Allergy rhinitis (running nose and congestion) that's present before pregnancy will go one of three ways when you conceive. It can get better, worse, or stay. The changes are dependent upon several factors including seasonal allergies and pregnancy hormones. There's a type of rhinitis that is peculiar to pregnancy and it is called (fittingly) rhinitis of pregnancy.The symptoms from it mimic allergy rhinitis but, being that they are non-allergic in nature, these symptoms don't respond to anti-histamines.

Allergies and Pregnancy

Allergies are really common in pregnancy; of a quarter of pregnant women experience them. Not every one of them long-term allergy sufferers - women with no known prior allergies complain in the symptoms just during pregnancy. Many of the stuffy symptoms are not allergies whatsoever, but they're the result of hormone-induced swelling inside the nasal passages (that may also make actual allergy attacks much more uncomfortable). Others, however, can come to be indicators of newly discovered allergies.

Many women dealing with allergic reactions during pregnancy would rather not take any allergy medications. Sneezing, coughing, runny nose and watery eyes are thought to be part of the pregnancy experience and also the thought of the possible dangers of allergy medicine to her developing fetus can keep a woman far from the drug counter. Even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that no medicine is considered completely safe during pregnancy (based on the fact that no women that are pregnant would sign up for drug tests during pregnancy), research has shown that some medications could be relatively safe.

Suffering from allergies while pregnant is never a fun experience. You don't only have all the pregnancy related pains and aches, but your nose feels like someone stuffed it with cotton and yo are constantly sneezing. Some allergy medications are thought safe for use during pregnancy, but it's always the best idea to talk to your obstetrician before taking any medication - either over-the-counter or prescription.

What you can do: Despite the fact that already been taking regular medications to deal with allergies (whether prescription or higher the counter or homeopathic), seek advice from your practitioner about their safety while pregnant, and don't continue to use them before you get the go-ahead. In fact, your practitioner ought to be the final word on any medications you might like to use. Still, there are some general dos and do nots concerning the treatment of allergies in pregnancy: Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines are usually considered safe in pregnancy, though they are doing have some side effects, including causing you to sleepy (and if you are already tired from common pregnancy fatigue, do you really wish to take something that will add to that particular exhaustion?). But before taking any medications, even over-the-counter ones, seek advice from your practitioner first to ensure they're safe for your pregnancy.
Allergy shots are thought safe for pregnant women, as long as you been on the receiving end of these for a while before you conceived. Most allergists say it isn't a good idea to start allergy shots while pregnant, because they trigger changes in your already-fluctuating defense mechanisms and may cause unexpected reactions.
Regular decongestants containing the ingredient pseudoephedrine are most likely not a good idea for pregnant women; prevent them during your first trimester in particular, once the theoretical risks to the baby are highest.
The very best allergy defense, of course, is a great offense. Avoid your allergy triggers, whether or not they are cat dander or pollen or mold. Avoid people who smoke (and not only due to allergies, but also because secondhand smoke isn't good for you and especially bad for your child), and try to avoid household chemicals (for example paint thinner), which can provoke allergy symptoms for pregnancy.

What Causes Allergies   Dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, even cockroaches can all trigger a body's defense mechanisms to go into defense mode and think about these substances harmful foreign bodies. Mounting the attack, your body responds to these airborne invaders by releasing histamines along with other mediators as part of a chemical immune system. These chemical mediators react diversely in various parts of the body: the nose becomes runny, eyes itchy and watery, skin may develop rashes or hives, as well as in the lungs histamines can create difficult breathing, just like asthma.

If histamines and the other chemicals get into overdrive throughout the body, an individual can go into anaphylactic shock, which is a total system reaction shutdown that may be fatal.

Nearly 20 to A quarter of women of childbearing age are afflicted by allergies. Of pregnant women, seven to eight are influenced by asthma. While allergies are recognized to be a genetically predisposed condition, it is not as clear why allergic symptoms can become more severe during some women's pregnancies and hardly noticeable in other people.

Allergic symptoms also vary in every pregnancy. So while a ladies first pregnancy may have been full of rhinitis (better known as a runny nose), in her own second pregnancy she might be breathing easily.

Treatment of Rhinitis While pregnant

Nasal saline. Rhinitis of pregnancy tends to not respond to anti-histamines or nasal sprays. This problem seems to respond temporarily to nasal saline (brine), which is safe to use during pregnancy (it's not actually a drug). Nasal saline can be obtained over the counter, is inexpensive, and can be used as frequently as needed. Generally 3 to 6 sprays are put in each nostril, leaving the saline within the nose for up to 30 seconds, after which blowing the nose.
Anti-histamines. Older anti-histamines, for example chlorpheniramine and tripelennamine, are the preferred agents to deal with allergic rhinitis during pregnancy, and are both category B medications. Newer anti-histamines for example over-the-counter loratadine (Claritin®/Alavert® and generic forms) and prescription cetirizine (Zyrtec®) will also be pregnancy category B medications.

Decongestants. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®, many generic forms) may be the preferred oral decongestant to treat allergic and non-allergic rhinitis while pregnant, although should be avoided over the first trimester, as it has been related to infant gastroschisis. This medication is pregnancy category C.