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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

congestion in pregnancy...help

25 replies

gingerbreadmam · 03/03/2015 12:32

hi

i am 7-8 weeks pregnant and nose is massively stuffy and congested its getting to the point where when i eat im shovelling it in so fast as if i dont swallow quickly it feels like im suffocating.

ive read it's quite common and was just wondering if there is any over the counter stuff that is safe to use in pregnancy?

dont think sat in an air conditioned office all day helps.

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GoooRooo · 03/03/2015 12:35

I had this in my first pregnancy - I've escaped it this time thank goodness as it's miserable and I really really feel for you.

There is nothing you can take I'm afraid. Vicks is okay so you can have that on a hanky to sniff, or fill a bowl of hot water, put some Vicks in it and put a towel over your head to inhale the steam.

I ended up going to my GP in my third trimester and he prescribed me a (frankly useless) nasal spray that I can't remember the name of and said only to use it once a day, at night, to help me sleep as I was exhausted.

I found the only thing that really helped were long, hot showers.

Flowers for you - I really really sympathise.

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 03/03/2015 13:03

oh damn i thought otravine or something might be safe. feel like id need it every hour at the moment.

on the plus side at least i dont have the bloodhound smells symptom as im not good with smells but the panic this gives when eating is not nice lol!

out of interest and if u dont mind what sex are your dc? i only ask as i told mil about nose other day and she said oh its a boy i was the same with ds.

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GoooRooo · 03/03/2015 15:47

I had a boy! I have no idea what this one is - I won't find out until the birth (but I secretly suspect a girl)

scarednoob · 03/03/2015 16:55

i had this (or a small cold, not sure which) for a few days when i was about 5 weeks. i was so upset when i found i couldn't take otrivine; i depend on that stuff when i have a cold! but apparently because it works by constricting the blood vessels, it might have a nasty impact on the baby. it's untested because, let's face it, who would take that risk?!

the pharmacist said to me that, when she tells pregnant women there is nothing they can take, some of them cry. it's horrid. these things do help though:

  • run the shower superhot for a few minutes, then go and sit in the steam just before bedtime
  • you can use the calpol saline drops for babies (they sell these at boots)
  • you can also use a saline rinse/neti pot
  • airwaves chewing gum made a surprising amount of difference
  • prop yourself up on lots of pillows at bedtime

fingers crossed it goes away soon x

hippymama1 · 03/03/2015 17:32

I have had this! I am 22+4 and some days are better than others but I have to sneeze and blow my nose about 20 times before I get out of bed in the morning! It is called Pregnancy Rhinitis and is another one of those lovely symptoms that help us appreciate how amazing it is to be a pregnant woman! Wink

Unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done to my knowledge, apart from Vick, Airwaves and nose blowing. I have also been rubbing vaseline with Aloe Vera around my nose to prevent me looking like rudolf. There is a small light at the end of the tunnel though, in that mine has got a bit better after about 20 weeks. I can now breathe through my nose for entire 24 hour periods!

Hope you feel better and that some of the remedies others have recommended help... I am having a boy by the way, in case you were looking for a correlation! Smile

LittleMiss77 · 03/03/2015 18:00

Welcome to the club! im 21 weeks and havent been able to breathe out of my nose properly since about week 6!

im having a boy by the way...

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 03/03/2015 18:06

thank you so much for all of your advice. i didnt wonder today whether to invest in some airways.

funnily enough through the night it doesnt particularly bother me altho i do sometimes sneeze. how weird!

i will put some vics on before bed, av just been in a steamy shower altho doesnt seem to have done anything. will get airwaves and saline nose drops tomo.

all those going through the same thing, hope it eases up soon.

not sure if anyone is wanting one sex more than the enough but if so fingers crossed.

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Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 03/03/2015 18:07

i did wonder durr baby brain! sorry!

oh and im happy with either sex although i suppose id quite like a boy as my first. dont know if you ever really know tho do u, then i think of having a girl and get all excited. ahhh exciting times!

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GoooRooo · 03/03/2015 18:27

I had it all the way up to the day I gave birth - and then it magically disappeared. I had to beg the midwife during labour to let me take a Sudafed nasal spray as I was struggling to breathe properly. She consulted a doctor and allowed it. At that point I suspect it wouldn't do much damage to the baby.

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 03/03/2015 19:40

oh really? wow thats a long time.

i do seem to be doing ok in other symptoms so spose i shouldnt whinge too much!

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yummymango · 03/03/2015 20:42

I had this throughout my first pregnancy, I got addicted to sniffing vicks at night like it was a craving! And I had a girl.

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 03/03/2015 20:43

ahh yummy there goes the theory then ha! im going to position the vicks on the bedside table tonite and hope for a better day tomo. thanks.

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Foggymist · 03/03/2015 20:48

It's caused by the vessels/veins swelling at the top of your nose making it more difficult to breathe, so it can easily last all the way through, and then when the swelling/fluid goes down after birth it goes away. I've had it since the very beginning, before I got my bfp, and it's as bad if not worse now at 32 weeks. I use a saline spray, gives me great relief.

MrsFbabyNo1 · 03/03/2015 20:59

Stuffy nose for me too, my worst pregnancy symptom so can't complain. It isn't a real bother to me really (not even had to consider getting any meds / tricks to help) but poor hubby has had to put up with me snoring because of it for about 2 months now (ear plugs and everything)! So my worst symptom is really his problem lol.

Having a boy too! Wink

greenlizard · 03/03/2015 21:06

Another one here! Still stuffed up at 38 weeks - have to sleep with my mouth open to breathe - dribbling and snoring like a truck driver in my sleep (allegedly - personally I am sure it is more like fairy snuffles Grin!). Have a parched mouth and dry lips every morning and it wakes me up throughout the night. I haven't tried any remedies but you have to blow your nose carefully as I have had a few nosebleeds with over enthusiastic blowing.

Also I am having a boy...

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 04/03/2015 06:56

ooh it is a majority of boys mind!

i snore already so hope it hasnt worsened. my vicks smelt weird last night dont know if its gone off. got booking in apt today so will stock up on more and saline drops when im there.

i get the dry lips too i was just thinking two days ago my lips seem really dry all the time, makes sense now tho.

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scarednoob · 04/03/2015 07:31

Fairy snuffles? Hahahaha!!!

HazleNutt · 04/03/2015 07:45

A pharmacist gave me a decongestant spray for babies to be used before bedtime, because being unable to sleep for weeks is not good for the baby either. Like with most "do not take" medication, there is no evidence that the decongestants are actually harmful. We are simply told not to use because there's 'insufficient evidence about safety'.

Bluestockings35 · 04/03/2015 08:13

I use Karvol decongestant capsules when I'm stuffed up. They're for babies and small children and you don't swallow them or put them on your skin so probably safe for pregnancy. You should ask a pharmacist because they seem to be little known but do wonders for me! You just put one on your nightclothes and it will unblock your nose as you breathe in the fumes.

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 04/03/2015 08:51

i used to have karvol when i was a baby (30 now Grin) and still remember the smell was lovely!

i will speak to midwive but they may be a nice little treat too.

i seem to be smelling a bit better today, have cardi on i cooked in last night and all i can smell is food Confused not good. bring on the karvol ha!

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OneFlewOverTheMumsNest · 04/03/2015 09:18

I've had it in both pregnancies. I've found a steamy shower to be the best thing - although now at 26 weeks the humidity makes me breathless and dizzy, the joy!

I have a girl and another on the way.

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 04/03/2015 09:40

oh another one throwing the theory out ha!

i tried a steamy shower last night all the mist was making my eyes go funny and had me in a panic though. dp will be in tonite so will give it another go. thanks.

hope everyones pregnancies are going well btw have forgot to mention that earlier!

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Bluestockings35 · 04/03/2015 22:20

Gingerbread I had it when I was kid too, just never stopped using it :) (am 35). But, I spoke to a pharmacist and apparently one of the ingredients makes it unsuitable for pregnancy so back to non-medicine strategies I guess :(

avocadotoast · 04/03/2015 22:31

I wish I could help but I'm in the same boat Sad

I'm 29 weeks and I feel like I can't remember a time that I wasn't congested! I've started snoring, which DH finds hilarious and annoying in equal measure...

I bought some of those Breathe Right strips for nights when it's really bad; they're unmedicated so ok to use. They seem to work a bit, they are expensive though.

One tip I would say (and this is gross): try and keep your fingers out of your nose! I made mine worse by picking on a morning to try and clear it, ended up all scabby inside and so painful. And a bit embarrassing!

Original poster
gingerbreadmam · 05/03/2015 08:55

i spoke to midwife at booking in yesterday she said cant take anything just suck it up. grrr!

guess vicks is fine so will stick to that on a night and airwaves through the day. thanks everyone.

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