Hayfever during pregnancy

[Hopefulin2020]

Hello,

Has anyone received any advice on the best way to treat hayfever during pregnancy. I can't get through to the pharmacy or the GP at the moment to check if there is anything suitable for pregnant women, and NHS website advice is broadly to check with pharmacist or GP. Will keep trying them but in the meantime wondered if anyone here had had advice before as I'm struggling! I'm 24 weeks.

Thanks

I have bad hay fever and resorted to ‘non-medical’ things during pregnancy. I seem to recall getting a saline nasal spray instead of my usual steroid based one, haymax around my nose to catch the pollen and some gentle eyedrops - really sorry cant recall which ones they were.

Every pharmacist I asked refused to sell me anything when pregnant. My midwife was useless. I used to make my DH buy piriton for me; it's not licensed for use in pregnancy but given it's often prescribed (either for hay fever or other reasons - I was prescribed it when I developed severe itching in my third trimester), I decided to take it anyway.

I was told to take piriton if very bad as it was safe and prescribed beconase spray.

Other things that help - wearing sun glasses and tying hair back. Changing clothes when get in from outside.

I stopped taking my tablets but continued with the nasal spray which is the main help in relieving symptoms anyway, for me. This is in line with the advice.

Hi,

I spoke to my GP about this as I was suffering really bad. They recommended the sterimar nose spray which is salt water and I've been using the optrex itchy eyes drops which they said are also fine to use. both have definitely helped me!

Loratidine is considered ok as is cetirizine. You can buy them in the supermarket

I was given piriton at the hospital in 3rd trimester

My GP has prescribed me beconase nasal spray. It seems to be working so far. X

Thanks everyone! Got through to pharmacist who basically said not much they can advise to take while pregnant so I'll try some of the 'non-medical' things above for now and ask my midwife if my appt next week goes ahead as planned if hayfever is still bad.

A pharmacist will not sell you it without a prescription. You can buy it off the shelf in the supermarket though.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/can-i-take-hay-fever-medicine-during-pregnancy/

I take citirizine for mine as it is terrible, it looks like I’m crying all the time all day. It only helps a little bit. I also use a nasal irrigator and a cool mist humidifier at night, and inhale olbas oil on a tissue or hanky after being advised this was ok by my doctor. Allergy eye drops as well, and soothing creams and moisturiser for itchy skin and rashes like acqueous cream. All of this and mine is still really bad, and I look like I have a cold every day! I’m sure there would be stronger stuff I could take if I wasn’t pregnant but all of that will have to do for now

I took Loratadine - 89p for 14 days worth from Aldi - all through my pregnancy. It was shown in studies to have very little crossover to the baby. Hayfever makes my asthma so bad I have to take something to be able to breathe.

I’m using the beconase spray which I got from my local supermarket and it’s brilliant. Trying just to use one spray per nostril per day. And also eating local honey which is meant to help!

Both my ivf consultant and my top notch london obstetrician said piriton was utterly safe to use in pregnancy. (Actually any first gen antihistamine will be generally ok, but piriton definitely so.) Don't suffer just take the antihistamine!