Blocked ears in pregnancy

[NT2020]

Hi everyone. This is my first post and I’m just wondering if anyone has any advice.

I’m 27 weeks pregnant and have been suffering with blocked ears for the past 5 weeks. I’m left with a horrible feeling of fullness in my ear that the GP has diagnosed as a blocked Eustachian tube. Some days I can ignore it, but others (like yesterday) leave me with muffled hearing and a sensation like I’m in a tunnel, which is only helped by sitting in silence. Not great when I’m returning to work next week!

This issue is causing me a lot of anxiety and I’ve been struggling with sleep. I’m waking every hour and nighttime has become panicky for me. I only managed about 2 hours sleep the night before last, which makes everything seem worse!

My poor husband has had to put up with me crying and begging for help. I’ve been inhaling steam regularly and yesterday bought a saline nasal spray as the GP says I just have to let it run its course.

The GP was insistent this isn’t pregnancy related, but my biggest fear is that I’m stuck with this for the next 3 months. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Hey, I have this at the moment but mine isn't pregnancy related. It's bizarelly something that happens to me every summer now.. For about the last 4 years. If yours is anything like mine it will clear up by itself in the next few weeks or so!

Thank you. That’s reassuring to know! How long does yours usually last for? Any tips for speeding up recovery?

Pregnancy hormones are making everything feel 100 times worse at the moment. I’ve never had ear issues or this level of insomnia before and it’s starting to drive me a bit crazy!

Sorry to say this but mine lasts about 2 months each year and to be honest after the first year of trying drops etc to no avail I gave up and just got used to it.

I only get it badly in my right ear for some reason. I've tried googling to find answers for this but gave up on that as well!

Before this started coming every summer it would happen from time to time (wouldn't last as long) so yours might not become an annual occurance!

Could be down to allergies but I'm not aware of having any!

Omg I've had this for four weeks I'm 31 weeks pregnant some days it's like I'm under water! No pain at all just blocked!

It’s good to know I’m not alone! I too tend to get it much worse in one ear.

Some days it has a huge impact on my mental health and makes me feel very panicky and on edge. I’ve never really suffered with anxiety before being pregnant (although I’m a worrier!), but blocked ears seem to be a real trigger for me. The GP recommended some calming apps, but I find the breathing exercises just make me more panicky as I’m focusing on the fact I can’t breathe fully out of my nose!

I get this regularly after a cold. I had it a few weeks ago at 33 weeks pregnanr and it lasted for 2.5 weeks.
I used a salt water nasal spray and airwaves chewing gum.
You'll probably find that once you can breathe properly through your nose again that your ears will recover.

At Christmas 2018 It lasted for 2 months in both ears. It was horrendous. I wasn't pregnant then either.

I get something like this too and it has been worse in pregnancy, I think because I'm more breathless. My ear is worst when I'm out of breath/exercising - feels like the ear is full of water and my breath is really loud in it. It's linked to my jaw though which I clench a lot and is slightly off centre. I've gotten help with it from an osteopath who makes it much better for a few days and generally a bit better I think... so annoying and uncomfortable!

Yes!! I had this in pregnancy with my third son. Tried Hopi ear candles to get rid and nothing worked. Except giving birth! Literally disappeared within a day or 2. Fingers crossed its the same for you

Coming up to 8 weeks with ear problems and am now beginning to think it’s linked to acid reflux.

My left ear feels blocked and hearing feels a bit reduced, but my sinuses haven’t been too bad recently. Anyone have experience of pregnancy acid reflux causing ear issues?

Swallowing and chewing can sometimes help (like chewing gum) and holding your nose and blowing out like you would on a flight might give you temporary relief but unfortunately it just needs time and like the others said, it can take months

I’ve had this since I was about 10 weeks, now 22 weeks. Some days it’s far worse than others but it is awful, I’m constantly sniffing/ yawning/ blowing to try and get rid of the feeling but it just doesn’t go away. I hate being able to hear my own voice, I feel like I can’t control the volume! And it’s uncomfortable. My GP said that it probably is just one of those weird things your hormones can do, he examined my ear and said there is definitely pressure behind my ear drum from a blocked tube. It’s not something I’ve ever had before so I am putting it down to pregnancy, along with the hives, spots, itchy boobs, meltdowns over DH eating the last of the cereal I was craving.... I am also suffering from acid reflux so maybe the two are linked?

You could try an Otovent device (you can buy them from chemists or on Amazon). ENT doctors often recommend them for helping open up the Eustachian tubes.

I get this every now and again. Blowing out of your nose whilst pinching it make it pop can work. You sometimes feel the satisfaction of the gunk trickling away down your throat.
Also tipping your head upside down can sometimes provide a bit of relief.
Otherwise lots of steam with a drop of olbas oil can help.

Thanks for the advice. It’s just very frustrating as I have a few days where it appears to be getting better and then I have a weekend where it feels like my ears are under water again.

@Wineandrun I understand your pain that nothing seems to work. The usual yawning, holding nose and blowing techniques don’t work. I get it worse in one ear so have found that only sleeping on the ‘good’ ear at night did help with drainage. I’m also trying to steam multiple times a day and have been using a saline nasal spray.

I think I’m just resigned to the fact that it could be another 9+ weeks of this until I give birth. I’m just worried that it might be something that lasts a lot longer, as the doctors don’t seem to have a magic cure!

@Kornerkutta is that the device that looks like a balloon that you have to blow up with your nose? I laughed when the GP mentioned it, as it sounded so strange, but I just may be desperate enough to give it a try.

I feel like I've written this thread myself. I was at the Drs on Friday as I've got pain in my left ear but only when I'm sleeping on it or sneezing. It's causing me to wake up during the night due to the pain/pressure, it's awful.

The Dr gave me a nasal spray but I'm not convinced. Also the instructions state that you've to 'only use if the benefits out way the risks' and it doesn't fill me with confidence that it's safe to fully use.

Going to try vicks and steam to see if that helps 🙏🏻 hope you all find some relief too!

I have this the only thing that has worked is antihistamines and a steroid nasal spray xx

Yup, I had this all through my last pregnant and it drive me mad! Nothing worked I’m afraid! I just tried to learn to live with it (it’s nothing serious). Good luck it’s really not fun but goes when baby appears

@NT2020 please let me know if your problem is resolved after pregnancy or not? I am facing exact same issue and not sure how long I am gonna face it

Hi Ladies, i had the same problem for several months (before i was pregnant) and it was affecting my ability to do day to day activities as it ended up giving me vertigo. After trying everything my GP gave me, in my desperation i bought an 'Ear Popper Ear Relief Device' from Boots for £99 and it worked!

@Meeti123 Sorry to hear that you’re suffering. I’m
now 11 months post-pregnancy and my ears are 90% better than they were. I’ve waited a long time for an ENT referral and am now waiting to see an audiologist. I think I have underlying Eustachian tube dysfunction that I’m still hoping to resolve, but my ears are nowhere near as bad as they were. I’d recommend pushing for an ENT referral now, as it can take a while to get seen. Hopefully you won’t need it after birth. How many weeks are you?

There are a lot of treatments of Eustachian tube dysfunction, please don't panic that you'll be stuck with it forever. I've had a lot of ear issues through my life and have crappy eustachian tubes too - they always get really blocked after a cold and don't regulate (pop) when blocked or when I got on a plane or dive down under water. The Otovent balloon is really good, it gets them to pop which is what you need - you need the pressure to be released. You should also be using a nasal steroid spray - that should reduce the fluid in your ears. I'm surprised that hasn't been recommended. Then if you tubes stay gummed up you can have grommets - I'm currently waiting to have grommets inserted. Funnily enough I'm also 24 weeks pregnant but I really don't think blocked ears can be related to pregnancy in any way. Mine were playing up long before I became pregnant anyway.
Glue ear, as this condition is known in children, is really common in childhood. I had grommets then too. Just some of us adults are unlucky enough to get it too.

@NT2020 I completely understand this, as I suffer with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and did before pregnancy, which has got worse throughout pregnancy. If you haven't already, trying the holding your nose and breath and 'popping' your ears technique, that seems to help some times. Other times that won't work and I will need to do more. Try chewing gum, that helps get your jaw moving and releases the pressure in the tube.

Or another one that I find helps when it is at its worst is to 'clear each end' so blow your nose fully, so it is completely clear and to use hopi candles to clean out your ears fully. That way, neither end of the tube will be blocked and after you have done this, then try the holding your breath and nose, ear 'popping' technique.

Another one to try is what you would do if you had a stuffy nose - fill a bowl with steaming water and put your head over the top and a tea towel or something over your head to trap in the steam.

Hope you find something that helps, I know how uncomfortable it is x

Like the OP, I’m now 9 months pp and my ears are so so much better. The only time they get blocked now is when I go for a run. Hope you feel better and pregnancy is otherwise ok Meeti!