Does it seem like your allergies have gotten worse since you've been pregnant? If so, it's probably not your imagination. During pregnancy, your body undergoes a variety of changes that can make you feel pretty miserable. For some women, this includes an increase in allergy symptoms. The reason, at least in part, is because pregnancy can cause your nasal passages to swell and may create excess mucus.

If you've been undergoing immunotherapy, you're probably eager to continue. But you may be worried about mixing allergy shots with your pregnancy, and wonder if this practice will put your unborn child in any danger.

Can You Mix Allergy Shots and Pregnancy?

The answer depends on who you ask, since allergy shots and pregnancy can be a controversial topic. But the majority of doctors do believe that if you were undergoing allergy immunotherapy before you got pregnant and have reached a maintenance dose, then it's okay to continue while expecting. Furthermore, some researchers even believe that mixing allergy shots and pregnancy can end up being a good thing, not only for you, but also for your unborn baby.

The Benefits of Allergy Shots

A study conducted by Los Angeles scientists in the 1980s took a close look at the experiences of a small group of pregnant women getting maintenance-therapy to control their allergy symptoms. Interestingly enough, the data revealed that the fetuses suffered no ill effects from this practice. Furthermore, after birth, the majority of the children of immunized mothers showed no signs of having allergies themselves. This is in striking contrast to the allergy rates of children born to women who didn't undergo shots during pregnancy. This is particularly significant because allergies are often hereditary. It also makes an important case for continuing research to be done in this area.

What this Means for You

If you wonder what this means for you, there are several important messages to consider. First, if you've been getting allergy shots for a while and have reached a maintenance dose, you should talk to your allergist and ob-gyn about the feasibility of continuing with this approach. That said, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) also stresses that pregnant women who get allergy injections must be carefully monitored by their allergists to avoid the risk of a negative reaction that could be harmful to you or your fetus. In addition, if you haven't started getting shots yet, it's safest to wait until after the infant is born before beginning this treatment method.

It's also important to remember that you shouldn't rely on desensitization methods alone. You should also take steps to avoid coming into contact with your allergy triggers in order to minimize your reaction as much as you can, both for your own health and also for the wellbeing of your baby.

Sources

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/asthmaandpregnancy.stm

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

http://www.acaai.org/patients/resources/asthma/Pages/pregnancies-and-allergy-asthma-management.aspx

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073741899 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->