How to Treat Flu in Pregnant Woman
Flu treatment for pregnant women should not be done carelessly. That's because there are some medicines that can harm the fetus in the womb. Doing the wrong treatment, including the use of herbal medicines can also make the flu worse, and can even cause other disorders. Therefore you need to know how to treat flu in pregnant woman that is safe.
Usually flu symptoms in pregnant women are similar to other people in general. Symptoms include runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever and headache. Even so, flu in pregnant women has a higher risk of complications, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
In addition, several studies have also stated that severe flu in pregnant women if not treated immediately can increase several risks including premature labor, low birth weight babies, and even fetal death.
How to Treat Flu in Pregnant Woman Naturally
Flu in pregnant women with mild symptoms can be overcome in several natural ways. When you have the flu, pregnant women can try the following ways to deal with it:
- Meet the fluid needs in the body by drinking water, fruit juice, or warm tea. In addition, to relieve flu symptoms, pregnant women can also try drinking ginger tea.
- Eat warm foods, such as chicken soup or porridge.
- Get enough rest.
- Keep the air fresh by using a humidifier and stay away from cigarette smoke. This method is good enough to relieve a stuffy nose.
- Gargle using a mixture of warm water and salt to relieve coughs and sore throats.
If after trying these methods but the flu symptoms experienced by pregnant women have not subsided, pregnant women can take medicines. However, before taking any medication, remember to consult a doctor first so that you can get medicines that are safe for consumption for pregnant women.
Actually taking medicines such as cold medicine during pregnancy is not recommended, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. That's because at this time is an important period for the development of fetal organs. In addition, during the first trimester pregnant women are also more prone to miscarriage.
After more than 12 weeks of gestation, if pregnant women feel the need to take cold medicine, choose drugs that are safe for pregnant women as recommended by the doctor.
Consumption of medicine to relieve other flu symptoms, such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and coughing, but you should first consult with your doctor. That way doctors can give flu medicine for pregnant women that is safe for the womb and fetus.
How to Prevent Flu during Pregnancy
Flu in pregnant women can be prevented in several ways. As for some ways that pregnant women can do to prevent flu during pregnancy are as follows:
- Regulate a diet with balanced nutritious foods.
- Get enough rest that is sleep for 7 to 9 hours every day.
- Exercise regularly.
- Controls stress well.
- Wash your hands often and don't touch your nose, mouth and eyes when your hands are dirty.
- Limit or avoid contact with people who are sick with the flu.
- Wear a mask when meeting other people or when you are in public.
- Get the influenza vaccine.
Also read articles about: How to Prevent Flu during winter.
Flu experienced by pregnant women should be handled with care, especially if flu symptoms do not subside after 4 days. Likewise, if the flu that appears is accompanied by other symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up phlegm greenish yellow or bloody.
That's how to treat flu in pregnant woman that I can share. If the flu symptoms experienced by pregnant women are severe and do not improve, you should immediately consult with your doctor to get the right treatment according to the flu conditions experienced by pregnant women.