What Should You Do If Your Throat Hurts During Pregnancy?

During the autumn and winter seasons—especially under current dry weather conditions—pregnant women are particularly prone to sore throat, dryness, and “excess internal heat” (a traditional Chinese medicine concept referring to inflammatory or heat-related symptoms). However, because pregnant women constitute a special population, they must avoid self-medicating when experiencing sore throat. So, what should pregnant women do if they develop a sore throat? Below, we address this question.

What to Do for a Sore Throat During Pregnancy

1. Saltwater Gargle

Saltwater possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Gargling with warm, concentrated saltwater is highly effective for relieving sore throat during pregnancy, especially in its early stages, as it helps reduce bacterial infection in the pharynx. To perform this, tilt your head backward so the saltwater reaches the back of your throat, gargle thoroughly, then spit it out. Repeat every 20 minutes, for a total of 10 sessions; noticeable improvement in sore throat symptoms typically follows.

2. Monk Fruit Tea

When swallowing saliva itself becomes painful, pregnant women may drink monk fruit tea, which has properties that clear heat, soothe the throat, resolve phlegm, and suppress coughing. It is traditionally used to treat conditions such as phlegm-heat cough, sore or swollen throat, and heatstroke-induced thirst. Drinking several cups can effectively moisten and soothe the throat—particularly beneficial for sore throat caused by “excess internal heat.”

3. Use a Humidifier

Excessively dry air can dehydrate the mucus between vocal cords, causing them to adhere and potentially leading to laryngitis. Therefore, pregnant women—being a special population—may benefit from using an air humidifier to increase ambient humidity and thereby alleviate laryngitis symptoms.

4. Tongue-Root Exercise

Pregnant women with sore throat may perform a simple tongue-root exercise to relieve symptoms such as throat swelling and pain, dryness or itching, and the sensation of a foreign body during swallowing (commonly associated with pharyngitis). The method is as follows: Keep your mouth closed and press the tip of your tongue against your upper front teeth; rotate your tongue clockwise 18 times, then counterclockwise 18 times. Finally, swallow the accumulated saliva in three separate sips. Perform this routine once in the morning and once in the evening; consistent practice yields marked relief from sore throat.

The above outlines practical approaches for managing sore throat during pregnancy. We hope this information proves helpful to you.