The stuffy nose in pregnancy is normal due to the increase in estrogen and the volume of blood that cause the veins of the nose to swell and that more mucus production occurs, clogging the nose.
A stuffy nose is not harmful to a baby, and although it may be present right from the start of pregnancy, it tends to worsen in the third trimester of pregnancy and pass after delivery.
The stuffy nose in pregnancy, also called gestational rhinitis, can be cleared with some home-made, natural measures such as taking a hot bath, flushing the nose with saline solution, or inhaling water vapor. Nasal sprays, such as Sorine or Neosoro, should only be used under the guidance of the obstetrician because of the risk that they may harm the baby.
What to do in case of stuffy nose in pregnancy
Some natural and home remedies for unclogging the stuffy nose in pregnancy include:
- Take a bath with hot water, blowing and washing your nose during the bath;
- Wash the nose with saline solution, using a nasal scrubber that can be bought in pharmacies or drugstores;
- Make inhalation of water vapor using a bowl of hot water;
- Drink about 1.5 L of water per day;
- Increase the consumption of foods rich in vitamin C to strengthen the immune system, such as guava, broccoli, orange or strawberry;
- Put several pillows or a shim on the bed to keep your head higher when lying down.
Get to know other options to clear the nose by watching our video with recipes of home remedies:
Nasal sprays, such as Sorine or Neosoro, for example, should only be used in the latter case and under the guidance of the obstetrician accompanying the pregnancy.
What to use for stuffy nose in pregnancy
The pregnant woman with a stuffy nose can use an air humidifier because it increases the humidity of the air, facilitating breathing and helping the nose to unclog. A homemade option to humidify the air is to place a bowl of hot water or a wet towel in the bedroom or living room.
The pregnant woman can also inhale saline using an inhaler to help moisten the airways and thereby unclog the nose.
To use an inhaler, simply place saline in the container, fit the hose or wire into the container, turn on the inhaler and put the mask on the face that should fit snugly over the nose and mouth.
Check out some techniques to relieve this discomfort: How to unclog the nose.
