This article was professionally consulted by Doctor Nguyen Thi Man - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
Coughing is a common symptom during pregnancy, which can be related to respiratory diseases or just a symptom of irritation in the throat area. So, does a cough in pregnant women affect the development of the fetus? Below is the answer from obstetrician and gynecologist Nguyen Thi Man from Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
1. How does coughing affect the fetus?
Coughing leads to chest tightness, causing fatigue and pain for pregnant women, which can lead to loss of appetite, insomnia, weakness, and slow fetal development.
Prolonged, continuous, and strong coughing will stimulate uterine contractions, causing early miscarriage or threatening premature birth in a nearly full-term fetus.
Coughing can be a sign of infection in the mother's body. If not detected promptly, it will affect the development of the fetus, sometimes causing sudden loss of fetal heart rate.
2. Causes of cough in pregnant women
Respiratory tract infections caused by bacteria (pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia): Usually there will be fever, cough with phlegm. This cause needs to be treated with antibiotics.
Upper respiratory tract infections caused by viruses: Pregnant women will cough with a runny nose, headache, with or without fever. To treat this cause, the main thing is to increase the resistance of pregnant women.
Cough caused by allergies, due to irritation in the throat area. Pregnant women in this case need to avoid irritants such as strange smells, dust, pet hair, ...
3. Why are pregnant women prone to cough?
The resistance of pregnant women is too weak, along with changes in hormones in the body during pregnancy, which are conditions for bacteria and viruses to enter the body and cause diseases in pregnant women.
Sensitive to weather changes: the time of changing seasons, especially autumn and winter, winter and spring, sudden changes in temperature, cold wind are also the causes of diseases that cause cough symptoms.
During pregnancy, the uterus will put pressure on the abdomen, causing gastric reflux, which is also a cause of cough in pregnant women.
4. Things pregnant women with coughs should pay attention to
The diet should include foods rich in vitamin C, spices with warming properties, foods to improve the body's resistance such as ginger, onions, garlic, lemongrass, turmeric. Increase water intake, eat fruits such as oranges, tangerines, kumquats, grapes, etc. Avoid cold foods, fried foods, etc.
Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, do not overexert yourself.
Limit going to crowded places, places with cold wind.
Keep your body clean, gargle with saline. You should bathe with warm water, bathe quickly, dry quickly to avoid catching a cold. Keep your body warm with socks, scarves.
Absolutely do not use drugs without a doctor's prescription, especially antibiotics.
When you have a persistent cough, especially accompanied by fever, phlegm, chest pain, etc., you should quickly go to the hospital for examination and specific monitoring and treatment instructions from a specialist. Mothers should be fully vaccinated with all vaccines for pregnant women to protect the health of mother and baby.
When the cough lasts, accompanied by fever, phlegm, etc., pregnant women should quickly go to the hospital for examination and specific treatment instructions. This entire process at Vinmec International General Hospital is strictly implemented so that mothers can have the safest pregnancy
The Obstetrics Department of Vinmec International General Hospital has been highly appreciated by customers for its professional quality and professional care services.
Comprehensive care for mothers and babies: Comprehensive health care for mothers and babies, from before - during - after pregnancy; prenatal and postnatal screening for newborns and mothers; heel blood test; full maternity package; pre-marital examination; prenatal care and counseling; umbilical cord blood storage.
Babies are cared for from birth: immediately after crying, the baby is placed skin-to-skin with the mother, the father cuts the umbilical cord himself and is monitored and cared for in the intensive care room for 12 hours to detect early signs of temporary respiratory failure or other diseases. The baby is fully vaccinated. The delivery team not only has obstetricians and midwives but also pediatricians on duty to monitor and handle any problems that arise for the baby during birth.
Modern, advanced techniques: Painless delivery with special anesthesia techniques. Treatment and care of extremely premature babies < 27 weeks - Vinmec is the only hospital in the North that can save premature babies born at 24 weeks.
Outstanding equipment: The hospital room is designed according to international hotel standards, modern equipment such as: specialized transport incubators with ventilators, blood suction, pressure-controlled oxygen tube squeezing; deafness screening machine, brain cooling machine to treat asphyxiated babies; CFM brain function monitor; 5-parameter monitor; recovery bed with integrated heating lamp.
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