Sick at 37 Weeks Pregnant

You don't say why she must go to an ER versus Urgent Care. If she can, tell her to go to an urgent care center to be seen. Her regular family practioner and maybe her OB probably has an urgent care office associated with their clinic that she can call after hours. They do have limited hours, but they are usually open in early evenings and weekends too. If they find she's really in trouble, they will speed up the waiting process at the hospital and get her admitted faster.

From what you describe, it sounds like she might need antibiotics. If for some reason such as insurance is an issue, try one of those "Minute Clinic" type offices where you can walk in with no appointment. They are open on weekends too. These are in most drug stores, many large grocery chains and even Target stores. They can and will prescribe antibiotics if necessary. There are certain antibiotics that are okay during pregnancy.

Tell her she should not fool around with the possibility of a bacterial type infection prior to delivery. If for some reason she should need an emergency c-section, she'll have a lowered immune system and might have complications with healing etc. Hopefully it's just a bad virus and nothing more. Nonetheless, she needs to get her immune system up and should get a second opinion to be sure nothing more serious is going on.

Good luck!

I wouldn't play around I got a "cold" also brown mucus junk a week before I needed my emerg.c-section just a month ago and I was doing ok til after surgery when it almost turned into pnuemonia because after surgery your so wiped out and I was unable to cough anything up because it hurt my incision so bad. I was setting off the alarms in the hospital right and left because everytime I fell asleep after surgery I wasn't getting enough oxygen and they had to put me on oxygen etc., and my cold got so much worse from not having the immune system, platelets, or antibodies to fight it off.

In Apple Valley there is a 24hour urgent care that is pretty good I've had good luck there.

Hi R.,

There is a natural cough medicine on the market called "Olbas". My family LOVES this stuff. It will help with the coughing and sore throat. "Olbas" cough syrup is sold at coops, natural food stores, and Whole Foods:
http://olbas.com/olbascoughsyrup.htm

The Vicks Vapor Rub smeared on her chest would help, as would having a humidifier going.

I hope your sister gets looked at soon; the brown mucus should be taken seriously.

Please don't make the assumption that she won't get "the best of care" if she goes to an emergency room. As the daughter of an emergency room nurse that is simply not the truth.

Your sister should call her OB's office and ask to have the doctor on call paged. That person should be able to advise her as to if she should be seen immediately or wait until tomorrow.

- Jessica