How can pregnant women prevent colds?

My family member caught a cold, and it spread to two others. Lately, it's not just the ticket rush that's been heating up, but also the howling north wind, which brings with it a host of cold viruses. How can pregnant women, carrying their unborn babies, hide from and fight off these invisible and intangible flu viruses?

I. Prevention

1. When going out: Wear a mask and gloves; take preventative measures first.

Flu viruses are mostly transmitted through the air. Pregnant women can avoid direct contact with the flu virus by wearing masks and gloves on their way to work, on buses, or in other public places. If you need to touch your nose or eyes, do not use your hands or handkerchiefs directly; it is best to use disposable tissues.

2. When you return home from outside: Wash your hands first, then rinse your mouth. This is clean and hygienic to prevent colds.

The first thing pregnant women should do upon returning home is wash their hands and rinse their mouths, preferably with a mild salt water solution. This not only keeps the mouth moist but also has a certain antibacterial effect. The most important way to prevent colds is to wash hands, and to wash them with running water.

3. At home: Keeping warm is key; pay attention to indoor temperature and humidity.

Being cold can impair blood circulation, weaken the body's resistance, and allow viruses to thrive. Pregnant women must pay special attention to keeping warm in their daily lives. They should be well-covered when going out, and even more so at home. When resting, they can wear a shawl or cover their knees with a small blanket to keep their bodies warm and avoid catching a cold.

In addition, low indoor temperature and humidity can make the body feel cold and cause dry nasal mucosa, increasing the chances of catching a cold. Pregnant women should pay attention to creating a suitable home environment for themselves. In winter, the indoor temperature is best kept between 18 and 20°C, and the relative humidity should be maintained at around 50 to 60%. Homes using heating or air conditioning may be drier, so a humidifier can be used to increase the ambient humidity. Don't forget to open the windows every morning and evening to allow fresh air to circulate indoors.

II. Treatment Section

1. If you have a cold, pregnant women should drink more water.

Whether it's a common cold or the flu, fever, even a high fever, is the most common symptom. If pregnant women don't replenish fluids in time, they are likely to become dehydrated, increasing the burden on their heart and kidneys. If they don't like drinking plain water, they can drink some lightly salted water or take oral rehydration salts. Additionally, rice water, honey water, and apple juice are all fine as long as they help with hydration.

2. If a pregnant woman has a cold, she should soak her feet in hot water.

In the fight against cold viruses during winter, pregnant women can choose a very comfortable method: foot soaking. The feet have meridians connecting to various parts of the body and are considered the body's second heart; therefore, warm feet naturally warm the whole body. When soaking your feet, pay attention to the water temperature; it shouldn't be too hot, and soaking for 15-20 minutes is sufficient.

3. Determine whether medication is needed based on the severity of the cold.

It depends on the symptoms of a cold. If it's a common cold, and you're in the early stages with only a mild cough and sore throat, you don't need medication. You can try some physical therapy to relieve the symptoms, and make sure to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

However, if a pregnant woman has the flu and develops a high fever, rest and fluids alone are not enough. She can try physical therapies such as cold compresses, lukewarm baths, or alcohol rubs to reduce the fever. If the fever persists, she must go to the hospital as soon as possible and inform the doctor about her pregnancy (weeks of gestation, etc.). She should then follow the doctor's instructions regarding antiviral medication.

III. Isolation

If a pregnant woman discovers that someone has a cold, she must take protective measures.

1. Pregnant women should pay attention to isolation and try to stay away from people with colds for the time being. In addition, they should remember to open windows regularly to reduce the concentration of viruses in the air, even in winter.

2. Disinfecting the house with vinegar. Acetic acid does have disinfecting and bactericidal effects at certain concentrations, but it requires repeated exposure over a long period. Therefore, pregnant women can close the doors and windows and fumigate with vinegar before going outdoors, then ventilate to ensure fresh air when returning home.

3. Make sure to keep the towels, clothing, bedding, etc., used by the patient separate from those used by the pregnant woman. These items may harbor cold viruses, and if not disinfected, these residual viruses could easily cause the pregnant woman to contract the flu.

4. If a pregnant woman must come into contact with a patient, she must wear a mask. Afterwards, she should wash her hands with soap or hand sanitizer and change into clean clothes.