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Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general knowledge and informational purposes only. If you or someone you know is experiencing serious breathing issues, call 911 immediately. Breathing difficulties can be caused by various underlying health conditions, some of which may be life-threatening.
Pregnancy can be super exciting, but let’s be real, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine. Along with the usual suspects like morning sickness, heartburn, swollen ankles, and those pesky hemorrhoids, there’s another less-talked-about issue called “pregnancy rhinitis.” It’s when you get a stuffy nose during pregnancy. Yep, it’s a thing, and it happens to quite a few expectant moms, even though it doesn’t get as much attention as the other pregnancy discomforts.
Rhinitis Of Pregnancy: What is It?
During pregnancy, some women might notice that they get a stuffy or runny nose, kind of like having a cold. It’s called pregnancy rhinitis, and it happens because of the pregnancy itself, not because of allergies or sickness. A study Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology found that a lot of pregnant women experience this. Out of 117 pregnant women in the study, about 39% had these pregnancy rhinitis symptoms.
It can happen at different times during pregnancy, but it seems to be more common in the second trimester, which is roughly between the 13th and 21st weeks of pregnancy. So, if you’re pregnant and notice a stuffy or runny nose, don’t worry, it’s quite common during this time.
Check out: Early Pregnancy Symptoms: What Are The First Signs of Pregnancy?
Pregnancy Rhinitis Causes
Rhinitis is when the inside of your nose gets all swollen and irritated.
If you’re pregnant and you have allergies, you might notice your nose acting up too. This happens because things like pollen, mold, and dust mites can make your nose go crazy. Some people also have year-round nose issues because of things like dust mites, pets, or even cockroaches.
But here’s the thing, sometimes when you’re pregnant, your nose can get all stuffy even if you’re not allergic to anything specific. We’re not exactly sure why this happens during pregnancy, but some researchers think it’s because of the hormones bouncing around in your body. These hormones make your nose produce more mucus and make more blood go to your nose. This can lead to problems like a stuffy nose, an itchy nose, and even ears feeling blocked.
Oh, and smoking while you’re pregnant can make this nose trouble even worse. So if you’re thinking about having a baby, it’s a good idea for both future parents to quit smoking, and it’s never too late to start.
Also read: Smoking While Pregnant: The Unfortunate Status & Truth
Pregnancy Rhinitis Symptoms
Rhinitis of pregnancy can affect people in different ways, but the main signs are more mucus in your nose, a feeling of pressure, and a sense of being all blocked up.
It’s important to know that pregnancy rhinitis isn’t just about having more mucus; it also involves more blood flow to your nose, which is why you feel congested and pressured.
Here are the common signs of pregnancy rhinitis:
- Mucus dripping down your throat (postnasal drip)
- More mucus in your nose
- Increased stuffiness in your nose
- Pressure in your ears
- Frequent sneezing
- A weaker sense of smell due to congestion
- Trouble sleeping because of congestion or mucus dripping down your throat.
Pregnancy Rhinitis Diagnosis
To figure out if you have pregnancy rhinitis, your doctor will first check if something else might be causing your stuffy or irritated nose. They’ll ask questions about how you’re feeling and might even do some tests. If you’ve never been tested for allergies before, they might do those tests or send you to a specialist called an allergist.
Once they’ve ruled out other reasons for your nose issues, they’ll probably say it’s non-allergic rhinitis, which is just a fancy way of saying rhinitis of pregnancy. It’s pretty common in pregnant folks, so your doctor won’t be surprised. They’ll talk to you about safe and gentle ways to make you feel better. Don’t worry too much!
Also read: Allergies During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Pregnancy Rhinitis Treatment
If your stuffy nose isn’t causing you problems with sleep or making your daily life difficult, you don’t need to do anything special. Pregnancy rhinitis is usually not a big concern, and you don’t have to seek treatment if it’s not bothering you.
But, if your symptoms are making your life hard, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor. They might suggest some treatments like:
- Using a humidifier in your home.
- Staying well-hydrated.
- Avoiding things that can irritate your nose, like cigarette smoke or pollution.
- Regular exercise, which can reduce congestion and help you sleep better.
- Sleeping with your head elevated, like using an extra pillow or two.
- Try nasal strips, saline spray/drops, or other nasal rinses, but always talk to a healthcare provider before trying these.
Now, when it comes to over-the-counter nasal decongestants:
Most of them aren’t safe to use during the first trimester of pregnancy. After that, you can use them, but only if your doctor says it’s okay.
In some cases, using nasal decongestants to treat pregnancy rhinitis symptoms might make your symptoms worse, especially if you use them for a long time. So, it’s essential to follow your doctor’s advice on this.
Pregnancy Rhinitis, Boy Or Girl?
According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, many pregnant women who had stuffy or runny noses were more likely to have baby girls. These women also had a slightly higher amount of certain hormones, like estrogen and insulin-like growth factor 1, but the increase wasn’t enough to say it was connected to their stuffy noses.
Check out: Boy or a Girl – How to predict the sex of your baby?
Pregnancy Rhinitis or Cold?
Pregnancy rhinitis is when your nose gets stuffy during pregnancy. But if your stuffy nose comes with sneezing, coughing, a sore throat, some bodily discomfort, swollen glands, or a fever, it’s probably a cold or the flu, not pregnancy rhinitis.
Endnote
For most moms-to-be, rhinitis of pregnancy doesn’t stick around for long, just a few days or a few weeks at a time. But, some women have it all the time they’re pregnant. The good news is that once you’ve had your baby, these nose problems usually go away pretty quickly, usually within about a week.
Pregnancy rhinitis isn’t a super serious problem on its own. But, it can mess with your sleep and make you feel pretty lousy. Sometimes, it can even lead to ear infections, sinus infections, or make asthma worse.
Will this affect your baby that’s on the way? We don’t have enough research to know exactly how pregnancy rhinitis symptoms might influence the growth and development of unborn babies.
But here’s the thing: Anything that makes you feel less healthy can potentially have an impact on your baby. And that includes how well you sleep while you’re pregnant.
If you’re worried about your sleep or having trouble breathing during pregnancy, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. They can give you advice on how to ease pregnancy rhinitis symptoms and help you breathe and sleep better.
Note: This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or call emergency services if you believe there is a serious medical issue related to breathing. Your health and well-being should be the top priority, and only a healthcare professional can provide appropriate guidance and care for specific medical concerns.
FAQs
1. What are the first signs of pregnancy rhinitis?
2. How do you get rid of rhinitis during pregnancy?
3. At what week of pregnancy does rhinitis occur?
4. Does pregnancy rhinitis last all day?
5. What is the difference between pregnancy rhinitis and allergies?
Sources
On behalf of the editorial team at Parenthoodbliss, we follow strict reporting guidelines and only use credible sources, along with peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and highly respected health organizations. To learn about how we maintain content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
