Allergy relief in pregnancy (hayfever)

[catski]

Do allergies get worse during pregnancy? I seem to be really suffering at the moment. Constant blocked nose making it hard to sleep at night but the worst pain is my eyes - so itchy.

Are there any eye drops, or other allergy relief medicines which are safe to take during the first trimester? I bought something called livostin (active ingredient levocabastine hydrochloride) yesterday (in sweden). The information leaflet said there were no known effects, but when I got home and looked it up on www.safefetus.com it was given a category C rating and I don't feel comfortable using it.

I couldn't use anything for my terrible hayfever when pg with my DD. When I got pg the second time, I carried through the winter!!

Sorry, that is of no help other but I am sending lots of sympathy.

I didn't have hayfever, but do suffer with urticaria. I took piriton in pregnancy (with ds not this one!) the drowsy stuff. I think it's a B, but not 100% sure though.

I took a homeopathic remedy I got in boots, brand was Nelson's. Can't say it had much effect though, although maybe it works for some.

Thanks guys - I also think piriton is a B (as is claritin). Will try and find some homeopathic remedies and try and stick out the first trimester without the drugs (although I'm only about 6 weeks!)

I was pregnant through the summer both with DS and with DD, and didn't take anything - sorry, I know that doesn't help, but none of the risk assessments looked good to me. I spent a lot of time lying with wet flannels over my face.

try sterimar (boots sell it). its a salty saline solution that you spray up your nose. It worked wonders for me while I was pg and breastfeeding and I suffer horrendous hayfever.

Thanks - I will try both of those tips!

Hi Catski,

I am 30 weeks now and thankfully haven't suffered too much this time round. It was a nightmare first time though - so really symapthise. You are so very restricted during pregnancy as to what you can take. I was advised to try using local honey everyday, maybe you could give it a go?? My local WI market sells it, but you could also try farmers markets.

Congratulations bye the way.

oh my sympathies, hayfever in pregnancy is awful. i have tried the following

nelsons pollena - find it lessens the symptoms if you take it regularly during the season

haymax - maybe works if you apply it before it gets really bad. otherwise once i was sneezing and blowing my nose, i was just wiping it away all the time

nasaleze, didn't really help me, but might help some.

anything to support your immune system might help with the hayfever, the suggestion of spirulina seems like a good one. sometimes i cut up cloves of garlic into tablet sized pieces and just swallow them. also ginger tea and eating citrus.

also if you google neti pot, it's a yoga based way of clearing out the sinuses, i find it quite helpful for allergies.

(i would do anything at the moment to safely take a clarityne though!!)

Thank you for the tips - I'll try to get my hands on what I can when I can face going into town (nausea too, what fun!).

Do you know what counts as 'local' in terms of honey? I have a bee-keeping friend but she lives about 30 miles away - would that still be good do you think?

I took Piriton all the way through mine, having been told by my Dr it was safe.
Only the short acting one though (chlorphenamine), not the 24hr one.

Catski,

sorry you are feeling sick, I know how you feel. Still having bouts myself!! I should think 30 miles is still local, I could imagine bee's covering that distance, maybe you could check with you friend!!

I used a light therapy thing when I was pg. Looks ridiculous, you stick probes up your nose and switch it on, and you look like rudolph for a few minutes/ But it really did work!

Like this but mine was loads cheaper from a chemist somewhere.

I think I might order this
www.lloydspharmacy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=1008&storeId= 90&productId=5383&langId=-1&parentcategoryrn=&top=&topcategory=&fromPage=Search&hotspotprefix=

even if it does make me look like rudolph!

AAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHNNNNNNGGGGHHHHH - every evening my I start coughing madly, my throat seizes up and I itch all over my face and body. ENOUGH! I've never had it this bad before - only started getting reactions in my mid 20s but it's been getting worse each year.

Anyone think it's worse this year?

Hi - my doctor told me the Beconase steroid nasal spray and Opticrom eye drops were fine to use in pregnancy (and if you go to the docs and get a prescription they're free too!). Always done the trick for me