Hayfever help please

[peachesarenom]

Hi everyone,

I'm 10 weeks, think I've got through the worst of the sickness but now hayfever is killing me. My eyes are red even with drops, I get fits of sneezing and my throat is sore and I'm coughing. Baby does not like the coughing!

Loratidine and cetirizine are ok in pregnancy

As PP said, those medications are fine in pregnancy. I went to my GP a couple of weeks ago as I was suffering and I asked what meds I could take as most say "do not take if pregnant" and she said pretty much all of them, but specially the two about. She did say go easy on the nasal sprays as some have steroids in them

So why do they advise not to take anti-histamines?

It's because they aren't licensed
To take in pregnancy (not enough evidence to suggest they are/aren't safe)

Why is everything so hard! I don't know what to do. I just so desperately want to feel comfy in my own body, I don't know how I'll manage the next 30 weeks!

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/935.aspx?categoryid=54 nhs advice

Nhs says loratidine and cetirizine is ok

I don't know what you mean by 'baby doesn't like the coughing' but just wanted to reassure you if you were worried that the hay fever can't possibly harm the baby (though that's no reason for you to suffer through it - definitely take any medication that your GP says is safe! From my experience a pharmacist won't give you anything that says not to be taken in pregnancy, so you'll need to either get a prescription or tell a white lie)

You can buy those antihistamines off the shelf in the supermarket

Prevalin allergy is great and it's suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It does sting slightly when you first spray it up your nose but it was a godsend for me when I was pregnant. Here's a link to the site: www.prevalin.com/uk/who-can-use-prevalin/

LisaSimpsonsbff I just meant when I cough I sometimes get a pain near my uterus. It's weird.

Thanks for the link dementedpixie it really helps to see that.

And thanks for all the responses x

Gosh monkeypuzzler1 that could be a game changer. How does it work if it isn't an anti-histamine?

It really is an amazing invention, I swear by it. They have more information on this page www.prevalin.com/uk/the-allergic-reaction/

They say:

Prevalin™ Allergy is most effective when used before or at the first signs of an allergic reaction. It works by:

Neutralising allergens already inside the nose

Forming a micro gel barrier to prevent allergens from triggering an allergic reaction

Supports fast clearance of the allergens in the nose

It costs £5-£10 and it's sold in a lot of chemists and online (as you don't need a prescription for it). One bottle normally lasts me about 4 weeks

I've been using Prevalin and a saline water spray and they have been helping. Asked a pharmacist what antihistamines o could take and he said none and none of the normal nasal spays. Hoping to get a doc appointment for my back so might ask them!

I have bought it! It's magic! Not very pleasent at first but then you can breathe again. My pharmasicist said no to eye drops, apparently they affect the placenta but I've still been at mine.

pharmacist probably wont sell them to you without a prescription but you can buy them off the shelf in a supermarket.

So why do they advise not to take anti-histamines?

who says that?
loratadine and cetirizine are both fine in pregnancy, as is piriton (but makes you drowsy).
if you don't get on with those you can ask your gp about steroid nasal sprays (pirineze, beconase)

I was prescribed chlorphenamine throughout pregnancy and that was only fairly recent.

My pregnancy book written by an OBGYN says it bluerunningshoes

Hi falcon5 did your GP explain why they selected that?

My midwife, GP, 2 obstetricians and 3 pharmacists have all told me not to take antihistamines and I have pretty bad allergies (hay fever and contact allergies where my hands swell and skin blisters)

I went to the doctors last week as my hayfever is getting me down so much (I usually take prescription only allergy meds)

She said I couldn't take any antihistamines at all! None in pregnancy. No OTC ones. I could have cried and then she said I could have beccanase but only when I really can't take it anymore but certainly not every day :(
U have midwife Monday week so I'll ask her since so many people on here say you can

the nhs link says which are ok to use so I wonder why so many GPs, etc say not to use anything. Maybe take a copy of the link and ask?

My doctor was totally chilled out about me taking antihistamines, even the strong ones. And my eye drops and nasal spray. He said it's worse for the baby if you're miserable and uncomfortable and can't breathe properly 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm just staying in doors! Wont work forever!