Managing Your Allergies During Pregnancy

Many pregnant women experience a host of discomforts as their bodies change. Those with allergies may also find their symptoms getting worse as their pregnancy progresses, making them feel quite miserable. If this scenario sounds all too familiar to you, the good news is that you don’t have to spend the next nine months suffering. There are things you can do to manage your symptoms so you can focus your attention getting ready for your newest family member.

You Can Get Relief

Can you safely treat your allergy symptoms while you are pregnant? The answer is a definite “maybe.” According to the Food and Drug Administration, nothing is completely “no-risk” during pregnancy. This is because there are few studies that have been done to assess the safety of taking most drugs during pregnancy, mainly because most pregnant women don’t want to participate in such trials. Nonetheless, there are many effective options that exist which are unlikely to put you or your fetus at much risk.

Troublesome Symptoms

Not everyone with allergies has their symptoms worsen as their pregnancies progress. Some women find that their allergies remain unchanged—or even improve—during pregnancy, but others do find their allergy symptoms kicking into high gear. This can be because their bodies become more sensitive to seasonal triggers. In addition, hormonal changes that occur throughout pregnancy can sometimes affect your nose, sinuses and lungs, causing further symptoms.
When left uncontrolled, allergy symptoms sometimes lead to asthma, and can put both mother and baby at risk for a number of complications, including premature birth and low birth weight.

Weigh Your Options

If you are wondering whether to try to “tough out” your symptoms or to treat them, you should always follow your doctor’s guidelines since every situation is different. But as a general rule, most medical experts say that when the untreated symptoms pose more of a risk to you or to your unborn baby than the medication itself, you should indeed opt to treat your symptoms and get some much-needed relief.

Treatment Options

If you’ve decided to treat your symptoms, there are a few options that your doctor may recommend you take. Just understand that the FDA classifies medication by how safe they are considered during pregnancy, so if you decide to try an over-the-counter or prescription remedy, always check with your physician or a pharmacist first to see how any drug you are considering is rated. Also note that some medications that are used in later stages of pregnancy may not be advised during the first trimester, when the risk of birth defects is highest.

Some of the older antihistamines, as well as a few of the medicated nasal sprays and nasal steroids, are often prescribed for pregnant women. Decongestants, however, are generally recommended only after the first trimester has ended.

Further, if you have asthma symptoms, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends that pregnant women opt for inhaled medications rather than oral whenever they have the option.

Finally, if you already receive allergy shots, they may be safe to continue during pregnancy, although most doctors don’t advise starting them on a new patient who is pregnant.

A Natural Approach

Remember that while some treatment options are warranted during pregnancy on an “as needed” basis, the best approach is of course to avoid the symptoms in the first place if you can. To this end, you can try to steer clear of things that trigger your allergies whenever possible. In addition, try taking a hot shower, using a vaporizer, gargling with salt water or using a saline nose spray to manage some of your troublesome symptoms in the safest and most natural way.