Rhinitis during pregnancy: symptoms, treatment methods, reviews

Runny nose is one of the most common illnesses during pregnancy. This phenomenon is considered an easily tolerated ailment. But during gestosis, you can not neglect this pathology. Rhinitis during pregnancy can threaten complications for both a woman and a baby. Moreover, one cannot use uncontrolled colds, because many of the usual remedies are contraindicated in a woman who is in an interesting position.

What is rhinitis in pregnant women?

The human nose is responsible for proper breathing, protects the body from environmental irritants and biological hazards. Inside the nose there are passages that are lined with mucous membranes. In a healthy person, the mucous membrane produces mucus that flows down the back of the nasopharynx. The function of mucus is the collection of toxins and other irritants inhaled by humans. With irritation of the mucous membrane, an increase in mucus formation occurs, flowing into a runny nose.

Rhinitis during pregnancy is usually caused by hormonal changes that occur in a woman's body. The placenta produces a large number of hormones that affect the increase in the number of mucous secretions. As a result, the nasal breathing is disturbed in the pregnant woman and a runny nose occurs. Another reason for the appearance of rhinitis in women in position, doctors call an increase in the volume of circulating blood. This phenomenon can cause swelling of the small vessels of the nasal mucosa and congestion in the surrounding tissues.

When does pregnant rhinitis appear and how long does it last

The statistics of the appearance of rhinitis during the period of bearing a child is as follows:

• Beginning of the 2nd trimester - 30%.
• The end of the 2nd - the beginning of the 3rd trimester - 38%.
• The end of the 3rd trimester and before childbirth - 42%.

Rhinitis during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is not very common, since at this time hormonal changes are not so significant. Usually, the first signs of a runny nose in pregnant women begin at 12–13 weeks. The painful condition can drag on for up to four weeks. Then the symptoms go away by themselves. But there are cases when rhinitis bothers a pregnant woman for 2 months. The reason for this may be the development of chronic rhinitis or another form of pathology.

Symptoms

Signs of rhinitis during pregnancy may vary, depending on the type of pathology and the individual characteristics of the woman's body. However, there are general symptoms that are characteristic of any form of the phenomenon of rhinitis with gestosis. A woman may complain of pain or sore throat, respiratory failure, coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite, headache. Often, patients experience a loss of smell, a foreign body sensation in the nose, and poor sleep. Symptoms may be overt or mild. Constant nasal congestion, discharge, difficulty breathing affect the mood of a pregnant woman. She becomes irritable and tired.

Types of Rhinitis

Over the entire period of pregnancy, a woman may encounter various types of runny nose. Any of them is a danger to the fetus.

1. Hormonal rhinitis. This type of pregnancy occurs due to vascular edema in the sinuses of the nose against a background of hormonal changes. Signs of such rhinitis will be: nasal congestion, rare sneezing, secretion of liquid mucus. In another way, this phenomenon is called vasomotor rhinitis during pregnancy. His treatment should be very careful. Do not immediately resort to the use of medicines, because until the body gets used to the changes that occur, the symptoms of hormonal rhinitis will not disappear.
2. Infectious rhinitis. This kind of pathology occurs against the background of weakened body forces and its susceptibility to various viruses and infections. Symptoms typical of infectious rhinitis are: pain in the muscles and / or joints, weakness, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, fever, fever, chills, severe runny nose. Infectious rhinitis (especially in the early stages) is very dangerous for the unborn baby. If it is not treated, then there is the possibility of developing pathologies and abnormalities in the fetus.
3. Allergic runny nose. The reason for the appearance of this phenomenon is the development of an allergic reaction to animal hair, flowering plants, dust, food and other allergens. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that during pregnancy a woman's body can react more sharply to stimuli. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis are as follows: frequent sneezing, lacrimation, sensation of itching or burning of the mucous membrane, the appearance of a dry cough. The presence of these symptoms may indicate the development of allergic rhinitis during pregnancy. Its treatment involves the elimination of an allergen, the restoration of the respiratory function of the nose and the strengthening of immunity. An allergic rhinitis must be treated necessarily, because it can develop into a chronic cold and be transmitted to the baby.
4. Chronic rhinitis Such a runny nose can have atrophic or hypertrophic forms. Any of them is a serious danger, because chronic rhinitis during pregnancy can lead to the development of asthma, otitis media, tonsillitis or pneumonia. Symptoms of the pathology are: nasal congestion, difficulty in nasal breathing, nasal discharge, cough, voice changes. Usually, in case of chronic runny nose, expectant mother is prescribed douching with saline solutions.

The consequences of rhinitis in pregnant women

The biggest danger for a woman and a baby is a runny nose caused by a viral infection, since there is a risk of infection of the fetus and the development of pathologies. Hormonal runny nose during pregnancy is not dangerous, but it can make the life of a future mother uncomfortable, because nasal congestion affects the quality of sleep. Rhinitis during pregnancy can cause the following negative consequences:

• Since a woman breathes through her mouth with nasal congestion, the mucous membrane of the oral cavity is drained, which makes her susceptible to infections. Against the background of this condition, the development of pharyngitis or tonsillitis is possible. Infectious acute rhinitis during pregnancy can cause sinusitis, sinusitis, or otitis media.
• Infectious rhinitis is dangerous not only by swelling of the nasal mucosa. It can cause thickening of the walls of the placenta, which will provoke a lack of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. This can lead to the development of pathologies, lag in growth and development, and in the first trimester this situation threatens to miscarriage.
• In the first trimester, rhinitis caused by viruses and bacteria can cause the fetus to freeze.
• Rhinitis of any kind contributes to respiratory failure of the expectant mother, and this is fraught with the development of fetoplacental insufficiency and fetal hypoxia. Such complications are dangerous spontaneous miscarriage, premature birth or the birth of a small baby.
• If infectious rhinitis has overcome a woman before childbirth, then the baby can become infected from the mother immediately after birth.

In any case, rhinitis during pregnancy is a danger to both the expectant mother and the baby. Therefore, you should not delay the visit to the doctor in order to start taking the necessary therapeutic measures in time.

Therapeutic measures

How to treat rhinitis during pregnancy? Among the many drugs, the safest should be chosen. The choice of this or that medication should be discussed with the doctor. It is better to give preference to alternative methods of treating a cold. The solution to the problem should begin with a visit to your doctor who will determine the form of rhinitis and prescribe an effective therapy.

Cold drops

This is a kind of magic wand, which is resorted to by almost all patients suffering from nasal congestion. But during pregnancy, a woman can not use all nasal drops. In the first 12 weeks, it is strictly forbidden to use any vasoconstrictor drugs: "Naphthyzine", "Galazolin", "Naphazoline", "Oxymetazoline" and others. Treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy with vasoconstrictive drops is prohibited for the following reasons:

• The effect of the drug extends to the vessels of the placenta, as a result of which they narrow. This complicates the flow of oxygen to the fetus, which can cause its hypoxia.
• With repeated use, addiction to drops occurs, and this implies an increase in the dose to achieve the effect. This will only aggravate the situation and increase fetal hypoxia.
• Drops can provoke an increase in pressure, and in the 2nd and 3rd trimester this is undesirable, because during this period many women already suffer from this problem.
• Vasoconstrictor drops make the nasal mucosa dry, and this has a beneficial effect on the penetration of infections and bacteria.

How to treat rhinitis during pregnancy? What drops can I use? Doctors recommend the drug Pinosol. It contains pine oil, peppermint and eucalyptus. The drug will facilitate breathing and will have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Drops "Pinosol" are absolutely safe for the expectant mother and fetus. In small doses, some vasoconstrictive drops for rhinitis can be used. During pregnancy, it is "Nazol Baby" or "Nazol Kids." With a severe cold, the doctor may prescribe these drugs, but with special recommendations: instill the drug no more than three times a day for 2-3 days (no more).

Washing

The procedure for washing the sinuses of the nose is considered quite effective in controlling the common cold. It helps remove mucus, dust and germs. You can rinse your nose with saline or medications. The most famous tools for this procedure are as follows:

• "Aqualor".
• Humer.
• Dolphin.
• "Aquamaris".

Due to difficulties in maintaining the correct dosage, it is not recommended to prepare a saline solution for treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy. The nose can be washed with a solution of chamomile. To do this, you need to buy grass in a pharmacy and brew one tablespoon in a liter of boiling water. The solution should be infused for one hour, then it is filtered and used as directed.

Inhalations and thermal procedures

The most well-known thermal procedure is to apply hot boiled eggs or bags of heated salt to the sinuses of the nose. The effect of the procedure leads to an improvement in blood circulation in the mucosa due to blood flow. Liquefaction of mucus occurs, nasal passages are released, breathing becomes free. The procedure can not be performed if rhinitis is accompanied by an increase in body temperature. You can also warm your feet with dry heat. This means that during a cold, the expectant mother must walk in woolen socks.

Steam inhalations are also effective treatments for the common cold during pregnancy. They also can not be done at elevated temperatures. It is best to carry out the procedure with the help of an inhaler with a special medicine (it is prescribed by a doctor). But you can use the methods of traditional medicine:

• Breathe over infusions of chamomile, mint, ledum, eucalyptus or sage.
• Breathe over boiled potato peels or potatoes.

For these procedures you will need a towel. A container with a hot solution is set in front of itself on a flat surface, cover your head with a towel and breathe over steam for 5-7 minutes.

Other folk remedies

The healer’s recipes are widely used to treat rhinitis during pregnancy. Reviews about the results of such treatment are found only positive. The most famous folk recipes for treating a runny nose in pregnant women are as follows:

• Inhalation of vapors of chopped onions and garlic. To do this, just chop the vegetables and breathe over them. These vegetables are also used for steam inhalation: onions and garlic are placed in boiling water and breathe over the steam. You can use onion or garlic juice, diluted in a ratio of 1: 1 with boiled water. Then the juice is instilled three times a day dropwise into each nasal passage.
• Carrot or beetroot juice. To prepare the product, it is necessary to squeeze the juice from carrots or beets and dilute with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 1. This medicine can be instilled up to 5 times a day.
• A mixture of apple and horseradish root. It has an anti-edematous effect, which helps to improve breathing. In addition, the mixture helps to strengthen the body's immune forces. Method of preparation: on a fine grater, it is necessary to rub the apple and horseradish root (2: 1 ratio), add 1 tsp. sugar and stir. The resulting mixture is taken in the morning and evening, one teaspoon.
• Self-massage. Massaging the reflex zones will help to cope with nasal congestion. Light circular movements must be pressed on the area under the nose and on the nose. You can also massage the maxillary sinuses and the area under the eyebrows.

• Vitamin infusion. For its preparation, herbs of St. John's wort and plantain will be needed. To prepare a vitamin infusion, you need to take two tbsp. tablespoons of each herb, mix, pour a glass of boiling water and put to infuse for two hours. Then the infusion is filtered and drunk during the day. The remedy must be taken 7 days. To do this, you need to cook it again every day.

Treatment of viral rhinitis

For the treatment of the common cold caused by the virus, a pregnant woman should use all of the above methods. In addition, the doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs that are allowed during pregnancy:

• "Oxolinic ointment" (nasal passages need to be lubricated two or three times a day).
• "Derinat" (dragee consists of medicinal herbs that have an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect, take dragees three times a day).
• Ointment "Viferon" (it is applied three times a day on the nasal mucosa).
• The drug is Sinupret. This is a plant-based remedy. It is often prescribed for acute sinusitis, sinusitis and viral rhinitis. The drug promotes the discharge of mucus and has an antiviral effect. During pregnancy, the tablet form of Sinupret is prescribed.

Drinking mode

Treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy is impossible without observing the correct drinking regimen. Abundant discharge from the nose is a loss of fluid by the body, which is very dangerous during the period of gestation. The patient should drink at least two liters per day. It is better if it is still water, herbal tea, berry fruit drinks or milk. Pregnant nutrition will also have to be reviewed. It is necessary to exclude spicy and salty foods, as well as products that cause allergies, spices and seasonings.

Prevention

It is impossible to predict the occurrence of a runny nose during pregnancy. In some women, it is not observed, while others suffer from it for a long time. It depends on the individual characteristics of the woman’s body, immunity and susceptibility to diseases of the nose. But following simple recommendations will significantly reduce the risk of a runny nose while carrying a baby. You must do the following:

1. Stop smoking.
2. Lead an active lifestyle, move a lot.
3. Avoid crowded places, especially during epidemics.
4. Strengthen the immune system.
5. Timely treat viral and infectious diseases of the nose.
6. Spend more time on the street, often air the living room.
7. Do wet cleaning regularly.
8. Perform breathing exercises.

Rhinitis during pregnancy can provoke complications in the future mother and fetus. Therefore, with the first symptoms of the disease, you must consult a doctor and undergo a course of treatment. This will help to avoid problems and give birth to a healthy baby.