Head cold ... making me crazy - I can't breathe. Harmful to baby?
I am 34 weeks, and if breathing wasn't hard enough because of the baby smashing my lungs, I am now going on day 5 of a massive cold that has my sinuses all blocked up. I can't breathe through my nose and my ears are plugged. My doctor said I could take 1 Sudafed but I've found it does nothing to help me. I can supposedly take Benadryl and Actifed too, but I don't have that on hand.
Anyway - this may be a stupid question, but is 5 days a lot for a cold? This is seriously the worst cold I've ever had in my life -- I'm usually quite healthy (thankfully) and colds typically last 2-3 days for me. This one is throwing me for a loop. How long is too long for a cold? I go to the OBGYN for my next appointment on Monday, so I guess I will just ask about it then. I just don't want to harm the baby. I don't think a cold will ... but I don't know?
I may be babbling and this post might be ridiculous, but I felt like posting it anyway. was in bed but couldn't breathe so came online. I hope everyone is having a good night.
Re: Head cold ... making me crazy - I can't breathe. Harmful to baby?
Have you tried using a vaporizer? Vics on your chest? I used a kettle of hot water and took deep breaths over it and the steam felt SO GOOD! (in addition to the over the counter meds recommended.) Were you told to only take one? I was told you could take the recommended dosage on meds.....
Run your shower really hot (not taking one in it of course!) and just close your bathroom door and breathe in the steam.
The most important thing though is REST AND FLUIDS! Easier said than done, I know! Get some lemon-tea, breath in the steam and drink up! Have some hot cocoa, juices, water....I had a doozy of a cold earlier in my preg. (around the time I had to sing for a few performances! ) The steam stuff along with rest REALLY helped....And about harming the baby, a simple cold won't harm the baby-just get your rest and fluids and all will be GREAT!
Hope this helps you!
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Last edited by packerfan4ever; 03-10-2005 at 08:47 PM.
Re: Head cold ... making me crazy - I can't breathe. Harmful to baby?
im not as far along as you but i have a bad cold too, i have a vaporizor,vicks vapor rub, and cough drops, and thats all, it actually seems to be helping, im 2 scared to take anything, im only 8 weeks
Re: Head cold ... making me crazy - I can't breathe. Harmful to baby?
I had the flu, upper respiratory infection and sinus infection all at the same time a couple weeks ago. The sinus infection in particular hung on forever and I was sick for at least 2 1/2 weeks. The only things to be concerned about with having a cold while pregnant are fevers (approaching 102) and dehydration. Make sure you take your temperature regularly and regulate it with Tylenol if it creeps up. Also, like the other poster mentioned, drink lots of clear fluids, even if you don't feel like it. As far as meds, my doctor recommended Robitussin (plain, not the ones with the initials), Sudafed (if it has acetominaphen already in it, don't take Tylenol with it), and over-the-counter cough drops. The Vicks Vapor Rub helps too. Hope you feel better soon.
Re: Head cold ... making me crazy - I can't breathe. Harmful to baby?
I had a nasty one that hung on for probably almost 2 weeks back in december....ended up going to the doctor to get checked out....also had a sinus infection so I wound up on antibiotics....and he gave me some allergy medicine to control the cold.....(I found that odd but hey it worked!)
Head cold ... making me crazy - I can't breathe. Harmful to baby? 
) The steam stuff along with rest REALLY helped....And about harming the baby, a simple cold won't harm the baby-just get your rest and fluids and all will be GREAT!
