Did anyone else feel really congested in pregnancy?

[blockednosewoes]

Since 30 weeks I’ve been really congested, especially on a nighttime, which means I can’t breathe through my nose and have to breathe through my mouth. It keeps waking me up and I’m worried about oxygen levels for me and baby as well as it just being a huge pain. I don’t think it’s a cold as I don’t feel unwell and I have had it a couple of weeks now.
Did this symptom happen to anyone else?

Yes. Me!!!! It was horrible. But apparently it’s totally normal. Blood vessels expanding or something. It’s one of the weirder not talked about pregnancy “side effects” for want of a better term.

I bought these to help. They gently open your nasal passages. Totally not invasive.

www.boots.com/boots-re-balance-snoring-nasal-strips-20-strips-10125934?srsltid=AfmBOoqUbn-PsgxS_bZx8kM5qOCKCGWZ7cWuE8-7naFaXnVAAoNmA5uf

Thank you so much for this! Going to look at buying them. Has your baby been born now? I’m hoping it’s a symptom that will ease after birth. Just mainly concerned I’m not breathing properly in the night.

Yes it drove me absolutely mad and stopped literally the second I gave birth - no idea what it was.

Yes, I have this! 37 weeks. My nose is blocked so I'm snoring so loud I'm waking myself up and driving my poor OH insane, though he isn't complaining! I'm also waking up with a horrible dry mouth/lips/throat from breathing so much through my nose. My OH has woken me up a few times because he's said I've made a couple of funny noises as though I'm struggling to breathe.

I have a little humidifier I used when I had a sore throat, that might be worth a go? I'm also looking at the nasal strips posted above! X

Oh yes!
Unfortunately you can't get Karvol nowadays.
But rosemary oil in an oil burner helped...
Not sure if that's allowed now either!

I've had it since start of this pregnancy on and off and had it in my previous one too. Sterimar nose spray is my go to thing to clear it out, it's non medicated so safe to use in pregnancy and you can use as much as you need throughout the day.

Yes, and I snored like a warthog throughout! But it stopped the minute I gave birth. I also wee'd like a horse for 2 days after giving birth as I was so full of water (preeclampsia). All in all the whole experience was very veterinarian! 😳

Yes, with both pregnancies! The nasal strips are really helpful, as is the sterimar spray, or even better a saline nasal rinse, if you can face it. I used the NeilMed sachets and squeeze bottles, I think (it's a few years ago now, so memory is hazy). I remember I really didn't like the idea of the sinus rinse, amd itvtakes a bit of practice, but it was a game changer.

*edited for typos

Yes! I think it’s called pregnancy rhinitis or non-allergic rhinitis

Yes. Baby one is almost 7 and baby 2 is 5.

as others have said it went pretty much as soon as both arrived. It’s really annoying. But totaly normal.

Oh god yes, it was bloody awful! I feel for you, Op.

Had a humidifier in the room to try and help but didn't make much difference.

As another poster said, within minutes of giving birth, it was gone....