Advice on how to unblock stuffy / congested nose during pregnancy

[auntbatty]

Hi there,

I'm 15 weeks pregnant & have got a REALLY blocked nose. I've tried all the recommended remedies (see below) and nothing works apart from Sudafed's blocked nose spray which I've stopped using as it's not recommended for use in pregnancy.

Here's what I've tried so far:

-Otrivine Natural spray
-Becodefencespray
-Saline solution spray
-Vicks inhaler
-Eucalyptus oil in a room mister humidifier
-Eucalyptus oil in hot water and steam
-Airwaves chewing gum

Movement, e.g. walking, helps a bit but I can't really do this as I'm about to fall asleep which is when it gets bad.

Please help! x

Fill a large bowl full of boiling water, add some lemon juice & put your head over it and cover your head over the bowl with a tea towel - the hot steam will help drain the mucus from your nasal cavities.

Works a treat every time & completely natural!

Have you tried a neti pot/sinus rinse? They're not the most pleasant of things to do but the relief afterwards is worth it!

I use this one:

lloydspharmacy.com/products/neilmed-adult-sinus-rinse-starter-kit-10-sachets?currency=GBP&variant=32657570201663&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqfvxxrKc8QIVg4bVCh0WxQvKEAQYAyABEgKHIvD_BwE

Omg I feel so bad for you. I had this throughout my entire first pregnancy from about 12 weeks (sorry!). Nothing I tried made a huge difference unfortunately. I bought a cold humidifier for nighttime, tried all the sprays etc. It's hormonal. It's swollen membranes rather than an actual blockage (of snot etc) so most of the sprays don't work.

Good news was that I didn't have it at all second pregnancy.

I hope yours goes quickly! Mine went soon after birth.

Thanks so much all - that's really helpful :) I'm going to try these remedies asap x

Sterimar nasal spray is just saline but I find that very helpful and it’s safe during pregnancy. Also I googled facial massage for blocked sinuses and found good routines from ear nose and throat doctors, maybe see would be of some use too! I second the steam 👍hope you feel better!

I just used decongestant...looked it up and the risk was tiny...it was the only thing that worked

+1 for neti pot!

Breathe right strips! Absolute lifesaver for me during my first pregnancy (congestion didn't affect me so much during subsequent pregnancies). They're the nose plasters you see moto gp riders wearing, I think they're also recommended for snorers... whatever, at night they were AMAZING.

Definitely the Sterimar spray as recommended by a PP, I have also used DD’s calpol diffuser wotsit for nighttime which helped a bit.

@BadgeronaMoped

Breathe right strips! Absolute lifesaver for me during my first pregnancy (congestion didn't affect me so much during subsequent pregnancies). They're the nose plasters you see moto gp riders wearing, I think they're also recommended for snorers... whatever, at night they were AMAZING.

I second breathe right strips! I am suffering with swollen nose, hayfever and nosebleeds in this pregnancy. Oh the joys!

I also use nasal strips at night, I bought the large ones as the small ones kept peeling off (and I don’t have an especially large nose I don’t think!)

Rubbing a little coconut oil on the inside of the nostrils helped me with the dryness at night (also hormonal)

I had exactly the same, literally only feeling better the last two days. I spoke to the doctor 3 times and only when I'd had the blocked nose for 6 and a half weeks did she prescribe me anything. I got some antibiotic cream as the inside of my nose was bleeding and really sore and some steroid nasal spray. Both completely safe in pregnancy so honestly no idea why I hadn't been prescribed them before. I feel like a new woman now.
I tried everything you tried too, including the Sudafed: good luck, but speak to your doctors x

Thanks so much all :) Great suggestions x