Cough In Pregnancy: Causes, Home Remedies And Treatment

Image: Shutterstock

Cough in pregnancy can be more intense and long-lasting than usual. Cough, in general, is a self-limiting condition. However, it can be more uncomfortable during pregnancy, when the body undergoes various physical, emotional, and hormonal changes and changes to the immune system.

The American Pregnancy Association states that pregnancy-associated immune system changes can increase a pregnant woman’s susceptibility to various infections and allergens and lead to cough during pregnancy (1) (2). Moreover, one may develop a cough if they contract influenza (flu) or the common cold during pregnancy.

In this post, you can read about the causes of cough, its impact on the fetus, and management and preventive strategies.

What Causes Cough During Pregnancy?

Cough can be a presenting symptom of the following conditions during pregnancy:

1. Common cold or mild upper respiratory illness: Caused by numerous viruses and contracted due to immunogenicⁱThe ability of a substance to elicit immunological responses. changes in pregnancy (3)
2. Influenza or flu: It can be severe in pregnancy and harmful for the developing baby.
3. Whooping cough (or pertussis): It is a serious condition that may cause ill effects on an unborn baby. The CDC recommends each pregnant woman to go for the Tdap vaccine during the third trimester to protect the baby(4).
4. Pregnancy rhinitis (or hormonal rhinitis): A symptom or side effect of pregnancy that includes a stuffy (nasal congestion) and runny nose, sneezing, and a post-nasal drip, which can cause coughing (5)
5. SARS-CoV-2 infection: Responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic (6)

Other conditions that can cause cough in pregnancy are (7)

• BronchitisⁱAn infection in the airways that causes them to become inflamed and irritated.
• Asthma or bronchial asthma
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or heartburn
• Allergic rhinitis

Quick fact

Dry, irritating coughs are usually associated with post-nasal drip (19) . Allergies, viral infections, sinus infections, irritants in the air, or pregnancy may cause it (20).

How Is Cough Treated In Pregnancy?

Since several factors are responsible for cough in pregnancy, the treatment depends on the type of cough and underlying cause. The following are some methods to treat cough in pregnancy (1):

1. Coughs due to nasal congestion can be relieved with nasal strips, saline nasal drops, keeping your head elevated while sleeping, or using a humidifierⁱAn appliance that releases steam to enhance the moisture content of the air. .

Image: Shutterstock

2. Adequate rest, sleep, water intake, and a healthy diet could improve immunity, helping your body recover from illnesses and mild cough.

3. Certain over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and cough drops may also help treat cough and cold in pregnancy. However, avoid self-medication and consult your health care provider before taking any medications.

The following are some medications that are safe for treating cough in pregnancy (1):

• Acetaminophen (paracetamol) can relieve fever, cough, and cold.
• Cough suppressants, including dextromethorphan at a maximum dose of 120mg per day, help treat dry cough in pregnancy (8) (9).
• Anesthetic sore throat lozenges can ease throat pain or irritation, which causes cough.
• Decongestants may be harmful to the baby if overused. Consult your doctor before using them (3) (10)
• OTC antihistamineⁱA class of medications used to treat allergies by blocking the action of histamines (allergens). drugs such as cetirizine are relatively safe and help relieve flu symptoms. They may, however, cause sleepiness.

Quick fact

An expectorant such as guaifenesin or a mucolytic such as bromhexine may be used with medical advice for cough with phlegmⁱA thick liquid comprising mucus and saliva produced by lungs during infections. (19).

What Are The Natural Remedies For Cough In Pregnancy?

Since cough medicines are often contraindicated in pregnancy, you might be suggested natural or home remedies for cough during pregnancy, including (1)

• • Drinking warm water and inhaling steam
  • Gargling with salty warm water
  • Honey (9)
  • Green tea, lemon tea, or herbal tea

Image: Shutterstock

Herbs such as sage, chamomile, thyme, aniseed, fenugreek, peppermint, eucalyptus, cumin, garlic, and ginger are useful in treating cough in pregnancy. However, consult your gynecologist before taking these herbs (11)  (12).

Quick tip

Taking clove with honey may provide relief from chronic cough (21). However, avoid this remedy during pregnancy unless directed otherwise by your doctor.

How Can Cough In Pregnancy Be Prevented?

To avoid falling sick or contracting a cold or cough during pregnancy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is of prime importance.

Your daily routine should include (1):

• • Rest: Adequate rest and sleep are critical and give the body enough time to replenish.
  • Drink plenty of fluids: Drink lots of water, juice, or healthy soups to help restore the necessary fluids in the body.
  • Diet: Eat balanced, healthy, and nutritious food.
  • Routine exercise: Do exercises regularly, including aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises. However, contact your health care provider or physiotherapist before exercising (13)
  • Have covid-appropriate behavior by wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.

Other methods to prevent contracting a cough when pregnant are (1)

• Regular hand washing

Image: Shutterstock

• Avoiding allergen exposure (10)
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands to reduce exposure to bacteria (14)
• Avoiding physical contact with sick people and sharing cutlery or towels with them
• Avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke, which cause respiratory irritation (15).
• Taking your prenatal vitamins and probiotics on time
• Getting your flu shots, covid vaccinations and Tdap vaccine (2) (4)

Does Coughing During Pregnancy Harm The Baby?

Although contracting an ordinary cough during pregnancy may cause fatigue, it is usually not harmful to the baby.

Research suggests that colds and flu with high-grade fever right before or in the early weeks of pregnancy may raise risk of congenitalⁱ A structural or functional abnormality present from birth. impairments, including (16):

• Cleft lip with or without cleft palate
• AnencephalyⁱA rare but serious abnormality in which a baby is born without the major parts of the central nervous system.
• Limb reduction
• Spina bifida
• Encephalocele
• Colonic atresiaⁱA congenital abnormality in which the colon (a large part of the large intestine) does not develop properly. /stenosis
• Bilateral renal agenesis/hypoplasiaⁱA condition characterized by incomplete or improper development of a specific organ.
• Gastroschisis

When Should You See A Doctor?

Typically, a cough is not a harmful condition during pregnancy. However, persistent or excessive coughing during pregnancy needs prompt medical attention. Hence, you should contact your doctor in the following scenarios (1) (10):

• If you experience excessive coughing during pregnancy or your cough does not improve and persists for more than seven days

Image: Shutterstock

• If you have difficulty sleeping and eating
• If your cough produces greenish/yellow sputum
• If you develop chest pain, breathing difficulty, or wheezing along with the cough
• If you have a fever (over 100.2°F) with the cough

Infographic: What You Need To Know About Whooping Cough In Pregnancy

Whooping cough causes persistent coughing and breathing difficulties in pregnant women. Identifying the signs and seeking prompt medical care is paramount to protecting the expectant mother and her baby. Explore this infographic to comprehend some critical points about the symptoms and prevention of whooping cough in pregnancy.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

A number of different reasons may cause cough during pregnancy. Here is a video with a few simple remedies to deal with this condition.

Was this article helpful?

Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Priyanka AroraMS

Dr. Priyanka Arora has over seven years of experience in the field of obstetrics & gynecology. Previously a senior resident at GTB Hospital and LHMC in Delhi, she currently works as a consultant at MD City Hospital. Dr.

Read full bio of Dr. Priyanka Arora

Reshmi DasMSc

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

Read full bio of Reshmi Das

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Aneesha AmonzMSc

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

Read full bio of Aneesha Amonz