Nasal congestion during pregnancy

Every time I get pregnant, I remember the nasal congestion. I wake up one day when I’m around four or five months pregnant and I realise I can’t breathe properly and then it hits me that it’s because I’m pregnant.

Over my three pregnancies, I have learned to manage nasal congestion a lot better. Because the congestion is mainly due to the increase in hormones and blood circulation, which can cause swelling in the mucus membranes lining the nose, I have learned to accept some of it as part of the pregnancy package, but I have gotten better over time. 

There are many ways in which you can improve your chances of keeping your breathing passages clear and uncongested; just keep the following in mind:

* Certain foods can trigger inflammation or increased mucus production. These foods include all dairy products (milk, cheese, cream, etc.), red meats, soy products and in some people even oats and bananas. Furthermore, if you are sensitive to specific foods then you are more likely to get congested after having them. In most people, these suspect foods would be gluten-containing grains (such as wheat, rye and barley), and dairy products.

* Dust and smoke (or any other irritants) can also cause congestion.

* I have also personally found that my congestion gets worse when I’m constipated so avoid constipation as much as you can.

* It could also be that your congestion is triggered by a lowered immune system which is making you react to the irritants around you or causing you to pick up certain viruses.

* Heating and cooling devices (such as heaters and air conditioners) can also cause inflammation in the mucus membranes in the nose, which can trigger congestion. If you cannot avoid using those, then I suggest you put a large bowl of water in the room to absorb the dryness; or use a humidifier.

– Excerpts from the writer’s latest book

Get more great pregnancy tips from my latest book I Want A Healthy Pregnancy, sold in bookstores around Bahrain or online at Amazon, iTunes or Kindle store. The Arabic ebook version is also out now! Get it through the ‘3eeshoLibrary’ App on your iPad. For more info, visit www.IWantAHealthyPregnancy.com