Hay fever medication during pregnancy

[Viennal11]

Hi everyone, first time Mumsnet user here and expecting first baby in December 😊.

I'm seriously struggling with hay fever this year, it's taking over my life! Constantly sneezing and blocked up, eyes streaming and unbearably itchy, and I'm struggling to get any sleep. It's been this way for a few weeks now and I've been trying to avoid taking pills so have been using natural nasal sprays and vaseline etc, but none of it is working.

I spoke to a pharmacist who told me not to take any tablets. Then I spoke to my GP who just said try to avoid tablets but if you're really suffering then cetirizine 'should be ok'.

I've reached the point where I feel I can't go all summer like this and I think I'm going to have to take some sort of tablet, but I guess I'm just looking for some sort of reassurance from other people who may have taken hay fever tablets during pregnancy and all was ok? I'm a little confused because my GP suggested cetirizine yet all the online advice seems to suggest trying Loratadine first?

Sorry for the rambling! Oh and I'm about 16 weeks. Thanks in advance for advice

Loratidine is first choice but cetirizine is considered ok too. You can use corticosteroid sprays too

Beconase nasal spray is very effective and fine to use in pregnancy.

Another vote for Beconase. I suffer from terrible hay fever and it's safe in pregnancy, which is lucky because I find it's the only thing that works. You just have to give it a few days to kick in.

Have you tried eye drops as well?

I was told no tablets at all, but that nose sprays were okay. It took a week or so of regular use but the nose spray is working great for me now.

Thanks so much for the replies. I thought beconase and other corticosteroids were off limits too, so it's good to know this is actually another option. Just ordered some beconase from amazon :) hopefully that will be more effective. Will also look for eye drops as I haven't tried those yet. Thanks again everyone

Beconase and anti histamine eye drops. I took tablets during pregnancy too.

I was recommended Becodefence Plus by a pharmacist as it’s is a drug-free nasal spray but a midwife recommended loratidine tablets if needed and they seem to not make me as drowsy as some others! I’ve only needed the tablets when going glamping.

When I started researching the whole thing was a minefield with everything contradicting each other !

I also bought some hay max to stop pollen/barrier.

I have awful hayfever and also used beconase