My terrible hayfever has disappeared after the birth of my DD?!?!?

[WhoWillDoMyHoovering]

I started getting mild hayfever since I was about 17 and it has got progressively worse to the point where I get really weepy stingy eyes and itchy, runny, sneezy nose even with medication. Was expecting to have to suffer badly through BF as I wouldn't want to take the usual sprays or tablets (as it's mostly steroid-based). To my utter astonishment I have had no symptoms at all. at first I thought there could be a very low pollencount, but after watching the weather report on several occassions confirming High Pollen Counts, I'm just ... stunned. So I was wondering.... Could pregnancy or BF hormones somehow have stopped my hayfever? Has anyone else experienced this?!?

[tjbhrj]

Hi Whowilldo
Yes - pregnancy can change allergies (switch them "on" as well as off) - it's because the whole immune system is altered by pregnancy I believe, but I'm not an expert. Something to do with in pregnancy women's immune systems are altered so they don't recognise the fetus as "foreign" and attack it.

It happened to me too - terrible hayfever before DS1, and since he was born I only get very occasional, very mild symptoms now (take anti-histamines about 14 times a year when the pollen count is very very high, compared to daily for 6-7months of the year, and still suffered badly through the summer). It's 10 years on now, so I'm hoping it's permanent!

tj

[WhoWillDoMyHoovering]

Thanks for your post tjbhrj! Really interesting to know that someone has had a similar experience. It's quite an amazing phenomenen?! Totally hoping that mine is also a permanent thing and not just due to BF. The wonders of human biology!

[CrunchyFrog]

Yep, mine vanished while BF and is mild enough to not Medicare now. good, innit?

[mawbroon]

Mine vanished too. It subsided a bit during first pregnancy and disappeared after my second.

Also, I used to be really allergic to cats, and now I can spend the evening in my friend's house, where she has five cats, without needing any antihistimine.

It's great!

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

I'm jealous, but pleased for you. When I was pg with ds1 my mil warned me that she had become intolerant of certain foods after giving birth, I poo-poo'd it and can no longer eat strawberries.

I warned the mother of my dgs, she can't eat bacon any more!

I do realise that a bit of cramp and a rush to the loo is nowhere near a proper allergy, btw.

Am actually pleased it goes the other way too!

[aliportico]

Huh, I only started getting hayfever when I was pregnant with dd1!

[Lucyellensmum99]

This happened to me! I was really worried as i knew i would be pregnant during my worst hayfever times (DD a july baby) and i just didn't get it. I used to be crippled by it - now i get it mildly, and maybe have one or two days where i need medication, but the tablets seem to last a week!

[WhoWillDoMyHoovering]

Wow - these posts are amazing! I tried to do a bit of googling to see if there was any research done on this but to no avail, but it sounds like there is quite a bit of evidence. I might mention it to my dr. next time I visit.... I am just fascinated! OldLady & aliportico - that's terrible, I'm sorry the allergies got 'switched on' for you.

[Rachog]

I always suffered with hayfever quite badly but this year whilst pregnant I have been fine. Ds was a July baby and we are bfing, still no hayfever!

[DidntChaKnow]

I suffered really badly with hayfever when I was pregnant, mine also disappeared after DS2 was born but seems to have returned recently (after 3 1/2 years!)

[WhoWillDoMyHoovering]

DidntChaKnow oh noooo, it's not allowed to come back. Oh dear you poor thing. I will keep in mind that possibility and remember to enjoy every unsneezy breath!

[33goingon64]

Mine went away when pg and bf, but is back with a vengeance this year. Worse than ever.

[JennerOSity]

Yup, same here - one of the few physical benefits to pregnancy and bf -lowered immune system = reduced auto-immune (allergy) response. Hooraaayyyyyy.

It did come back for me sadly, but I enjoyed the break while it lasted and got a view of life without hayfever

[holmessweetholmes]

Same here - I had terrible hayfever since childhood, but it has completely gone since having the dc! In exchange, I have developed an allergy to red wine, even in cooking.

[puffylovett]

Another one here :) I used to suffer horrifically but have had nothing for 6 years until this year. Am still bfing, and it was nowhere near as bad despite being a really high pollen count!

[Tempernillo]

Pregnancy often causes a dip in your immunity which may explain why you are now less reactive. However I only developed hay fever AFTER I fell pg do go figure!

[Tempernillo]

But my allergy to cats was very much diminished, managed to stay with my mum and 2 cats whilst pg and thought it'd be a nightmare with no antihistamines, but I was fine!

[MTaskingMum]

My hay fever disappeared after my first pregnancy (12 years ago) and I am only affected now if the pollen count is particularly high.

Unfortunately my dd was born with several allergies (some which result in anaphylaxis) and intolerances - we always joke that I passed them onto her when I was pregnant! Very strange

[LizW55]

Yes! This happened to me. Extremely severe allergic rhinitis with bluebells, hyacinths and something else I did not see so no idea what it was in early Spring, nearly every year for almost 30 years. Had missed a year or two, went to Austria in the Spring so came back with hay-fever, which will have been meadow grasses. Got pregnant at virtually the same time, two kids and never had it since for 25 years. Touch wood, kids never had it yet but my dad had it all his life.