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Expectorants for pregnant women. Means for removing sputum during pregnancy. Vibration massage and postural drainage

May harm mother and fetus. This is due to the fact that with prolonged coughing, the likelihood of developing serious complications of pregnancy increases.

When are expectorants needed during pregnancy?

During this period, all expectant mothers and attending physicians try to avoid prescribing any medications, in addition to various kinds of vitamins. This also applies to those medications that help expectorate accumulated sputum.

Cough drugs are prescribed most often in cases where it reaches significant severity. The fact is that this symptom of many diseases of the respiratory system contributes to an increase in pressure in the abdominal cavity.

This can cause an increase in tone in the uterus. Ultimately, this complication significantly increases the risk of preterm birth and miscarriage. So with a strong cough, the appointment is simply necessary.

Such drugs are also recommended for pregnant women in cases where the cough does not go away for several weeks or more. The prolonged presence of this symptom increases the likelihood of developing preeclampsia, which is a complication that is dangerous for both the developing child and the woman.

Expectorant drugs are prescribed to many pregnant women with diseases of the respiratory system, accompanied by a cough. It does not matter how dangerous the disease itself is. Expectorant drugs are prescribed for the usual ARVI, and for bronchitis, and for pneumonia in the presence of a wet cough. To enhance the expectoration of sputum.

It is unacceptable to use any drugs with a central action in the first trimester of gestation and during lactation.

This is due to the fact that all of them are capable of exerting a depressing effect on the developing central nervous system of the child. These are, in particular:

It is also impossible to use mucolytic drugs in the first 3 months of pregnancy. We are talking about the following medicines:

  1. Ambroxol.
  2. Bromhexine.
  3. Mukaltin.

Expectorants for coughs for pregnant women of this type in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters are practically safe. However, you shouldn't use them on your own. These drugs should be prescribed by the attending physician after a detailed examination.

As a rule, expectorants are prescribed in syrups to achieve an additional effect of alleviating pain caused by coughing, but some drugs can also be prescribed in tablet form (Bromhexine, Mukaltin).

In addition to tablets and syrups, when coughing in pregnant women, drugs for inhalation are also used. The main ones among them are the following:

  • alkaline soda solution;
  • thyme essential oil;
  • thyme essential oil;
  • essential oil of camphor.

The use of such drugs is permissible throughout pregnancy. Their use is considered the safest. This is due to the fact that during inhalation, no medicinal substances practically reach the fetus. As a result, it does not have any side effects.

In addition, inhalations have the fastest effect. They allow you to influence directly the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

If a severe cough cannot be eliminated or reduced with conventional medicines within a few days, then more serious drugs may be prescribed. We are talking about those expectorant medicines that have a central antitussive effect, but do not depress the activity of the respiratory system.

The main drugs from this group:

  1. Oxeladin.
  2. Dastosin.

These drugs can only be used in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

In this case, in no case should you deviate from those dosages and the frequency of use of the prescribed drug, which were recommended by the attending doctor. In the vast majority of cases, such medications for the treatment of pregnant women are used in very short courses in order to reduce the likelihood of complications.

Negative effects of drug treatment and alternative methods

As for the mother, there should not be any special complications from taking such medicines for her. Most often they are limited to the usual allergic reactions, nausea and discomfort in the abdomen.

Much more dangerous can be side effects for the developing fetus. For example, the use of centrally acting drugs can lead to fetal hypoxia. This is due to the fact that they have a depressing effect on the work of the respiratory center.

Taking mucolytic drugs in the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to impaired development of the respiratory system in the developing fetus. The use of such drugs during this period may affect the resistance of the respiratory system to certain microorganisms after birth.

From a cough during pregnancy, many use some traditional medicine. Among the main ones are the following:

  • basil with honey;
  • garlic;
  • lemon with black pepper and salt;
  • onion juice with honey.

Basil with honey has an expectorant effect. For best effect, basil leaves should be finely chopped and mixed well with honey (1 tbsp finely chopped leaves to 2 tbsp honey).

To achieve the desired result, it is enough to take 2-3 teaspoons of such a drug twice a day. Garlic for coughing during pregnancy can be used in any form. It is best to use it fresh, not thermally processed, form. It is enough to use 2 cloves every other day.

Lemon with black pepper and salt is used as a remedy for severe coughing fits. It is enough to take 1 slice of lemon, sprinkle it with such seasonings and eat.

The coughing attack will stop almost immediately, and sputum will begin to be expectorated. It is important not to use too much black pepper and salt. Onion juice with honey should be used 1-2 teaspoons 2 times a day. You need to use this remedy for 3-4 days.

Choosing the right expectorants during pregnancy is quite difficult, since on the one hand, drugs are required to be effective in order to defeat a condition that is unpleasant for the mother and dangerous for the child, and on the other hand, safety, so that instead of a cured cough, one does not get much more serious health problems.

The opinion of doctors is unequivocal: to escape from coughing during pregnancy should only be the simplest means that do not affect the woman's body in addition to the underlying disease, and are also unable to penetrate the placental barrier to the baby.

What is the danger of coughing

For pregnant women, any disease can have serious consequences both in itself and because of potential complications. This is especially true with regard to colds - a cough, even if it has become a symptom of a common cold, if left untreated, can increase the tone of the uterus, posing a threat to the gestating fetus.

Diseases accompanied by a cough often provoke difficulties for normal blood circulation in the bodies of the mother and child.

At the same time, treating a cough can be no less dangerous than expecting the condition to “go away on its own.” The fact is that most antitussives that can give any quick result, that is, allowing you to count on the fastest possible recovery, should not be taken by pregnant women.

Some of them contain components that can cross the placenta into the fetal circulatory system, others are potentially capable of harming both the mother and the child, and a separate category of drugs has such properties that all their harm to both organisms has not been fully studied.

The conclusion is clear: for a pregnant woman suffering from a cough, only an expectorant that provides symptomatic treatment is suitable. Rinses, light expectorants (provided there is no allergy), as well as inhalations and compresses - that's all you should count on. And the greatest effect under such conditions should be expected from alternative medicine, and not from industrial pharmacology.

Healthy-safe rinses

Properly selected rinses help to reduce the inflammatory process in the airways, relieve swelling in the nasopharynx, eliminate dryness and sore throat. In general, rinsing with the simplest means that can be found in every home will allow you to quickly treat a dry cough, as well as relieve the pain that accompanies this condition, and all this without harm to the pregnant woman and the fetus.

The rules for gargling coughs with expectorants during pregnancy are simple: the procedure is carried out on average every 3-4 hours, immediately after meals or between them.

During pregnancy, it is allowed to carry out treatment with the following means:

    baking soda (1/2 tsp) with warm water (350 ml);

    equal parts of calendula, sage, eucalyptus (1 tablespoon per 350 ml of boiling water) boil for 10 minutes, strain and cool;

    dilute apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon) in warm water (550 ml), rinse preferably every 2 hours.

Rinse means can defeat a cough only if additional conditions are met: a pregnant woman will try to consume a lot of liquid, and in the room where she is located, an optimal level of air humidity will be provided.

At the same time, sputum will quickly begin to stand out and be expectorated, which will at least lead to relief of coughing attacks.

Inhalations that will not bring harm

Inhalations are the safest cough treatment for pregnant women. The only thing to consider before starting such treatment is whether the future mother has any contraindications to the drugs used.

Inhalations are harmless at any stage of pregnancy, they are useful in that they are able to relieve swelling of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, effectively affect dry and wet coughs, and in addition they can eliminate a runny nose with nasal congestion.

For the treatment of cough with inhalation during pregnancy, you can choose decoctions of medicinal plants, giving preference to:

  • St. John's wort;

    eucalyptus.

You can also use essential oils for pregnant women, including extracts:

  • eucalyptus.

If patients have contraindications to a particular remedy, alkaline mineral water, soda or saline should be used for inhalation.

It is important to remember that too strong thermal effects are prohibited for pregnant women, therefore inhalation procedures should be carried out at a water temperature of no more than 40 ° C. Such a remedy will give good results, bringing recovery closer, while at the same time not harming the organisms of the mother and child.

The procedure for inhalation is carried out as follows:

    A certain amount of liquid of the allowed temperature is poured into the container, if desired / permissible, therapeutic agents are added.

    A pregnant woman covers her head with a towel and leans over the container. The duration of the procedure is no more than 10 minutes, during which deep breaths should be taken alternately through the nose and mouth.

    At the end of the inhalation, you should refuse to eat and drink for about 1 hour, do not talk, do not go outside. It is best to go to bed after inhaling aromatic vapors so that the treatment works optimally.

Relief usually occurs after 3-4 courses of inhalation, but care must be taken that the activities do not lead to problems, such as malfunctioning of the cardiovascular system.

If a pregnant woman feels unwell during inhalations, they should not be continued or repeated.

You can also use a device called a nebulizer for this procedure - a large inhaler that can turn medicines into an aerosol cloud, which, with the right choice of drugs and the permission of the attending physician, can not only affect the cough of a pregnant woman, but treat the diseases that caused it ( bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis).

Healing drink

People with a cough in general should drink as much as possible, as this helps protect the body from dehydration, moisten the airways, help soften and accelerate the removal of sputum from the bronchi. For pregnant women, it is important not only plentiful, but also the right drink.

It is best to give preference to the following means:

    figs (4 pcs.) with milk (700 ml): boil until brown, strain, drink 1/2 cup three times a day;

    chopped onion (500 gr.) with honey (2 tablespoons) and sugar (400 gr.): mix, pour water (1 l), boil for 3 hours, cool, cool, drink warm, 1 tbsp. l. every 2 hours;

    bran (500 gr.) and boiling water (950 ml): brew, cool, drain, drink the entire portion in 2 days;

    raisins (50 gr.) in boiling water (350 ml): leave for 30 minutes, strain, add a few drops of onion juice, drink before going to bed;

    birch buds (100 gr.) with butter (100 gr.): chop, melt for 60 minutes, strain, mix with honey to taste, drink 4 doses per day.

All of these funds are useful and effective, but their use by pregnant women cannot be self-medication. Before implementing the selected recipe, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

The ideal treatment option for a pregnant woman is timely care for her health. Expectant mothers are categorically not recommended to get sick, since the lack of proper therapy and the use of drugs intended to combat cough can harm them. So it is better that the woman does not get sick at all, then she will not have to choose between two equally unsafe options.

Expectorants during pregnancy are a complex of drugs that are distinguished by the naturalness of the constituent components and are not capable of harming the health of the mother and child. Any disease, including a cold, bronchitis, is dangerous not only for a woman who is in position, but also for the fetus. Therefore, the treatment of inflammatory processes in the organs of the respiratory system should be carried out despite the state of pregnancy. The main thing is to do it right. Select only those expectorants that can quickly relieve a woman of coughing and not disrupt the full development of the unborn child.

Every woman who is pregnant should remember that cough is a short-term spasm of the muscles of the chest and abdomen. If the cough is protracted and lasts throughout the day and so for a week, then the tone of the uterus increases. This is a dangerous condition of the reproductive system of a pregnant woman. The likelihood of bleeding increases sharply, which will be very difficult to stop. Perhaps the onset of such undesirable consequences as a violation of the blood supply to the fetus.

With bronchitis and dry cough in pregnant women, internal edema of the organs often occurs, blood pressure rises and most of the protein compounds are lost, which are so necessary for the full formation of the child. The use of expectorants from the first day of the onset of a cough contributes to a speedy recovery and minimization of complications. The treatment process can hardly be called easy, since most of the drugs that have proven effective in combating cough are prohibited for use by women during the period of gestation.

In addition, the lion's share of pharmaceutical drugs negatively affect the immune system of the expectant mother and child. Using drugs prohibited for pregnant women can not only not cure a dry cough and achieve an expectorant effect, but also provoke a complicated form of lung disease in the form of pneumonia of an infectious origin, an allergic reaction, and acute bronchitis. It is also not known how the chemical components of the drugs will affect the respiratory organs of the child.

It has been scientifically proven that 70% of children whose mothers used illegal cough medicines during pregnancy are born with a weak immune system and are prone to chronic lung diseases throughout their lives.

Therefore, the selection of expectorants should be carried out by an obstetrician-gynecologist who monitors the future woman in labor. During pregnancy, every nuance is of great importance for the health of a woman and a child. Depending on the trimester of fetal development, the use of some cough medicines is acceptable, and the use of other drugs is strictly prohibited. All this is known only to a specialized and competent specialist.

A special approach in the treatment of sputum during pregnancy

Intense coughing attacks with the presence of acute bronchitis are treated with expectorants such as Bromhexine, Ambrobene, Ambroxol. Their use is allowed only as a last resort, when weaker drugs do not have the desired therapeutic effect and the risk to the health of the mother is much higher than the prospect of possible harm to the child. These mucolytic drugs can be drunk by pregnant women only if the fetus is already at 6-9 months of its formation.

These expectorants should only be used in the form of syrups. The tablet form of the drug is prohibited for pregnant women. The entire period of treatment of bronchitis or a cold, a woman should be observed by a doctor, who in turn monitors the health of the baby. Medicines containing a substance such as codeine should be avoided. It has a negative effect on the central nervous system of the child and, in its pharmacological properties, resembles low concentration morphine.

Pregnant women who are faced with a cough that has developed as a result of pneumonia and other especially severe forms of respiratory diseases are allowed to use expectorants: Oxeladin, Dastozin, Sinekod. These are strong cough medicines and they are prescribed only for a short course of no more than 5 days. In this case, the pregnancy should proceed already in the last trimester. In earlier periods, suppression of the baby's respiratory system is possible and the risk of inferior lung development increases.

In extreme cases, treatment may be with antibiotics such as:

  • Cefpir;
  • Ampiox;
  • Roxithromycin;
  • Augmentin;
  • Cefotaxime;
  • Azithromycin;
  • Amoxil;
  • Clarithromycin.

All of them can be used when the pregnancy has reached 7-9 months, the woman is sick from severe infectious pneumonia with damage to the bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the doctor may decide to use these antibacterial drugs to cure cough, relieve inflammation, intoxication of the body and achieve an expectorant effect on the respiratory system. After all, all the swelling and accumulation of mucus that occurs in the lungs no less negatively affect the health of the child than the active components of potent antibiotics.

Expectorants approved for pregnant women

There are certain ones that are allowed to be taken during pregnancy, regardless of the timing of gestation. They are distinguished by their simplicity and safety, but their main disadvantage is that they are effective only for colds and coughs without a strong inflammatory process. These funds include:


In the process of selecting an expectorant for the treatment of cough in pregnant women, a specialist should always take into account the severity of the disease and not discard the risk of a possible complication. Therefore, even after a successful selection of medicine, a woman should periodically visit a general practitioner and gynecologist in order to monitor her health and the development of her child.

More than 75% of pregnant women experience complications in the form of a cough after suffering from SARS. Untimely and incorrect therapy can cause many complications. But the process of treating cough in pregnant women is a rather difficult task, since most pharmacological products are prohibited in this period of time.

Every expectant mother should know what expectorants are possible during pregnancy, what methods of treatment can speed up the process of safe recovery.

Weakened immune system during pregnancy leads to the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the oral mucosa. Pathogenic microorganisms contribute to an increase in the "secretory fluid" in the lungs and a decrease in the activity of ciliated epithelial cells.

As a result, the produced bronchial secret increases in volume, and its progress towards the pharynx slows down. Mucus accumulates in the bronchi, which becomes favorable environment for the reproduction of pathological microflora. The body itself can not get rid of mucus and "call for help" cough.

For reference! The ciliated epithelium is responsible for the promotion of bronchial mucus. Every day, a secretory fluid is formed in the bronchi, which protects them from pathogens and dust microparticles.

The choice of means to facilitate expectoration is carried out taking into account the duration of pregnancy and the nature of the cough

What is the danger of coughing during pregnancy

You should not treat cough as a harmless phenomenon and let the treatment take its course. Neglect can become the cause of many pathological processes, among which:

  • pneumonia. The therapeutic regimen for the treatment of the disease implies the presence of a group of bactericidal drugs. Antibiotic therapy at an early stage can cause anagenesis of congenital developmental anomalies, at a late stage it can provoke premature labor;
  • the development of defects in a child can cause a bacterial type infection that provokes intrauterine infection of the fetus;
  • frequent bouts of coughing increase uterine tone, which creates a threat of spontaneous abortion;
  • with a low location of the placenta, coughing increases the load on the latter. Increased, constant pressure on the placenta can cause placental abruption.

Possible cough treatment options

Expectorant cough during pregnancy requires exposure to safe drugs. Drugs - mucolytics, with a pronounced expectorant effect completely are excluded from the therapeutic regimen during the period of bearing a child due to the high risk of possible complications.

Consultation with your doctor will allow you to choose the best therapy. Having studied the individual characteristics of the patient, the specialist will determine what can be expectorant during pregnancy. In practice, a choice is made in favor of medicinal products, which contain components of plant origin.

Important! Throughout pregnancy, it is strictly forbidden to use drugs that affect the respiratory neurons of the center of the brain ("Codeine" and drugs with a similar composition). Treatment with these medicines can provoke severe poisoning of the fetus with active substances.

Regardless of the gestational age of pregnancy, the specialist chooses a method of treatment with minimal impact on the fetus. A positive result can be achieved with complex therapy, including:

  1. Pharmaceutical products.
  2. Inhalations.
  3. Physiotherapy.
  4. Herbal medicine.

Drugs acceptable for the treatment of cough in pregnant women do not always act quickly, but they are quite safe and effective.

Among the permitted expectorants during pregnancy in the 1st trimester, it is worth highlighting:

  • syrup"" based on plantain extract. The active ingredients of the drug contribute to an increase in sputum secretion and a decrease in its viscosity, coughing attacks are reduced;

Gerbion syrup, if desired, can be washed down with water or warm tea

  • , has a pronounced expectorant, antispasmodic, immunostimulating, enveloping effect. It is quite effective in the treatment of pneumonia, bronchial asthma;
  • combined drug "Doctor Mom". An excellent antitussive agent, effectively affects a protracted, irritating cough syndrome, helps to thin thick sputum;
  • "", an antiviral and immunomodulatory agent. Helps to cope with infections, activates a productive cough (sputum discharge).

In the period from 13 to 27 weeks (2nd trimester) the use of mucolytic drugs is allowed with severe cough syndrome. Among the relatively safe pharmacological products, doctors prefer "", the active ingredient of which is the perennial herbaceous plant marshmallow.

3rd trimester is characterized by the full maturation of the child therefore, drugs of almost all drug groups can be prescribed. Medicines with a natural composition are still the priority means.

Biological and synthetic drugs can only be prescribed when the risk to the health of the mother outweighs the potential threat to the fetus.

Important! Herbal medicines should only be prescribed by a doctor and taken with caution, as the likelihood of an allergic reaction in a pregnant woman increases.

Treatment with folk methods

Traditional medicine is often used as an alternative way to treat cough during pregnancy. When choosing this method, it should be understood that folk remedies cope with cough syndrome quite effectively, but it will take a little more time than with pharmacological therapy.

The unconditional difference between folk medicine is absolute safety for the child. An effective folk expectorant during pregnancy, which is worth highlighting, is a warm, plentiful drink.

The choice of options is plentiful. Depending on the preferences of the pregnant woman and the recommendations of a specialist, you can drink tea with lemon or honey, milk with butter and bee products, linden tea, etc.

Positive dynamics of treatment can be achieved with the help of steam with essential oils. Esters of eucalyptus, thyme or thyme oil contribute to liquefying sputum.

To prepare a water bath, you need to take a container with water brought to a boil (1 liter) and dissolve a few drops of essential oil in it. Duration of the procedure should not exceed ten minutes.

Important! At elevated body temperature, inhalation treatment is prohibited.

You can use expectorant herbs to prepare decoctions. Pharmacies sell both multicomponent medicinal preparations and individual types of herbs. Should be given during pregnancy preference plantain, chamomile, linden, sage.

The doctor will help you choose the right expectorants. Only in this case, a pregnant woman can count on effective and safe treatment. Accurate adherence to prescriptions and dosing will speed up the healing process, which does not affect the intrauterine development of the baby.

Pregnancy is undoubtedly one of the happiest periods in the life of every woman. Every woman hopes and believes that no matter what happens to her, it will in no way affect her unborn child. And also tries to keep herself from the most dangerous, in her opinion, misfortunes. However, one should also worry about minor troubles in the form of illness.

What is the danger of a common cough

Due to the fact that a pregnant woman cannot isolate herself from society throughout her pregnancy, she easily picks up simple diseases like a cold, acute respiratory diseases, which can cause a number of especially dangerous consequences for both the mother and the unborn child. One of the most common complications after a mother's illness is intrauterine hypoxia in an infant.

One of the symptoms of a cold is a cough. Even after other symptoms of the disease have disappeared, the cough may remain and not go away for quite some time. Since almost any medication is prohibited for pregnant women, because they can cause irreparable harm to the health of the baby, pregnant women need to carefully choose methods of treating and preventing diseases. The best way of treatment are folk remedies.

It is very important to especially closely monitor the health of a pregnant woman at the very beginning of pregnancy, since any sneeze can adversely affect the nascent fetus. If a woman suffers from a strong cough, and the fetus is below normal, forming placenta previa, a woman may experience severe bleeding. Since the immune system of a pregnant woman is weakened, the accumulated sputum is not expectorated. This, in turn, is fraught with sputum entering the lungs and developing pneumonia, then into acute bronchitis and, finally, asthma. That is why, at the first slight cough, it is worth immediately taking up treatment.

Inhalation as an expectorant during pregnancy

The cough always starts dry. For the prevention of dry cough, a nebulizer is suitable for pregnant women. If your first-aid kit does not have such a device, you can do ordinary inhalations, inhaling and exhaling the steam from the decoction, covering your head with a thick towel.

Decoctions may be different. Garlic, onions, potatoes, herbs are well suited for such treatment. You need to be sure what kind of cough you have in order to choose the right ingredients for the decoction. For a dry cough, chamomile, thyme, linden, sage, plantain, marshmallow and St. John's wort are perfect. They promote mucus secretion. For the treatment of wet cough, plantain and string are also suitable, but it is better to change herbs to lingonberries, eucalyptus or coltsfoot.

In addition to inhalations, you can drink the same decoctions, but before you start taking herbal decoctions inside, you should consult with your doctor, as some herbs can provoke a miscarriage.

Here are a few recipes for inhalation without a nebulizer:

After inhalation, it is not recommended to eat, drink, talk and go outside. The best thing is to go to bed immediately after the procedure. However, women suffering from various forms and manifestations of allergies are not recommended to use them. Also, inhalation is contraindicated if you have a fever. Maximum - a small amount of oil can be applied to clothing to inhale. Some oils are toxic, choose oils very carefully and generally do not abuse this type of treatment. Basically, it is recommended to use lavender, cedar, lime, rosemary oils. Asterisk will serve as an alternative to oils, however, and you need to be careful with it.

Rinse and drink plenty of water - expectorants during pregnancy

In cases where it is not possible to cough up, it is necessary to gargle at least once an hour. With a dry cough and inflamed mucous membrane, this procedure is especially useful. It is necessary to gargle at least 8 times a day, preferably after meals. The usual solution with salt and soda is fine. An herbal decoction can be used if desired.

Drinking plenty of water is the best expectorant. So that it does not affect the fetus in any way, it is necessary to select hypoallergenic products. As an option - tea with lemon, fruit drink, herbal decoction, warm milk.

Warm milk perfectly eliminates excess accumulated sputum. Honey and butter are also good in this. In case of a strong cough, you need to use birch sap with the addition of milk, flour and starch to it. Be sure to monitor your reaction to each of the drugs used.

You can also add figs to the milk and insist until the milk turns brown. Consume warm.

You can cook a decoction of the following ingredients: onions, honey, sugar, boil for three hours, let cool and drink.

In order for sputum to go away faster, you can prepare a liquidish puree with the addition of butter, onions, garlic and milk. This recipe is well suited for women with chronic cough.

Cough syrups during pregnancy

Various medications, as a rule, are not advised to women during pregnancy, as they contain a huge amount of all kinds of chemical components that can lead to various types of complications and become a threat to the child.

Do not use the following drugs:

  1. Gedelix.
  2. Plantain syrup.
  3. Doctor Mom.
  4. Mukaltin.

During the period of bearing a child, one should be very careful about the treatment and, without unnecessary need, do not use preparations containing chemical additives and flavorings to improve the taste. Folk remedies in this matter work more correctly, but in any case, before starting treatment, consult a specialist doctor to avoid unwanted complications.