A sore throat while pregnant can be treated with simple home remedies, such as gargling with warm water and salt and drinking ginger tea with lemon. You can also eat foods that are rich vitamin C, such as oranges or tangerines, as these can help to increase the body's defenses and help fight inflammation or infection faster.

A sore throat during pregnancy can be caused by viral infections, such as the flu or cold, or bacterial infections, but it can also be a sign of allergies, sinusitis or gastroesophageal reflux.

Normally, with home remedies, throat inflammation improves in about 3 days. However, if the symptoms persist, are intense or present with a fever, pus in the throat or difficulty swallowing, you should consult your obstetrician or ENT specialist to identify the cause of the sore throat and advise the most appropriate treatment.

Natural ways to treat sore throat during pregnancy

A sore throat while pregnant can be treated with home remedies that help relieve pain and inflammation in the throat and include:

1. Warm salt water gargle

Gargling warm salt water has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects that help to soothe a sore throat and remove the bacteria that can inflammation and infection in the throat.

To gargle with warm salt water, place a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and stir. Gargle several times a day.

Gargling with warm water and salt does not harm the baby and should be done with caution if you have high blood pressure or if you were advised to be on a low salt. In these cases, it is recommended to consult your obstetrician before gargling.

2. Ginger tea with lemon

Ginger tea with lemon has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can relieve pain and decrease the production of inflammatory substances, such as prostaglandins, as well as boost immunity.

Ginger tea can be taken during pregnancy, as long as you do not exceed 1 gram of dry ginger root per day for a maximum period of 4 days. Learn more about the health benefits of ginger and how to take it.

Ingredients

one 4 cm peel of lemon
1 cm of ginger
2 cups of boiling water.

Directions

Place the lemon peel and the ginger in 2 cups of boiling water, let it cool and drink 2 cups of tea, divided into two doses per day.

Ginger tea should be avoided if you are close to childbirth, or in women with a history of miscarriage, clotting problems or who are at risk of bleeding.

3. Room humidifier

You can humidify the environment by placing a basin or bucket with warm water in each room of the house. This is an excellent way to relieve a sore throat, as inhaling water particles in the environment can keep the airways more hydrated and reduce irritation. This can help you to eliminate phlegm and relieve a sore throat.

This tip is especially useful at night, as it can make it easier to sleep and prevent wake-ups from a stuffy nose.

Another way to humidify the environment is to use a humidifying device. However, care must be taken not to use the humidifier excessively, as excessive humidity can lead to the growth of mold in the environment and cause allergies.

4. Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea, made from the medicinal plant Matricaria recutita, is rich in phenolic compounds such as apigenin, quercetin and patuletin. It contains anti-inflammatory properties that help to relieve sore throats during pregnancy.

It is important to check the type of chamomile used, as there are two types, and chamomile tea prepared with the Matricaria recutita species can be used safely during pregnancy. However, Roman chamomile of the Chamaemelum nobile species should not be used during pregnancy as it can cause uterine contractions.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers
250 mL of boiling water

Directions

Add the dried chamomile flowers to a cup of boiling water, cover, and let it steep for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then strain and drink.

This tea can be taken 3 times a day, or sipped throughout the day. Sweetening with honey helps to hydrate the throat and can also relieve pain. However, honey should be avoided by pregnant women who are allergic to honey, propolis or pollen.

5. Pomegranate juice with honey

Pomegranate has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action that helps to disinfect the throat and reduce inflammation. Honey works to lubricate the throat and reduce pain.

Ingredients

Pulp of 1 pomegranate
1 glass of wate
1 teaspoon of honey.

Directions

Blend the pomegranate pulp, water and honey in a blender. Pour into a glass, stir well and then drink. Pomegranate juice with honey can be consumed once a day.

6. Pomegranate tea

Another way to use pomegranate is to make tea to relieve sore throat symptoms as it has anti-inflammatory action and helps eliminate microorganisms that may be causing inflammation.

Pomegranate seed tea, made with the red seeds contained inside the fruit, is considered safe during pregnancy. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, folate and iron.

However, tea made from pomegranate flowers, leaves, seeds or peel is contraindicated during pregnancy, as it can cause uterine contractions and miscarriage.

Ingredients

Pomegranate seeds
1 cup of boiling water

Directions

Wash and sanitize the pomegranate well, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Then, crush the pomegranate seeds, and take 1 teaspoon of the crushed berries and add it to the cup of boiling water. Cover the cup for 15 minutes. Drink 1 cup of pomegranate tea per day.

This tea should be avoided by pregnant women who use anticoagulant or high blood pressure medications, or by women with a history of gastritis, stomach ulcers, hypotension or allergies to pomegranates. These populations should consult their obstetrician before drinking the tea.

7. Foods rich in vitamin C

Foods rich in vitamin C, such as strawberries, oranges or broccoli, for example, have antioxidant properties. They help to fight free radicals that can cause cellular damage and inflammation.

Furthermore, vitamin C increases immunity, helping to fight inflammation and sore throats more quickly, improving sore throat. Check out a complete list of foods with vitamin C that you can incorporate into your diet.

The daily dose of vitamin C for pregnant women is 85 grams per day. To add this vitamin to the diet, you should consult a registered dietitian or obstetrician for a more specific diet plan.

8. Dark chocolate square

Chocolate can help relieve a sore throat as it is rich in anti-inflammatory flavonoids. It also helps to lubricate the throat and reduce pain. However, you should opt for dark chocolate as it tends to be lower in sugar and fat.

In order to relieve a sore throat using chocolate, place a square of dark chocolate and your tongue and let it melt on its own, swallowing it little by little.

The consumption of dark chocolate during pregnancy should be guided by a registered dietitian or obstetrician, especially in women who have restrictions on sugar intake.

Can a sore throat while pregnant harm the baby?

A sore throat during pregnancy itself does not harm the baby, but it can be a sign of a viral or bacterial infection. This can present with other symptoms like fever or difficulty eating and drinking, which can lead to dehydration or nutritional deficiencies if left untreated.

In these cases, you should always see a doctor for assessment and possible treatment.

When to go to the doctor

It is important for pregnant women with a sore throat to see a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

Sore throat for more than 3 days
Intense sore throat
Difficulty swallowing and eating
Fever or chills
Cough
Throat red, swollen or with dots of pus
General malaise

In addition, you should also consult your doctor if you experience nausea, headache, neck pain or loss of appetite, as this will allow you to identify the cause of the sore throat and begin the most appropriate treatment.