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Recs for Pregnant and Nursing Mamas
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items thefussymama.com/the-best-cold-and-allergy-remedies-for-pregnant-and-nursing-mamas Allergies and colds are tough enough, but when you’re pregnant or nursing, your options for safe remedies and medications to treat them can feel extremely limited.Afte...
Sections
12
Immune-boosting
Multi-symptom allergy remedies
Sneezing and runny nose
Sore throat
Red and itchy eyes
Congestion
Immune-boosting
These zinc lozenges have knocked out many a “scratchy throat” after just one or two. Zinc is supposed to work my preventing the rhinovirus (the cause of most colds) from multiplying. This is one of the best things to take when you first feel a bit ru...
Cold-EEZE
Organic elderberry gummies are awesome because they work as a daily immune-boosting herb as well as for intensive immune support and are easy to take.
Organic Elderberry Gummies
This Young Living blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils known to neutralize bacterial and viral pathogens. Many people apply it to their wrists, back of neck, or bottom of feet to prevent colds. It’s also ef...
Thieves
I like the Whole Foods brand Buffered Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids. These are small pills that don’t cause upset stomach issues, and I like that it’s a whole-food vitamin that requires multiple doses with food.
Vitamin C
Fire cider is a spicy tonic often made with apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, onion, and herbs and is used to boost the immune system, prevent and fight off colds and flu, as well as other benefits. I like locally-made fire cider, and I tend to bu...
Fire cider
Multi-symptom allergy remedies
These work in a similar way to allergy shots, and the idea is that they gradually help your body build a tolerance to the allergen. One of my favorites is Allergena Allergy Relief Zone 5 (Texas) blend because it can relieve symptoms within an hour! T...
Allergena Allergy Relief Zone 5
I also love the Priya herbals allergy blend because it’s locally made from organic and wild-harvested ingredients.
Priya herbals allergy blend
Quercenase is a potent blend of quercetin and bromelain, combining the best of these immune boosting and respiratory-supporting herbs. This stuff is solid gold (and is practically as pricey as gold, so I use only when I need extra support, such as in...
Thorne Research Quercenase
Gemmotherapy – I use an allergy blend for pregnant/nursing mamas of gemmotherapy, which is essentially extracts made from plant stem cells. This is very popular in Europe and is starting to gain a following here in the states. I buy mine from an expe...
Gemmotherapy
Sneezing and runny nose
Do this every morning, night, and as needed as a quick and easy way to flush out pollen, dander, and pathogens from your sinus cavities.
Simply Saline Nasal Mist Instant Relief for Everyday Congestion
This is hands-down the first line of defense when I’m starting to feel that saline misting isn’t doing the job. Rinse out those allergens and prevent congestion before it happens!
NeilMed Sinus Rinse
Using a humidifier on low at night in your room can help keep the nasal passages moist, preventing congestion and infection. These humidifiers are simple, especially cute for little ones, and easier to clean than the drop-shaped ones.
Crane Adorable humidifier
Sore throat
Echinacea is another safe cold-preventative that works best at the onset of a cold. Only natural herbs in these cough drops, and they actually work! Love love love these!
Ricola HoneyLemon with Echinacea
Such an excellent fix to a sore throat, especially with some raw honey at the end of the day.
Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat Tea
Excellent tasting sicknesss-fighting tea. This stuff is potent and has definitely knocked out a cold for me before it got started.
Traditional Medicinals Echinacea with Elderberry Tea
Put this in everything! Even though raw honey is not safe for babies under 1, all honey is safe for pregnant and nursing mamas.
Raw Wildflower Honey
Red and itchy eyes
I used these daily during my allergy seasons and they are safe enough that you can use multiple times if your symptoms are stubborn.
Similasan Allergy Eye Relief
These are another effective option for eyes that have become extremely red or irritated from itching and rubbing.
Similasan Redness & Itchy Eye Relief Drops
Congestion
Colloidal silver is one of the most ancient remedies still used today to treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. It’s essentially silver particles (made from mushrooms) suspended in liquid. The Sovereign Silver brand is the gold standard. I’ve...
Sovereign Silver
This is a common herbal sinus support remedy in Europe that my homeopathic practitioner recommender to me while pregnant. While the packaging warns against use in pregnancy and breast feeding for liability reasons, a study was performed that determin...
Sinupret
Homeopathic sinus remedy recommended by my homeopath that helps temporarily relieve sinus congestion and pain.
Sinusalia
Insomnia and restlessness
My midwife approved this low-dose (1.5 mg) melatonin for use for sleep in my third-trimester and for nursing. When I was pregnant, I found it still very effective when I cut it in half (.75 mg) or into fourths (.375 mg).
MidNite
Free of menthol and safe for mom and baby.
Maty's All Natural Baby Chest Rub
Pain and inflammation
Turmeric is an incredible anti-inflammatory, probably the best natural option I’ve found. The safety of turmeric supplements for pregnancy and nursing is debated by health professionals. My midwife who is an incredible herbalist cleared it but simply...
Turmeric Supreme
Upset stomach
Papaya is known as the “tree of health” in South American countries, and it’s for good reason given its incredible ability to ease digestive distress and heartburn. I take this even when not ill, simply for mild upset heartburn or indigestion and it ...
Papaya enzyme
Safe for mom and baby. Aloe juice helps with upset tummies, indigestion, and also constipation. This brand is tasteless (tastes like water!) and our whole family loves it.
George’s Aloe Juice
Cough
Loquat syrup has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat coughs and it’s safe for the whole family.
Loquat syrup
Boiron Chestal Honey Adult Cough Syrup is another one that is soothing for irritating coughs from drainage.
Boiron Chestal Honey Adult Cough Syrup
Lower-risk conventional allergy medications
Pregnancy category C. Many doctors consider it safe to use with severe allergies for pregnancy and breastfeeding because of the low bioavailability of the drug in plasma levels.
Flonase
Pregnancy category B. Acceptable for limited use as it is unlikely to cause issues in pregnancy and nursing but limited studies have been done.
Zyrtec
Pregnancy category B. Acceptable for small and infrequent doses for severe allergy reactions for both pregnancy and nursing.
Benadryl
Resources to check the safety of medications
As I am just a wellness writer and mom with experience using and researching medications, you should always consult with a medical professional before beginning any natural or conventional treatment of allergy or cold symptoms.
An excellent resource for all things breastfeeding, especially on topics of the safety of foods, remedies, and medications.
KellyMom
(*During the Covid-19 crisis, their team is available by chat via their website only.) Call their helpline (806) 352-2519 Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm CT and the on-call nurse will check the safety of any medication or natural remedy in their database ...
InfantRisk Center
Over 29 million citations of articles and studies done from biomedical literature.
PubMed