Stuffy Nose During Pregnancy: Avoiding Stuffy Nose During Pregnancy
Stuffy nose during pregnancy is one of the most common allergies which are caused when your immune system reacts. The actual name for it is – Rhinitis. Almost 20- 30% of the women report this allergy whether they have cold, some viral infections or not.
Women may have a stuffy nose during pregnancy anytime after the first trimester and may last till the baby is born or sometimes it may also last after the birth of the baby. The nose may be found to be stuffy either during the day time or one can also experience it during the night.
The more the amount of estrogen is, the more the mucous membranes inside your nose can swell. Stuffy nose during pregnancy may also be caused due to expansion of blood vessels which are a result of increased blood during pregnancy. Changes in other hormones may also cause a stuffy nose.
Remedies:
- Intake of a lot of fluids can help in treating a stuffy nose.
- Keep your head elevated during night.
- Steam can also heal the infection. You can take a warm shower or a steam bath for relief. A hot towel held up against your nose can be of great help.
- Nasal sprays or nose drops can be tried which are available all over the country across all the leading medical stores. It provides instant relief within 10-15 minutes. One can blow the nose more easily after applying these medicated drops.
- A vaporizer can be used in the room to keep it moist. But one has to be very careful while using vaporizer’s as the water has to be changed everyday otherwise bacteria can breed in it and cause more infections.
- Air pollution should be avoided. Smoking and usage of alcohol should be strictly prohibited. Also, going to places where there is a lot of air pollution is not recommended.
ne must consult their doctor before taking any medications as any intake of drugs can directly affect the baby. Drugs like Benadryl are advised. It can be used for a shorter period of time and are generally taken after antibiotics. Therefore, it is recommended to consult and then take proper action for a stuffy nose during pregnancy.