Suffering from a sore throat is one of the more common problems that many women encounter during pregnancy. While it may be easy to grab an over the counter solution at any other time, it is best to avoid taking too many medications while pregnant. Fortunately, there are other alternatives to help ease sore throats.
The following are a handful of safe sore throat remedies that pregnant women can use.
1. Gargle with warm salt water at least twice a day. Mix a teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of water and gargle for a few seconds until all eight ounces have been used up. Make sure the water is warm enough, but not too hot that it could burn the tongue. Gargling with salt water actually washes away mucous and dilating capillaries and increases the blood supply to that area, which in turn help antibodies that fight bacteria and infections to circulate better.
2. Drink decaffeinated tea with lemon and some honey. Decaffeinated teas like chamomile, lemon, and peppermint are great for soothing sore throats. Try slicing ginger thinly and putting it in boiling water with some honey and lemon, drink when it is not too hot. If you do not have any ginger or any decaffeinated teas available, just boil water and mix the lemon and honey with it. Keeping your throat hydrated will help get rid of the soreness faster. Avoid drinking cold beverages at this time.
3. Sore throats can be accompanied by stuffy nose. You can use saline nasal sprays to help relieve congestion. Make sure the air is not too dry by using a vaporizer or humidifier. These are perfectly safe to use while pregnant.
4. If swallowing is painful, have warm soup like chicken noodle or just broth. Drink warm or room temperature water along with the soup if you do not want to drink tea with it. You can also drink orange juice for vitamin c
5. Sleeping during pregnancy may already be a problem, having a sore throat makes it worse. Prop your head up so mucous and saliva can be drained properly. Breathe through the nose instead of the mouth. Breathing through the mouth will cause your throat to get dry.
When drinking or gargling warm water, make sure it is not too hot. If the water is too hot, it can burn the tongue and also cause the throat to get more irritated. Hotter is not better. Make it as hot as you are comfortable with. If the sore throat is accompanied with any fever, red spots, white spots, or pus inside the mouth, make sure to contact a professional and get proper help right away. You may be dealing with a virus or bacteria. These sore throat remedies are great for everyone. If you are not pregnant and just want a natural way relieve a sore throat, these will also work for you.
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