Can pregnant women take cough medicine?

Pregnant women should generally not take cough medicine casually, as cough medications can pose certain risks to both the pregnant woman and the fetus.

1. Some cough medicines are strictly prohibited for pregnant women. These medications may contain sedative ingredients that could inhibit the development of the fetal nervous system. Taking cough medicine during early pregnancy may lead to fetal malformations.

2. During pregnancy, taking antibiotics or similar drugs can significantly affect the fetus. It is important to note that severe coughing during pregnancy may cause fetal hypoxia, or even trigger uterine contractions leading to premature labor.

If the cough is mild during pregnancy, symptoms can be relieved through dietary management as follows:

1. If a pregnant woman has a simple cough without phlegm or fever, she should drink plenty of water and consume fruits high in vitamin C, such as oranges and grapefruits, which can help alleviate coughing. The patient should also eat foods that are easy to digest and absorb.

2. Pregnant women can use dietary therapy to relieve coughs during pregnancy. For example, consuming rock sugar stewed with pear can help ease cough symptoms. Rock sugar has effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, relieving cough, and dissolving phlegm, helping to clear and moisten the lungs. Pears are cooling in nature and are also excellent for clearing the lungs and resolving phlegm, effectively relieving sore throat.

If a pregnant woman's cough is mild, medication may not be necessary. She should focus on drinking plenty of water or herbal teas such as monk fruit tea, honeysuckle tea, or dwarf lilyturf tea to alleviate cough symptoms. However, if the cough is severe, medication should only be taken under a doctor’s guidance and according to medical advice to avoid adverse effects on health.