Pregnancy questions: colds and miscarriages

Common pregnancy worries: colds and miscarriages | Questions during pregnancy | First trimester

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Carol Cooper, GP and author of Your Clever Baby: How to make the most of you child's potential answers common questions from the first trimester of pregnancy.

4. If I get a cold or flu what can I take?

If you've got a cold or flu at the moment you should ring your GP because we don't know how important swine flu is.

But for a general cold or flu, taking honey and lemon, paracetamol, drinking plenty of fluids and eating chicken soup will help. If you're getting over-the-counter medication talk to the pharmacist and make sure he knows you're pregnant.

5. Does bleeding mean that I'm having a miscarriage?

Not necessarily. Blood can come from other places than the womb, such as the vagina or the cervix. Even if it is coming from the womb that doesn't always mean miscarriage, sometimes it can just settle down again.

If your bleeding is significant, you've got cramps, pain, or you're feeling faint, then you should go to hospital and you'll probably have a scan.

6. I can't stop worrying about miscarriage, what should I do?

Remember that you can't make yourself miscarry any more than you can shake unripe fruit from a tree.

There's really not a lot you can do about your fear of miscarriage. You need to expect that when you're creating life it's a gamble and there are things that you can't control.

It makes sense not to smoke and drink, but other than that nothing you can do will make a difference. Just relax and remember that most pregnancies turn out all right. Everyone worries until the baby is born - and after, it's in the nature of parenting. But excess worry is counter-productive.