Itchy and stuffy nose, watery and itchy eyes, and even irritable cough – many women also suffer from hay fever during pregnancy. But not every woman reacts in the same way. If you already had hay fever before pregnancy, you may react better to it or worse due to your altered immune system. Women who already had to treat their hay fever with medication before pregnancy do not dare to continue taking it during pregnancy because they are afraid of harming their baby. However, it is not always advisable to do without medication.
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What Should I Do If I Suffer From Hay Fever During Pregnancy?
If you suffer from hay fever, it can already help if you try to avoid the pollen. Keep your windows closed and when driving in the car a special interior filter can help. In the daily newspaper or even through certain apps, you can find out when the pollen is flying very strongly. But there is no complete protection against pollen. Often it helps to resort to a prescription corticoid spray. This contains the active ingredient mometasone and protects the mucous membranes from the pollen. The spray is only used very lightly and is already broken down in the nasal mucosa. So it harms neither the pregnant woman nor her baby. But it is important that you consult your doctor beforehand. This also applies if you want to buy over-the-counter remedies in the pharmacy. Women who suffer from allergic asthma should never stop taking their medication without consulting their doctor. In many cases, taking the pills irregularly or not at all does more harm than the medication itself. To prevent hay fever completely, only immunotherapy can help. However, this can only be started years or even months before pregnancy. Women who undergo this therapy and become pregnant can in most cases continue the therapy, provided that no side effects appear. If the therapy is discontinued, it can be continued after the pregnancy.
Home Remedies For Hay Fever During Pregnancy
To moisten the nasal mucosa and relieve itching, a steam bath with a saline solution helps. To do this, bring water to a boil in a pot and add one to two teaspoons of table salt. Remove the pot from the heat and inhale the steam for about ten minutes. There are also nasal rinses with table salt available for purchase, which you can also use to rid your nose of pollen. Alternatively, you can inhale peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil added to hot water. Itching in the eyes can be relieved by applying a damp cloth to the eyes. Some women also add eyebright to the water, but here ask your gynecologist or midwife if you can use eyebright (Euphrasia) without hesitation during pregnancy. Also remember that pollen can also get caught in your hair. Therefore, shower before going to bed, so you avoid being exposed to pollen all night. If you wear contact lenses, you should avoid them at times when pollen is flying and switch to your glasses. Drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy balanced diet is also important with hay fever and can affect how severe your allergy becomes. If you suffer very badly from hay fever during your pregnancy, you can also escape the heavy pollen count by spending a few days on vacation by the sea or even in the mountains.
