Getting sick is the worst, right? When you’re a parent, it’s especially hard to take any rest and relaxation, so anything you can do to cope, cure or speed up the process is pretty appealing. When you’re pregnant – UGH. It’s the pits.
I mean, even running basic errands while feeling sick is almost too much to handle!
A few things that are always worth doing when you’re pregnant and sick:
- get plenty of sleep at night (especially if resting during the day is impossible)
- drinking plenty of fluids
- washing hands religiously
- taking time off from exercise
8 Natural Pregnancy-Approved Cures for Cold Season
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
For: colds, sore throats, congestion
Why: It soothes a sore throat and helps loosen nasal mucus, plus has the healing compounds of vegetables. Plus, itโs delicious and gentle on the stomach.
How: Make it. Eat it.
Real Ginger
For: Upset stomach
Why: Ginger reduces inflammation, increases circulation and relaxes the intestines.
How: Did you know that most ginger ale doesnโt is actually a mixture of high fructose corn syrup and natural flavors. It doesnโt even contain real ginger. So either find an ale that contains the real stuff, boil ginger root to create a tea, chew on real ginger or try taking ginger capsules.
Peppermint
For: Upset stomach
Why: The compounds in peppermint activate an anti-pain channel in the colon, reducing discomfort.
How: Taking peppermint capsules, chewing peppermint gum or make peppermint tea using fresh leaves and adding boiling water until it steeps into a tea.
Garlic
For: Sore throat
Why: Garlic is a natural anti-biotic
How: Peel a clove and suck on it, slightly squeezing it without crushing for 10 minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day. It will help kill bacteria causing a sore throat that resides in the mouth and throat
Salt Water Gargle
For: Sore throat
Why: It reduces swelling of the throat, loosens mucus and can help flush out irritants and bacteria.
How: Dissolve 1/2 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water. Gargle the solution for several seconds before spitting it out. Repeat 4-5 times during a day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
For: Strengthening immune system (among other things)
Why: It breaks up and loosens mucus, acts as a natural expectorant and the malic acid in apple cider vinegar acts as a strong anti-viral.
How: Mix 1 Tbsp apple cider in a large glass of hot water. Add a squeeze of lemon and honey. Mix well and sip 2-3 times a day at the first sign of a cold.
Steam
For: Congestion
Why: The moist heat helps loosen congestion so you can get it out. It will also moisten your nasal passages and airways.
How: A hot shower or you can boil water and carefully put your face over it to breathe in the steam. Be careful as not to burn yourself.
Lemon & Hot Honey Water
For: Sore throat, colds, congestions
Why: The vitamin C in the lemon and the coating, anti-bacterial properties of honey will help kick the cold germs while coating and soothing your irritated throat. The hot liquid helps break up and loosen mucus.
How: Squeeze then drop half a lemon into a large mug. Add 1 Tbsp of raw honey and fill with boiling water. Sip and repeat and often as needed.
And do your best to take care of your whole self: body and soul.
[Tweet “What natural remedies to you swear by when cold season hits?”]
alex says
I used ginger like you wouldn’t believe when I was pregnant. It really helps! I am bookmarking this for whenever I am pregnant with my second – this is great advice! Not sure I can do the garlic one, though lol!
Elizabeth @ my neon running shoes says
Glad y’all are getting better! We have had terrible colds but luckily no stomach bug!
Whitney says
That has to be the worst being sick during pregnancy and not really getting to take medicine. I just got over a cold last week and my mother definitely made me gargle with salt water. It does make your throat feel much better. Other than that I take OTC medicine that is pretty much going to give me liver damage haha ๐ Glad you are on the mend!!
Anastasia says
I’ve used all these (minus the soup). Whenever I’m starting to feel bad I go for the garlic and a big mug of hot water, honey, and ginger. Hope you feel better soon!
jodi says
Glad team Dixon is on its way to recovery and were totally happy to help! Hailey is such a sweet little girl, we would love to have her again anytime! So funny, when we went to the store later, we were buying our favorite apples and Avery suggested we make sure to get an extra for Hailey bc she likes them too! ๐
Love all of your natural suggestions even for the non-pregnant lady!!
One of my best friends and old partner at work swears by the wet sock trick/treatment for congestion and/or fever. She has used it on her kids and herself for a while now. ( your would have to buy kids size wool socks if you wanted to try it on Hailey) I honestly always say i am going to do it and then forget until its the middle of the night and then I am too tired to get up and do it! I googled it for ya and here’s a random website with instructionsโฆ Its supposed to rev the immune system, sounds totally crazy, but google it! ‘wet socks trick’ or ‘wet socks
treatment’http://www.heartlandnaturopathic.com/coldsock.htm
Rachel says
Ok ok, so there may be no actual ginger in Vernor’s Ginger Ale but I swear it works! Growing up in Michigan it was our go-to for upset tummies. My mom or grandma would pour us a tiny glass & like magic our upset stomach would settle ;). Detroit original ftw!
Rachel says
Hold up! Wiki-answers says Vernor’s DOES have real ginger in it!
Hanna says
I’m sorry that you’re still feeling lousy. Stomach bugs take some time to recover from! I love your post today. I’m always looking for natural remedys to boost my two daugther’s immune systems ๐
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
All great ones! We use a few of these as well. I’ve also started trying a few essential oils – so far, I’m loving them!
Maria says
When I was young, my mom used to rub Vix Vapor Rub on my chest for congestion and top it with a warm cloth. There are tons of all natural recipes for it online, using coconut or olive oil and essential oils.
Knock on wood, since I moved out West 7 years ago, I haven’t been sick. At all. Except when I was nanny. Darn those kid germs ๐
christina says
i am all about the natural remedies. love this list! definitely something to bookmark. so glad i know your smart ass. hahaah
Morgan says
The timing on this is SO perfect. I have my first head cold of my pregnancy and I feel lost without being able to use my normal Dayquil/sinus congestion medicines. Feel better and thanks for the suggestions@
Ashley @ Power, Love, and Self-Discipline says
Such great tips, whether pregnant or not. Would much rather use natural foods/herbs!
Emily S says
I used the Neti Pot to stave off sinus-related stuff and it really helped!
When I was like 35 or 36 weeks pregnant with Avery (I think – it was very late in the game) I got the stomach flu. HOLY CRAP I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. Here I was pregnant and about to pop, and I also had a toddler to take care of, sicker than I had probably ever been. I had to call my dad to come up for a day and take of Parker b/c I seriously couldn’t move save vomiting in the toilet.
All this to say – it sucks being sick and preggo!
Avery @ YoungAspirations says
Great post idea! I was just sick last week with a bad cold, and then as soon as I thought it was over, I got this dry cough that STILL won’t go away. I tried the salt water, tea with honey (doing that daily anyhow), chicken noodle soup and even orange juice with honey because I read that could help! These things worked temporarily but at night it got worse and I wasn’t able to get to sleep because of all the coughing. After no luck and basically hacking up a lung I eventually caved and got some Robitussin DM, which was approved by OB. I don’t really enjoy the medicine either but it seems like being pregnant makes illnesses even harder to get rid of! Do love these suggestions though ๐ I need to start using the Apple Cider Vinegar!
Annette@FitnessPerks says
Being sick is the worst. Hope you feel better soon!
I swear there are magical properties in chicken noodle soup, lemon/honey tea, and essential oils. Those always cure me!
Andrea Seaner says
Definitely home made chicken broth! I also swear by this honey/lemon/coconut oil mix:
http://thecoconutmama.com/2013/01/honey-and-lemon-cough-syrup-with-coconut-oil/
You can slurp it by the spoonful or put in your tea. It’s even safe for kids, I gave some to my 2 year old for his cough and it really helped! Sometimes when I’m desperate to not get sick, I’ll eat spoonfuls of coconut oil right out of the jar. Gross, but I swear it works!
I also like kombucha when I’m sick, get the Trilogy with ginger even better.
Danica @ It's Progression says
This is an awesome list, Brittany! My go-to when I’m sick is always ginger, especially chews. It always helps a lot.
I hope you’re back to feeling like your normal (or at least normal pregnant) self soon! ๐
Brandee says
Your soup looks delicious- are you going to share the recipe?
Also, there is a Baby Doodah (ad?) that is covering up some of your text and you can’t read all of what you are posting.
Thanks!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
I hope you are feeling better asap!! I love this. I need to bookmark it. One of us always end up with some sort of yuck this time of the year!
Jessica says
It’s funny that you posted this. I had just been searching your site the day before to find out what you put in your apple cider vinegar drink.
My husband just got sick over the weekend with a sinus/cold thing. So of course, two days later I started feeling that burning and swelling in my nasal cavity that I know all too well. I start drinking the apple cider vinegar drink ASAP! I also made sure I was being consistent with my vitamins that my doctor recommended for me while we’re going through IVF (C, E, omega 3, calcium, and D). I threw in some zinc too since it’s supposed help shorten colds.
I’m happy to say I never got more than a sore throat for a few mornings while my husband is still dealing with congestion a week later. ย I’m now a believer in the apple cider vinegar drink!ย
Charlotte says
Hi Brittany some great tips here, a few weeks ago when I was feeling a bit rough I more or less lived on chicken soup, so I kow that helps.
Going to make a note of a few tps that you have got on here that I haven’t tried yet.
Thanks
kaise kare says
I really suffering from cough even i have finished a lots of cough syrup.but still not getting relief.
Now ur natural remedy,i am going to use..ma last hope:(