Allergic rhinitis in pregnancy - anyone else?

[secretlyhermione]

I'm writing this at my 5.30am after another episode of me waking up to go to the loo and having a sneezing attack. The sneezing for the past few weeks in pregnancy has been quite severe. I sneeze a least 9 times and I have a very runny nose and am usually parched (with dry mouth as well). Anyone else had/has this and has any tips?? My poor DP is woken up every morning by the sneeze attack and it's also getting me down. I know this is not a severe problem, and from what I have read online, this can be normal in pregnancy and you just have to deal with it but I just wondered if anyone had a magical non-medical cure? I'm 14 weeks pregnant and thinking this could continue for another 6 months is not great. Also I only get this when I wake up for the first time... During the day I'm ok. If anyone has tips all are welcome!

No tips, sorry, just solidarity. I had it with both pregnancies, but if it’s any reassurance it didn’t last the whole time - it tailed off early in the second trimester with both, so your sneezing days may be numbered!

Thanks that already makes me feel better :) let's hope it tails off soon!

You poor thing - I sympathise. I had this with DC2 pregnancy but sadly it’s stayed and he is nearly 4!! Sorry you probably don’t want to hear that and hopefully yours is just temporary. There is a certain type of antihistamine that’s ok to take in pregnancy but ask your GP first. Doesn’t help that it’s hayfever season as well. Putting a little Vaseline inside nostrils may help. There’s also a salt based nasal spray you could try but again ask GP. Hope you feel better

I didn't realise it had a name but constant sneezing is one of my first signs I'm pregnant! It does stop eventually I think in the 2nd trimester

I'm 29+4 weeks pregnant and I've had it throughout my pregnancy, never suffered with hay fever or any allergies before pregnancy.

I actually ended up with a sinus infection and put on antibiotics only for it to return a couple of weeks after it'd cleared I'm used to waking up now sneezing full of snot (sorry tmi!) apparently it'll clear after birth

I have this, I don’t tend to sneeze but my nose blocks entirely. I got it in my first pregnancy and it never went away, 4 years later I’m on my second pregnancy and it’s even worse. My aunt has the same thing and in both our cases (when not pregnant) if we’re exposed to heat our nose blocks, if there’s air con on, if we drink alcohol, in hay fever season, it’s horrible. I work in a job that involves lots of talking on the phone and most of the time people can’t understand me with a blocked nose so I’ve had to take nose sprays which don’t help at all they make it worse. That being said I was seen by a specialist who gave me something else for it, like a steroid and that did nothing I tried it for months.

You can get salt sprays to help clear your sinuses that are safe during pregnancy that may help with some symptoms. I never got morning sickness in either pregnancy but wish I did over rhinitis

Thanks everyone for your replies! I feel better that others have gone through it although it confirms what I thought, that we just need to ride it out with no cure... I've had very few symptoms of pregnancy so far so I guess I'll just have to take this! I'll try the vaseline and the salt sprays. Appreciate the help!

Loratidine and cetirizine are considered safe to take in pregnancy

I was told by my doctor not to take loratidine or cetiridine in pregnancy, but that piriton was fine. I think I’d recommend talking to a doctor to see what they suggest.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/can-i-take-hay-fever-medicine-during-pregnancy/ this says loratidine would be first choice in pregnancy

Sorry to say I’ve had a snotty, sneezy AND dry nose for 36 weeks and counting! But pretty much my only symptom so I’ll take it.

This really helped me this pregnancy:

Squip NasaKleen Squeezie with Nasal Irrigation System/Pack of 50 Saline Sachets www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AFR3N0C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VrdVCb4C39J1E?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Please speak to a pharmacist and not a doctor about what to take - far more knowledge than a doctor about medications in pregnancy and less cost to the NHS! (Not to mention easier to get hold of than a doctor.)

Pharmacist will probably not sell antihistamines to you though. You can buy them off the shelf in the supermarket if you felt you needed them

A pharmacist sold antihistamines to me quite happily on advice when I was pg. You can buy limited supply boxes on the shop floor, but they keep bigger boxes behind the counter. They will certainly give you advice on which ones to buy and are the better/easier/cheaper/NHS recommended option than a doctor for simple medications advice like this.

I'm yet to find a pharmacist that will see me antihistamines OTC. They all say there's nothing they can do and nothing is licensed for sale in pregnancy and I'll need a prescription from a doctor. I just make DH go and buy them (I've done the research and am comfortable there's no risk as per the NHS link above).

Thank you all! I will investigate :-)

I have this too (apart from the sneezing) snotty, blocked nose, dry mouth all the time. It's been driving me mad today. It started about 4 weeks ago then after 2 weeks it stopped and now it's started up again. I remember I had it quite bad last pregnancy but it didn't start til about 25/26 weeks then. I'm only 13 weeks just now...nose sprays helped for a while but the last couple of days hasn't really done anything.
So no advice sorry just lots of sympathy!

Hey, I know this is an old post, but on the off-chance you see this; did your allergies clear up? I’m feeling the exact same right now during pregnancy! Did your child end up “inheriting” these allergies too? I’m so worried I’m going to pass it on x