Pregnancy: Coughs and colds during your pregnancy

Boost your immune system by eating a healthy diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They help to fight infections and contain antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C. You may also like to take a vitamin and mineral supplement specifically formulated for pregnant women, available from chemists. Keep your stress levels to a minimum and make sure you get plenty of rest and try to.

And remember that you should never buy cough or cold remedies over-the-counter without first checking with your GP or pharmacist that they are safe to take during pregnancy. Many aren't as they contain substances that haven't been tested for safety during pregnancy and could affect your baby's development and health. Some contain caffeine and even alcohol.

If you need to take painkillers, it's safe to take the recommended dose of paracetamol. However, you should avoid aspirin as it can affect your baby's development in the early weeks and, in late pregnancy, affect the onset and length of your labour. Ibuprofen, codeine and painkillers that contain a combination of drugs should be avoided, too.

Avoid taking megadoses of vitamin C. The Department of Health recommends taking no more than 60 mg per day in pregnancy. Vapour rubs, such as Vicks, and cough lozenges are both safe.

There are lots safe, natural ways to help alleviate cough and cold symptoms:

• For a sore throat and cough, make up a soothing drink of hot water, honey and lemon.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Warm drinks are especially soothing when you have a cold - try rosehip tea, which as rich in vitamin C.

• Rest as much as possible - sleep helps the body to heal itself.

• Eat a well-balanced diet, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, which will give you the right amounts of vitamins and minerals, carbohydrate, protein and fat.

• For a cold with a stuffy nose, try a steam inhalation. With a towel over your head, lean over a bowl of hot water with two or three drops of eucalyptus oil or Olbas oil added and inhale to help clear the congestion.

• Gargling with salt water can help to fight a throat infection.

• For congested sinuses, Denise Tiran, a lecturer in complementary therapies and midwifery, suggests putting two drops of tea tree or marjoram essential oil onto a tissue and sniffing it at regular intervals.

• You could also try another complementary therapy, such as homeopathy, but always see a registered practitioner first and do mention that you are pregnant.

If you have a persistent cough or cold that doesn't seem to be lifting, talk to your GP as you may have a secondary infection, such as a chest infection, that will need treatment.

If you have any worries about your health, always consult your GP or midwife who won't mind answering your queries, however minor you may feel they are.

If you have doubts that antibiotics can harm your baby you should know that there are many antibiotics which are safe to take during pregnancy, but some aren't, so make sure your doctor knows you are pregnant before he prescribes.

Penicillins are safe to take, but tetracyclines can cause fetal abnormalities early in pregnancy and cause discolouration of your baby's first and permanent teeth if given later in pregnancy. Never take antibiotics that are left over from a previous prescription and always finish the course you are given.

How to treat flu if you are pregnant?

The symptoms of flu - fever, headaches, chills, achiness, fatigue and loss of appetite - can really lay you low when pregnant. This is your body's way of telling you that you need to take it easy. Remember to avoid dehydration and for this drink plenty of fluids, especially if you have a fever. A drink of hot water, lemon and honey will help soothe a sore throat while Vitamin C-rich fruit juices, such as orange juice, will help you fight off the infection.

Get plenty of bedrest, nap when you feel the need and don't get up or go back to work until you are fully recovered. Although you won't feel like eating at first, when you do, try to eat something nutritious - fruit, wholegrain toast, or a warm, milky drink. If you're not getting better within a few days, go and see your GP as a secondary infection may have set in. During pregnancy it's not recommended that you have a flu vaccine unless your doctor advises you otherwise.

But if you have a serious fever during your pregnancy there are some advice how to treat it safely.

Paracetamol is known to be safe in pregnancy and can be taken to treat a fever. Each dose of paracetamol (500mg - 1g) lasts up to six hours, and four doses can be taken in 24 hours. If you can, avoid using it frequently, especially in late pregnancy, as one study found that women who took paracetamol "on most days" were more likely to have a baby who had wheezing.

If the cause of the fever is not obvious you should contact your midwife or GP. For example, if your family have all had a bad cold and within a few days you find that you are running a temperature, it is very likely that you have picked up whatever they have had. Colds should be treated with paracetamol and plenty of drinks.

Remember this very important thing: you should try to keep your temperature as normal as possible, so avoid the temptation to sweat it out under a duvet.

However, if there is no obvious reason for your why your temperature is raised, and then you may need some tests so find out the causes of your fever. Your midwife may be able to arrange these for you or she may suggest that you see your GP. Possible tests include a urine sample and/or blood tests. If your waters have broken and you have a fever, don't delay - contact your midwife or telephone the labour ward immediately.

And in conclusion: you shouldn't be afraid that flu will harm your baby if you treat it safely.

However uncomfortable you may feel when you have flu, rest assured that your baby is well protected against the virus within your womb. But be careful and if you have a very high temperature, seek the advice of your GP. You can help yourself by taking the recommended dose of paracetamol, which is safe to use while pregnant, and cooling yourself down with a damp flannel. Get as much rest as you can. It's important that you give yourself time to recover completely before picking up your daily routine again.