Nasal spray during pregnancy
Even during pregnancy, you may not be able to breathe well through your nose, either because you have caught a cold or because you suffer from an allergy. Now the question arises whether you can use nasal spray or is it dangerous for the unborn baby?
Which nasal sprays can you use?
To say it straight away, science is not yet entirely in agreement about how harmful nasal sprays can be during pregnancy. Especially with decongestant sprays (oxymetazoline and xylometazoline), there may be a risk that the active ingredient can be passed on to the unborn child via the blood. This can cause the baby's blood vessels to contract and this could lead to an undersupply. These conceivable complications are mainly relevant during early pregnancy or if the nasal spray is misused too often and for too long. For this reason, doctors' recommendations vary; you should trust your doctor here. In this case, some doctors recommend using a decongestant children's nasal spray because it has a much lower concentration of the decongestant ingredients mentioned above. Nasal sprays with hyaluronic acid or sea salt or table salt based do not pose a problem for the baby.
It is important to read carefully about these nasal sprays that they do not contain any essential oils. Menthol, eucalyptus and thyme are unsuitable.
Alternatives to nasal sprays during pregnancy:
If you want to be completely sure and decide completely on decongestant nasal sprays during the Avoiding pregnancy and breastfeeding can also have a few effective alternative solutions To fall back on.
- Humidifiers are a good choice in the home, especially in winter, when heating dehumidifies the already dry air even further.
- Using a nasal douche helps relieve congestion Nose, regardless of whether it is one Sniffles or an allergic stuffy nose. To do this, you can buy a ready-made nasal douche mixture at the pharmacy or health food store or mix one yourself with a tablespoon of salt in a large cup of warm water.
- Another option is to inhale, whether with an inhaler or a towel over the bowl. Chamomile is a good choice. You should also avoid thyme, menthol and eucalyptus here.
- What is often forgotten: drinking enough is very important! This is particularly effective during pregnancy Body hard work and here you should drink for two.
- During pregnancy, the hormones progesterone and estrogen increase blood circulation, which can cause the nasal mucosa to swell. If you are in Bed Positioning your head a little higher with a pillow often helps quite a bit. If you have the comfort, you can of course use a height-adjustable headboard on the bed.
- A warm bath can be very beneficial, but it is important to be careful not to trigger premature labor if you are in the last trimester of pregnancy. You should speak to your doctor beforehand.
- You can achieve a decongestant effect with a red light lamp, which is also harmless during pregnancy.
The best known and most popular pregnancy tea is probably the one made according to the midwife's recipe...
In any case, it is important that you as an expectant mother feel comfortable and can sleep well. This is also good for the unborn baby. If your nose cannot be cleared using alternative methods, you should definitely consult your doctor.
