• Drink plenty of fluids, as this will help to thin secretions. Water, chicken soup, juices, and warm tea are good sources.



• Use a humidifier. Place it close to your face when you sleep. During the day, you can make a tent out of a sheet draped over your head. Stay under the tent for 15 minutes, three or four times a day.



• Rub a mentholated product (like Vicks Vaporub) on your chest according to package instructions.



• For nasal stuffiness, use saline drops. You can buy these at drugstores or prepare a solution at home. Just dissolve 1/4 teaspoon salt in 8ounces of water. Place a few drops in each nostril, wait 5 to 10 minutes, and then gently blow your nose.



• To make breathing easier, sleep in a recliner or prop up your head with lots of pillows so that you are in a semi-upright position.



• Take a warm shower. This can help clear nasal stuffiness and mucus.



• Get plenty of rest.

• Decongestants. This group of medications is used to treat colds or allergies. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), an FDA category C drug (to be used only if the benefits outweigh the risks), can be bought over the counter and is present in antihistamines as well as in cold remedies. These medications are not recommended for anyone who has high blood pressure, pregnant or not. If possible, avoid taking pseudoephedrine in the first trimester.



• Cough suppressants and expectorants. Dextromethorphan, a common ingredient found in cough and cold medications (such as Robitussin), is probably safe for use in pregnancy. While the FDA has labeled it category C, some large studies suggest that it does not cause any increase in birth defects or complications of pregnancy. Guaifenesin is an expectorant in many cough and cold medicines. It, too, is listed under category C but is probably safe as well.



• Treating pain and fever. Pain is bad because it hurts. Fever is bad because it overheats the fetus. Fever is unhealthy for the fetus throughout pregnancy, but high fever in the first trimester is thought to be responsible for certain birth defects, including problems in brain and spine development. It's generally best to follow this rule: If you get a fever in pregnancy, take medications to bring it down, and if you cannot reduce your temperature, call your doctor.
  
  Fever also increases sweating and fluid loss, so be sure to drink lots of cool fluids when you have a high temperature. Most pregnant women can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) throughout the pregnancy without a problem. If you are a heavy drinker (three or more drinks a day), you need to discuss this with your practitioner, not only because alcohol and acetaminophen can be a lethal combination, but also because drinking while pregnant has health implications for your baby. Ibuprofen is probably safe to take in the first and second trimesters, but it may cause problems for the baby's circulation after 32 weeks' gestation. Aspirin is usually not recommended in pregnancy.
  
  Remember: A persistent fever or severe illness in pregnancy always warrants a call to your practitioner.



• Zinc lozenges. Zinc lozenges (and more recently, nasal sprays) have been used to speed recovery from the common cold. Lower doses of Zinc are safe, but I'm not aware of any good information about the safety of using zinc lozenges while pregnant.



• Echinacea tea. One study that looked at the use of echinacea during the first trimester found no increase in birth defects. It's generally considered safe for use in pregnancy, but you should be aware that it has not been tested extensively.

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