How to treat hay fever during pregnancy

Hay fever at any time is no fun - but it’s especially annoying to get it when you're pregnant. Unfortunately, it is relatively common and can occur at any time of the year; not just during spring.

If you think you may be suffering from hay fever in pregnancy then follow our tips to learn how to spot it and, more importantly, how to treat it.

As with any medical condition or concern during pregnancy, always speak to your doctor, midwife, or pharmacist before taking any action.

What is pregnancy hay fever or pregnancy rhinitis?

Hay fever is essentially an allergic reaction experienced towards pollen. The medical name for the condition is allergic rhinitis. If you experience this during pregnancy then it is often referred to as pregnancy rhinitis and can be caused by hormone imbalances within your body. This means that you could experience pregnancy rhinitis even if you've not had hay fever before.

What should you do if you have pregnancy rhinitis or hay fever?

To help your diagnosis and treatment plan it is important to understand what pregnancy rhinitis looks like and how you can treat or prevent its effects on your health.

Pregnancy rhinitis symptoms

Your body will go through a lot of changes during pregnancy, but the following could be signs of rhinitis during pregnancy:

• Stuffy sinuses: a blocked nose and feeling of congestion in the nose or head.

• Pregnancy sneezing: sneezing more often than is normal for you.

• Itchy or running eyes: a feeling of itchiness around the eyes, redness, swelling and even watering at the eyes.

How to treat hay fever during pregnancy

If you have any of the above symptoms then you can try these tips to treat them. 

• Take hay fever medications. Check these are safe for pregnancy by checking with your doctor, midwife, or pharmacist first. Even for over-the-counter drugs.

• Use natural remedies. Non-medicated nasal sprays and eye drops may offer relief from your symptoms.

• Keep your house clean and dust-free. Give it a regular wipe down with a good quality cleaning liquid such as Handy Andy to help reduce allergic triggers in your home.

No one wants to spend their pregnancy indoors due to allergies and hay fever. If you’re suffering from pregnancy rhinitis speak to a healthcare professional as soon as possible to find the right steps to take.

Work out your triggers for hay fever in pregnancy to help reduce your symptoms. Start by keeping your house clean and dust free with a good quality cleaning liquid, such as Handy Andy.

• Speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

• Assess your symptoms (try writing a symptom diary) and work out your triggers.

• Keep your home clean and tidy to reduce the spread of allergens.