This morning I woke up with a raging cold.  I could hear my mother's voice in my head.  "Treat your cold symptomatically."  Which basically means that you should try to fix each problem on its own in order to beat the whole thing.  So if your nose is running, taking an antihistamine will help "dry it out."  Liquid cough medicine will help suppress those cough fits.  But what do you do when you are pregnant?  There are lots of over-the-counter medicines that are "safe" and approved for use when you are pregnant.  A simple call to your doctor will clear up any concerns you have regarding that.  However, for the crazy people out there like me who would rather avoid any medications during pregnancy if possible, what are your alternatives?

You still need to treat your cold symptomatically.

• Drink lots of fluids.  For those of us who have the pregnancy/acid reflux issue, this may be a challenge (I've had a couple of Tums today already).  But drinking lots of fluids to rid yourself of a cold will override the frustration of the acid reflux.  Drinking fluids can help your body flush the toxins out.  If you have a stuffy nose, it also contributes to loosening up the mucus you may have in your head and certainly helps loosen up mucus in your chest.  I always feel better when I have lots to drink.  Drinking lots means trying to drink TWICE the amount you normally do.  Just think of it as trying to drown the germs.
  
• Take a long, warm shower.  Try doing it when you wake up in the morning and again before bed.  Not only will this help relax you, the steam from the shower will loosen the stuffiness and help you breathe.  And who doesn't feel better if they are able to breathe?  Another alternative is to turn the shower on warm and sit outside of it.  This morning I let Ethan play in the shower for nearly 45 minutes will I sat outside the shower clearing my head (I turned the water pressure on low because I didn't want to waste it).  Ethan thought he was playing in the summer rain.  It turns out that he felt the benefits as well and he was breathing better. 
  
• Pour yourself a hot cup of tea.  We all know the benefits of drinking tea and what makes your throat feel better after a nice steaming cup with a little honey in it?  Hot tea can also help loosen up mucus in your chest and head. 
• Sleep with a humidifier in your room.  It works for the kids, why not do it for yourself?  I have a humidifier that has a  well where you can pour a small amount of Vicks vapor fluid in it.  This keeps me my head from getting all stopped up during the night.
  

I can already tell I am on the road to recovering.  Just remember that if you have any concerns at all regarding anything you can take during pregnancy, be sure to consult your health care provider.  Hope these tips help you.