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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Could sneezing cause MC? (odd question I know)

13 replies

KatieWatie · 17/02/2011 10:59

I know this is an odd question, but I am really concerned about it.

I sneeze excessively (+100 times a day), and often have sneezing fits of 10 or so at a time. This has gone on for about 10 years and I have never seen a doctor about it in the past as I tend to try and live with things rather than take tablets if I can. It's all year round but worse in April-Nov when I sneeze double the amount. I have other symptoms - constantly full of 'snot' (sorry) which wakes me up a couple of times a night and makes me sick on a morning.

I had a MC in December and (without going into too much graphic detail) it was following a sneeze. I'm now terrified of it happening again - I am about 6wks pg. Every time I sneeze I have a moment of fear.

I went to see my GP on Monday and I mentioned the sneezing and my concern, but she didn't seem to take me very seriously (I think she thought I was exaggerating). She said as I am pg she can't give me anything and I should get an over-the-counter saltwater nasal spray. My husband has this spray and I've used it and it doesn't make any difference, so it looks like I will have to live with the sneezing.

Does anyone else have any experience of this or know if it can harm the baby in any way, or am I just being neurotic and the MC was a co-incidence? Many thanks.

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1Catherine1 · 17/02/2011 11:09

Not a doctor but I doubt very much a sneeze could cause a MC even if you were unfortunate to suffer from this coincidence before. I would imagine that vomiting was much more aggressive towards your body but most woman do that through pregnancy and don't question it.

Since your doctor dismissed it I wouldn't worry personally. Might it be more possible that last time your sneezing only brought the symptoms of your MC forward slightly rather than them actually being the cause? Rather like the same way woman find their bladder slightly harder to control while sneezing during pregnancy due to the hormones your body is releasing.

neolara · 17/02/2011 11:27

Do you remember a poor woman who was brutally attacked and left for dead a few years ago? I can't remember her name, but she was headline news for weeks. A few months later, it was revealed that she was 10 weeks pregnant at the time of the attack. She went on to have the baby who was perfectly fine.

Babies who don't make it generally have chromosomal abnormalities. Mothers can suffer all kinds of horrible things but if their babies are chromosomally normal, they survive.

I'm not a doctor, but I had a number of miscarriages and read up a lot about them. I think that you were probably just very unlucky last time. The chances of it going right this time round are very good.

Best of luck. I know how hard it is not to worry all the time after a miscarriage.

frida75 · 17/02/2011 11:39

I have had lots of miscarriages also and know how worrying pregnancy is. I agree totally with neolara, It is just coincidental that you sneezed and perhaps lost blood at the same time.

Have faith in your body and I wish you lots of luck.

Lulumaam · 17/02/2011 11:44

It is absolutely a coincidence. a healthy and properly implanted pregnancy cannot be dislodged by a sneeze or cough. if this was the case then the human race would not have survived. it is more likely that it was a coincidence, that unfortunately you had lost the pregnancy and the sneeze and pressure change expelled the pregnancy.

wrt to having the sneezing fits for 10 years ! i would see your doctor after pregnancy, it sounds like rhinitis whihc is very controllable and worth taking a tablet or nasal spray for rather than sneezing constantly

Scruffyhound · 17/02/2011 11:56

I think you should see the doc again about the sneezing. Please dont feel silly as they did not take you serious the last time. This is something that needs sorting out really. It could be something simple. I think seeing the doc you might need to be refered to a specialist. My mum suffered with a broken nose for years a little bit of dust and she was off! She was given a spray. It does not always work.
Also you say your husband has a spray why is this? Weird you both suffer? Is there something in your house? There could be something where you both are that is causing the issue?
I hope you are ok. As for having a MC through sneezing this seems a bit strange. But Im not a medical expert. But I would get your nose checked out.

Iggly · 17/02/2011 12:00

I think you should get your nose checked out! You could be allergic to something and given that it's worse at certain times of the year, it might be made even worse by pollen etc.

slowshow · 17/02/2011 12:23

You've sneezed 100 time a day for ten years and you've never seen a doctor about it? I really think you should get checked out - that isn't normal.

Original poster

KatieWatie · 17/02/2011 12:37

Thanks ladies for setting my mind at rest :) I really appreciate it.

I will mention it again at the doctors (maybe try a different doctor!). I know I should've got it sorted before now but tbh I stay away from the doctors anyway, I only mentioned it this time because I was there anyway about the pregnancy.

My husband doesn't suffer like I do, but he gets blocked up a lot and suffers from a sore nose, and his dr recommended the saltwater thing, so I guess they recommend it for everything!

I do believe it could be rhinitis, made worse by pollen, as we live out in the sticks and are surrounded by working fields, and my sneezing and suffering gets much worse during harvesting.

Thanks again, I will try not to worry so much.

OP posts:

clareanna · 17/02/2011 13:05

Hi Katie- congratulations on your pg! Sneezing can cause shooting pains when youre pg, and make you want to double over- but that's quite a normal feeling. Just a thought re sneezing- my mum have very similar symptoms and it turned out to be a dairy intolerance. She stopped having cows milk and the sneezing completely stopped. Obviously I wouldn't recommend any dietary changes whilst you're pg unless recommended by a doc, but just thought i'd mention it.

CuppaTeaJanice · 17/02/2011 13:10

I was just about to suggest getting tested for dairy intolerance too - my friend sneezed her way through her teenage years and early twenties, putting it down to hayfever. It turned out to be a dairy intolerance and she is now virtually sneeze-free.

Original poster

KatieWatie · 17/02/2011 13:30

Wow - the thought of being allergic to dairy is frightening, I practically live on milk and cheese and I am expecting my kid to come out with bones of steel!!

But you might both have a point

OP posts:

CuppaTeaJanice · 17/02/2011 13:54

It's not as bad as it sounds! My friend could still have goats, rica and soya milk, and you can get dairy free cheese too.

happycamel · 17/02/2011 19:40

2nd the allergy comment. I had really bad asthma, kept getting worse. I started a food diary at a suggestion of a friend and realised the attacks didn't happen if, for example, I had curry for dinner but did with lasagne.

For a week I excluded dairy as an experiment. Had not one single asthma attack. Been dairy free ever since.

Keep a food/event diary and try and figure out your trigger.

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