Spring Allergies and Pregnancy

When you're pregnant, it’s natural to be extra cautious and protective of your body since you’re carrying a child. So most women are a bit tense when they get hives during pregnancy, or severe pollen allergies especially now that it's allergy season.

Fortunately, there are some myths about spring allergy that will ease pregnant women and there are tips they can follow to make sure that they won’t develop any complications that could affect the babies in their wombs.

Taking allergy meds can affect your baby

Developing allergies during pregnancy can be a bummer, and a lot of women believe that taking allergy meds while they are pregnant can affect their unborn child. But the truth is most allergy meds these days are very safe for expecting mothers. Also, most nasal sprays are safe for expectant mothers because the chemicals in them are focused only on your sinuses and it won’t travel to the rest of your body.

Be wary of decongestants

According to scientists, taking in decongestants to alleviate your allergies might affect the development of your child. Decongestants are used to reduce the pressure on your sinuses by constricting your nose’s blood vessels. But since this drug constricts your blood vessels there is a chance that you might deprive your unborn baby of much needed oxygen, which could lead to severe complications.

Fortunately, there are decongestants that you can use because they’re safe for pregnant women and these are: pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine. Although, recent findings show that the use of pseudoephedrine lead to defects on the abdominal wall of newborn babies so best to consult your physician to check what medication will be best for you.

There are also newer medicines that you can try such as azelastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine. According to scientists, these medicines are safe for pregnant women and they do not cause drowsiness as compared to other anti-allergy medications.

Make your home allergy-free

There are a lot of ways on how to get rid of allergies. Taking medicines to alleviate your symptoms may be necessary, but before it leads to that situation, you can keep your allergies at bay first by making your home hypoallergenic. This means that you should get rid of your carpeted floors so that no allergens will stick to them.

This also means that you should was your sheets regularly and not dry them outside because pollen and mold can attach to it. This also means that you should take a bath regularly in order to get rid of any allergen that may have stuck to your skin.

You should also make sure that your clothes, sheets and furniture are hypoallergenic so wear pure organic cotton clothes, purchase cotton bed sheets and duvets and opt for wooden chairs or leather sofas to make sure no allergens will attach to them.

Consult your physician

Experiencing symptoms of skin allergy during pregnancy could be stressful. But the best course of action when you are suffering from allergies while you’re pregnant is to consult your doctor and have him/her prescribe you with a medicine that is safe for you and your baby.