It’s official; I’ve got a cold.

I am not surprised given how run down I’ve been over the past week, with flying to Texas for a conference, returning home in the evening, and going to another conference the next day to participate in a speech contest. I was starting to get a sore throat over the weekend. Then on Sunday (Mother’s Day), I went to a three-hour improv workout because I’ve missed at least 3 weeks of classes and workouts. It would be tough even on a healthy body.

My nose has been quite congested. For the past couple of nights I’ve taken 25 mg of OTC Benadryl (diphenhydramine) before bed. Taking it helped me sleep better and almost through the night, and helped with the nasal congestion.

Diphenhydramine’s label is “Pregnancy Category B” - not as safe as category A but not shown to be particularly harmful to the fetus. According to MedicineNet website:

PREGNANCY: Diphenhydramine has been used extensively in pregnant women; the incidence of fetal malformations is the same as that which would be expected in women who are not taking medications. Additionally, studies in animals suggest no important effects on the fetus. Diphenhydramine, therefore, can be used in pregnancy if the physician feels that it is needed.

I hope I’ll get over this cold soon. Getting sick exacerbates my nausea symptoms.

Last night I tried a prenatal vitamin from the sample starter pack that the doctor gave me. The package said that it was “clinical proven” to be gentler on the stomach. Well, a couple of hours after that I was seriously nauseous and thought I was going to throw up. So much for this formulation. I’m going to try taking hubby’s regular multivitamin (half dose) this morning and see how I do.