Cough & Cold
One of the ways your body protects your growing baby is by suppressing your immune system so your body supports rather than attacks your fetus. While it’s great protection for your baby, it increases the odds you’ll catch the common cold.
All of those tips about staying well when you aren’t pregnant are even more important when you are pregnant. It’s a good reminder to wash your hands before eating, don’t touch your face, eat a healthy diet, get enough rest, exercise a little every day.
But, if you’re reading this link, odds are you are fighting a bug of some kind. These supplements are what we recommend to help you recover from everything from the common cold to Covid.
Most people will not take “all of these” but take the ones that make sense to you for your family and your health.
Supplements and Immune Support
Vitamin C. Two well-known, effective vitamin C supplements are Airborne, Emergen-C. Some local midwives take Raspberry Emergen-C with Elderberry Syrup every day during flu season to stay well.
Vitamin D3 is also an important supplement for immune support. D3 should be taken for general immune support, and doubled when sick. See dosage below: supplement / sick
Infant/toddler 800 iu / 1600 iu
School age 2000 iu / 4000 iu
Older child / teens 4000 iu / 8000 iu
Boiron Gemmotherapy - This refers to herbal extracts made from buds or shoots of young plants. You can get these at Sprouts, Whole Foods, or online
Briar Rose - stimulates immunity, excellent ENT remedy for respiratory symptoms.
Lithy Tree - used for any bronchial condition, bronchospasm, helps establish normal respiratory function.
Dosage for each of these: once a day as a preventative, 2-3 times a day during acute illness:
Infants: 5-8 drops
Children age 3-8: 12-15 drops
Older children & adults: 25 drops
Colloidal Silver - Effective anti-mocobial, multiple mechanisms of action. Effective against odor forming bacteria, mold, and fungus. Recommended as an add-on supplement if viral illness is progressing into yellow drainage, earache/otitis, sore throat.
Dosage: no more than 10 ppm. 2-3 times per day combined with other supplements
Infants/toddlers: 1/4 tsp
Young School Age: 1/2 tsp
Teens and Adults: 1 tsp
Essential Oils -
Thieves Essential Oil (Young Living) is a well-researched immune support oil. Apply it to the soles of your feet each night before bed, or add to a carrier oil and rub down your spine. You can add it to a tablespoon of coconut oil so it is not hot on your skin. *
Thieves Cough Drops / Thieves Throat Lozenges (Young Living). Like the oil, these lozenges and cough drops have essential oils in them that are supportive of your immune system. *
Vitamin C - General immune support.
Dosage - School Age Children, teens and adults -
Immune Support - 1000 mg daily for immune support
Illness - 2000-5000 mg
Elderberry Syrup. Many people take Elderberry syrup for cough and immune support. Homemade is fine. There are also tinctures available. Follow directions on the bottle.
ImmunoPRP (Proline Rich Polypeptides) is a purified colostrum derivative that modulates TH1 and TH2 cells. TH1 cells are the first responders to viruses. TH2 cells are increased in allergy and vaccines. It is also known that TH2 cell dominance increases your risk of activating TH17 cells which are high in Autoimmune Diseases. So, for many reasons, ImmunoPRP is being added to our suggested list of general immune support.
Dosage:
Young child 1-2 sprays once a day. Increase to 2x per day if sick
Older kids / adults can take it as a capsule. Children diagnosed with allergies and autoimmune disease may find benefit in using immunoPRP as part of their treatment plan.
Eucalyptus tincture, or Eucalyptus essential oil. The tincture can be taken orally. The essential oil can be diffused bedside while you sleep. If you use the essential oil, make sure it is organic and therapeutic grade. *
Probiotics - Gut health is important in order to stay well. Probiotics help with digestion, detox, And B vitamin production. Eat fermented foods or take a multi-strain probiotic at lease a few times a week.
Dosage
Infants 5 billion cfu
Young children 10 billion cfu
older children & adults 25 billion cfu
Garlic capsules may have antiviral / antibiotic properties
Garlic + Lemon + Honey: Dice 1 clove of garlic, squeeze in the juice of 1 whole lemon, add 1 TBL of honey. Store in a bowl or jar. Take a full teaspoon every couple of hours while you have symptoms.
Echinacea & Goldenseal (3 capsules 4x daily for 4 days; 2 capsules 4 x daily for 4 days)
NeilMed sinus Rinse: Irrigate your sinuses daily with something like NeilMed sinus irrigation bottle.
Hot Tea: Mankua honey in tea (or by itself) may both coat your throat and support immune health by fighting bacteria / viruses associated with cold & flu.
* We only use oils that we are sure are pure, therapeutic grade. Our preferred brand is Young Living because they have control of the land, seed, soil, and all of the processes from “soil to oil” and “seed to seal”. If you prefer a different brand, please be very vigilant about doing your research. If you want to order Young Living oils through us, we are happy to extend our wholesale cost to you — for now, and for all future uses as well.
Other Options
Chiropractic care
Acupuncture
Massage Therapy
Steam room / humidifier
Consult with a nutritional therapist or alternative health practitioner. We recommend Kathy Kiger for nutritional therapy. Her phone number is; 214.300.5278
We recommend The Well Nut wellness store for natural remedies. Main Street, Frisco.
Over The Counter Medications
Pain & Fever
Tylenol / Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is the main ingredient in Tylenol and many other pain medicines. It's one of the only pain relievers recommended to pregnant women for pain or fever. Even though it is viewed as safe during pregnancy there are some studies that indicate it may have some risks for the baby after birth. If you can manage your fever without it, we recommend avoiding Tylenol.
The usual dose is 650 mg. Take every 4 hours, as needed, up to 4 times in a 24-hour period. Do not take more than 4,000 mg in a 24-hour period. Do not take more than 2 days a week without consulting your midwife (webmd).
Congestion
Antihistamines: Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and Loratidine (Claritin) appear to be safe during pregnancy.
Avoid pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). It may be associated with birth defects involving baby's abdominal wall.
Avoid Ibuprofen as it may be associated with congenital heart defects in the baby.
Avoid decongestants (such as phenylephrine). They affect blood flow to the placenta and should generally be avoided throughout your pregnancy.
Cough
Dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and Guaifenesin (an expectorant) both appear to be safe during pregnancy.
Call your Midwife if:
You do not experience any relief from the remedies above
You have a fever above 100.4
You have a headache that is unusual
You are unable to stay hydrated
You have swelling in your hands or face
You have pain in the upper part of your abdomen on the righ
