Under normal circumstances, dealing with a sore throat can be unpleasant and painful. So, if you’re suffering from a sore throat during pregnancy or when you are breastfeeding, it is understandable to worry about the potential risks. As this can be distressing, you’re worried about what you can do to treat your sore throat pain while you’re pregnant. You may also wonder if using Strepsils in pregnancy is safe.
Pregnancy brings about significant changes to your body, and there are several new considerations to keep in mind. Expectant mothers are more vulnerable to colds and flu1 because the immune system is weak. Breastfeeding is also a drain on the immune system and weakens it. Although a cold during pregnancy isn't always serious, medications that may have been effective for treating a sore throat before may not be safe for your child2. There are a couple of things that you need to think about if you have a sore throat whilst breastfeeding.
Is it Safe When You’re Pregnant or Breastfeeding?
Strepsils lozenge is one remedy that may come to mind while treating sore throats. It's crucial to keep in mind that you should only take prescription medications during pregnancy if your doctor has approved them. There is insufficient information or studies available about Strepsils use by pregnant or nursing mothers. It's best to speak with your doctor beforehand to make sure utilizing it is safe.
If you suffer from a sore throat during pregnancy or whilst you are breastfeeding, there are many easy ways and home remedies for you to treat the first signs of a sore throat without resorting to any medication.
When a sore throat is at an early stage, it is especially easy to relieve the symptoms using home remedies1.
- Gargle with salt water to ease your sore throat
- Drink warm drinks especially teas that help to ease a sore throat such as ginger/chamomile tea + a teaspoonful of honey. Caution: the water should be warm. If it is too hot, the beneficial properties will be destroyed
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Use air humidifiers
- Get your saliva flowing, for example by sucking lozenges
- Inhale steam to ease throat inflammation
- Take a hot bath - or a warm bath if you are pregnant
- Keep warm
Even if your sore throat has not completely disappeared after a couple of days, you can continue to use home remedies to treat a sore throat for as long as you need to.
How to Prevent Sore Throats2
There are a couple of things to remember to minimise the risk of sore throats and thus any resulting difficulties in swallowing during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.
- Eat a balanced diet - plenty of fruit and vegetables.
- Get a good night’s sleep - eight hours per day is usually enough for most people.
- Get plenty of exercise - outdoors is best.
- Try to avoid stress - even if daily life is often stressful, you can try to develop ways of relaxing.
- Generally avoid active and passive smoking if you are pregnant.
- Strengthen your immune system - it’s easy to do this with home remedies, like fruit smoothies, to boost your defences.
- Drink plenty of fluids to keep your pharynx lubricated.
- Ensure there is a good indoor climate - avoid draughts and ensure there is sufficient humidity.
- Naturally, if possible, you should also avoid close contact with others who have colds.