What can a pregnant woman take for stuffy nose

Q: Can a pregnant woman use nasal decongestant?

If youre suffering from a cold or allergies during pregnancy, nasal sprays are most likely safe to use. Oxymetazoline, one of the most common active ingredients used in nasal spray decongestants (including Afrin), is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy.

These five tips for treating sinus congestion while pregnant can help you get over your stuffy nose without using medication that might pose a risk to baby.

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1. Avoid Allergens and Pollutants

Avoid unnecessary exposure to nasal allergens and pollutants, such as smog and cigarette smoke.

2. Keep Yourself Hydrated

Drinking even more water than usual each day is very effective in treating sinus congestion while pregnant.

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3. Keep Your Nasal Passages Clear

Flush your nasal passages with saltwater nose drops several times a day. These are available without a prescription, or you can make your own. To make your own saltwater drops, use a quarter teaspoon of salt to a cup of water.

4. Use a Facial Steamer for Treating Sinus Congestion

Clear sinus congestion while pregnant with a simple facial steamer. A facial steamer is a hot mist vaporizer. A facial steamer “steam cleans” your nasal passageways.

5. Consider Nasal Sprays (Decongestants, Antihistamines)

Medicines that constrict the nose’s blood vessels may enter the bloodstream and constrict the uterus or placenta blood vessels. Therefore, decongestants should be used only under a doctor’s supervision and only in the dosage and frequency your doctor recommends. (Women with decreased placental circulation should be cautious about taking any form of inhaled or oral decongestants.)

Some nasal sprays are safer than others. Except for saltwater (or saline) nasal spray, consult your doctor before taking nasal sprays.

Afrin

Afrin (oxymetazoline), when used only twice a day and for a couple of days, hasn’t been shown to cause harmful effects on the developing baby.

Inhaled Nasal Steroids

Inhaled nasal steroids (e.g., Vancenase and Beconase) are in the “probably safe” category for treating sinus congestion while pregnant. However, only when taken a couple of times a day and for a short period of time. Best to stick with the lower potency inhaled steroids unless advised by your doctor.

Cromolyn

Cromolyn (Intal) is safe to take during pregnancy. It’s not a decongestant, a steroid, or antihistamine. Cromolyn is a medication that lessens nasal congestion due to allergies when taken over a long period of time. It is beneficial during seasonal allergic rhinitis or hayfever. It’s not helpful during an acute attack of a stuffy nose.

Nasal or Oral Decongestants

Nasal or oral decongestants that contain the following compounds are possibly harmful to the developing baby. They shouldn’t be taken to clear sinus congestion while pregnant. Consult with your doctor. These decongestants include ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, Neo-synephrine, phenylephrine. These decongestants constrict the vessels in the airway passages. Therefore, they may also constrict the blood vessels delivering blood to the baby.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines. Chlorpheniramine and tripelennamine are categorized as safe to use for sinus congestion while pregnant. (green light). Others are recommended only with reservation (yellow light). Yellow light antihistamines include those containing brompheniramine, diphenhydramine, terfenadine, and clemastine. These have been implicated in causing eye damage in premature infants if taken in the last two weeks of pregnancy. However, this is a rare finding.

Injections

If you have been taking allergy shots before becoming pregnant, your doctor may advise continuing these shots during pregnancy. However, reactivity to these injections may change during pregnancy. Your doctor may elect to change the dosage. It is unlikely that your doctor would advise starting allergy shots during pregnancy.

Cough Syrup

While pregnant, cough syrups should be taken with caution. It’s best to limit to nighttime-use or severe coughs. Available studies have shown no link between guaifenesin and fetal defects.

For more information on medication safe during pregnancy, see The Healthy Pregnancy Book: Month by Month, Everything You Need to Know from America’s Baby Experts

What helps a stuffy nose when pregnant?

Home Remedies: How to Alleviate a Congestion Naturally.

Drink plenty of fluids such as water, broth, and citrus juice. ... .

Use saline nasal irrigation or saline nose drops. ... .

Use a humidifier at night. ... .

Elevating your head with a couple of pillows while lying down may make breathing easier..

What nasal medicine can I take while pregnant?

If a runny nose is more of a problem than a congested one, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, loratadine or cetirizine are all safe to take during pregnancy.

Can a pregnant woman use nasal decongestant?

If you're suffering from a cold or allergies during pregnancy, nasal sprays are most likely safe to use. Oxymetazoline, one of the most common active ingredients used in nasal spray decongestants (including Afrin), is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy.

What does a stuffy nose Mean while pregnant?

Pregnancy rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nose. This causes nasal congestion. Increased blood flow to the nasal passages and enlargement of the nasal veins also play a role. Symptoms occur during pregnancy.