Allergies and Pregnancy

For Daniel, allergies triggered such intense sneezing fits that her cervix would open, putting her unborn baby at significant risk. A combination of nasal sprays, antihistamines, and steroids brought her allergy symptoms under control.

Both Dr. Gluck and Dr. Schatz suggest women tell their doctors or midwives about any medication that they are taking, especially those sold over the counter. Not only can some over-the-counter allergy medicines lead to overuse—they can become ineffective and even harmful if used incorrectly. Equally important, Dr. Gluck says that some medicines are not recommended due to side effects. Many over-the-counter antihistamines can cause extreme drowsiness, especially in pregnant women who are already prone to tiredness.

Rhinitis of Pregnancy

One phenomenon of pregnancy is known as the rhinitis of pregnancy. According to Dr. Schatz, 20 to 30 percent of women may experience a rhinitis or stuffy nose during pregnancy that may be confused with allergies but is actually caused by hormones, which swell nasal passages. A woman may falsely assume that she is having allergies, yet using over-the-counter antihistamines will have no effect on nasal stuffiness because her symptoms are not from histamines.

If a woman's symptoms are truly related to this phenomenon, the usual doctor recommendation is for her to make do with the discomfort that will end almost immediately after delivery or use an external nasal dilator, which is available over the counter.

Unexplained discomfort with nasal stuffiness may also have other causes. It may be due to undiagnosed allergies that have become more prominent during pregnancy. Or even more common, a pregnant woman, who is more susceptible to colds, may simply have a mild sinus infection, which occurs with greater frequency in pregnant than non-pregnant women.

Working with Your Provider

When it comes to allergies in pregnancy, the most important key to combating the symptoms is talking to your doctor or midwife. Work with your provider to come up with a treatment that will be right for your level of discomfort. If you are suffering from a constant stuffy nose, the treatment may be endurance; but for true allergies, especially extreme cases, you may need prescription allergy medications. Remember that you won't be pregnant forever, but just because you're pregnant doesn't mean that you have to suffer.

After a complete regimen of antihistamines, sprays, and steroids, in her previously troubled pregnancy, Daniel expected the same with her next. She was pleasantly surprised when her next pregnancy was without a stuffy nose and asthma free!