My nose is so stuffy and it's making me mad?

Question

I am 12 weeks pregnant. Ever since I have been pregnant my nose has constanly been stuffy and iritating. I have to blow it all the time, and it hurts. Also, I am sneezing ALL the time. I have never had allergies before. I tried using saline nasal spray but it doesn't seem to do anything. Any suggestion, please?

Answer 1

You might want to be cautious about using nasal spray because it is a medication and there are so many things that aren't safe to use while we are pregnant...especially the cortisones that are in some nasal sprays.

For some women they will have nasal congestion throughout their pregnancy because the membranes in the nose and sinuses are similar to the vaginal membranes. So, the same hormones that cause "congestion" in the reproductive area will also be working on the nasal area. That's part of why pregnant women are more susceptible to smells. There is more blood in the uterus/vagina and also in the nasal/sinus area helping these body parts to work in overdrive.

I'm sorry to say that you also might've developed an allergy you never had before. I did...I miss milk so much :-(. Hopefully it will go away as your hormones change or after you deliver.

Try a humidifier, switch to tissues that have lotion, use saline nasal spray, or put an air purifier in a room you spend a lot of time in.

Don't get down though, It very possibly won't last the whole time. When I get a "cold" while pregnant it lasts a lot longer than normal, but does eventually go away. And if you've developed an allergy to pollen or grass that stuff has to eventually stop blooming or growing and you'll get relief then.

Answer 2

This seems to be common among pregnant women. I think it has something to do with the extra blood flow in a pregnant woman's body. I had a stuffy nose toward the end of both of my pregnancies. All the remedies my ob/gyn told me to use (saline, vaporizer, etc.) didn't do squat. I finally got desperate enough that I went out and bought Afrin. You're not suppose to use it during pregnancy because it can raise the baby's heart rate, but I used it only once a day, at night, so I could fall asleep and be able to breathe!! Both of my boys are perfectly fine...

Answer 3

I had the same problem. Someone suggested I do a saline "homade" wash. You fill up a squeeze bottle with warm water & salt and tip your head back and squeeze as much into your sinuses as you can handle. Then let sit for a minute. After that you should be able to blow everything out and your sinuses should be cleared up for a while anyway and all the bacteria cleared out. The warm water works a lot better than the OTC saline drops. It's rough but believe me- it works when you're desperate:o)

Answer 4

I am 18 weeks and i have the same problem its like i got alergies with the pregnancie i sneek and wake up with my nose all plugged the only suggestion i can give you is this:

ginger root skined and cut into trird of and inch chunks
boil water in a sauce pan
put 2 chunks in
boil till ginger is soft

and drink it like a tea (milk, sugar)
becarful it will get spicy so dont boil it for too long it
tastes like sh*t but it works

Answer 5

That sucks, use some good nasal spray like 4-way or Afrin, saline won't clear it up.

Answer 6

Steam inhalations. Avoiding your allergic triggers. The occasional use of a topical nasal decongestant.

Answer 7

Sinex....dont be a wuss, go for the big guns. Saline indeed! You dont need to use it in both nostrils unless really in trouble...just go for the most blocked nostril.

Answer 8

i had the same problem. saline nose drops or see if your doc will prescribe flonase mine did.

Answer 9

it is normal just get a hummidefire in your room.

Answer 10

pregnancy side effects....