help the ears/head cold. Make sure to buy distilled water, though, instead of using tap water (because of the possibility of problems/amoebas).

Do you have a Whole Foods, a Co-op, or a Community Pharmacy near you? Another good thing to take in the winter time is a good mushroom compound. I use one that has 10 different mushrooms in it--they are in a capsule. Mushrooms (the kind you eat, not the psychadelic kind) are good for building up the body's immune system.

Do you eat organic, fresh foods? Do away with processed and fast foods. They don't give your body the necessary vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids it needs, especially at this time with the little one inside you. Eat lots of fresh organic vegetables and fruits. If you can, make (raw) vege/fruit smoothies. They will not only give you a pick up, but all of the nutrients will be very high and highly available, since they are raw and not cooked. I find that doing this also helps me when I am sick; I get healthier faster.

Eating lots of hot soup and drinking lots of hot drinks (tea, herbal tea, clear broth, even hot chocolate) will also help with this type of cold. Green tea is a good immune defense tea.

I feel for you.
Tell hubby to whip up a batch of homemade chicken soup. It's easy to make--take some chicken parts in enough water to cover, add salt, garlic powder, pepper, poultry seasoning, you can add some diced celery and onion, simmer till done--remove chicken pieces--add a bag of frozen mixed veggies--let chicken cool a bit it's easier to remove meat from the bone while still warm to hot (cut meat to bite sized pieces if necessary) add back to pot add some noodles or pre-cooked rice. HHHMMMM best thing for you when your sick.

Sounds like you may have a sinus infection. I always know when my sinuses are infected if I can hear my blood rushing and there is pain around my ears.

Feel better soon. :-))

pregnancy doesnt last forever, it just seems like it does. anyway, stop taking your liitle one to daycare and they wont pick up every cold that comes down the pike, yes, i know that goes against"the new age parenting " advice, but thats what i've got to work with. just take it very slow, because your balance is going to be off being pregnant, you add a headcold to it, and you end up feeling like death warmed up. drink your weith in chicken soup, avoid taking any drugs that you dont have to take and you should feel normal.. eventually
K. h.

Go get checked out asap. It could be pneumonia and that is something you never want to mess with.

Cool mist, steamy showers, liquids and REST til you get an answer.

Good luck!

I am 20 weeks gregnant and just had this last week and I called my OB and they wanted to see me just to make sure everything was ok with the baby. Now if I wasnt pregnant I would have just waited it out. I say call the on call OB and see what they say. Thats what they are there for and if its something they can help over the phone you saved your time and the co-pay.

my guess is its viral and they wont be able to do much as far as perscriptions. I would take advantage of your husband being home and sleep as much as possible today. Hopefully the extra sleep will help fight off what ever it is you have. I hope you wake tomorrow refreshed and feeling better!