For any woman, pregnancy is a real test both for the psyche and for the whole organism as a whole. In this difficult period, all internal organs are subjected to a tremendous load, in response to which the body responds with a bouquet of diseases, including an allergic reaction.
It often happens that a person from birth is prone to a particular allergy at the genetic level, but in order for this disease to manifest itself, a number of conditions are necessary, such as the allergen itself and a mixture of factors that reduce immunity and allow allergies to develop.
In this article, we will try to figure out what factors affect the appearance of allergens, how to treat allergies during pregnancy, how to behave, and what are the consequences of the disease.
As a rule, even before pregnancy, a woman knows what she is allergic to, and her appearance will not be unexpected. Bearing the fetus only exacerbates the situation, reducing immunity and activating the spread of allergens. The situation is also complicated: what allergies are treated during pregnancy are not always suitable for each specific mother, and therefore one can not do without consulting a doctor.
Allergy Factors
Pregnancy completely rebuilds the entire female body to the needs of a still unappeared baby. The reaction even to your favorite flowers during pregnancy can be unpredictable, so you must always be careful with cosmetics, cleaning products, food, etc.
Even changing weather outside the window can become a significant factor and an additional headache - seasonal allergies during pregnancy. Instead of treating the allergy itself and spending impressive amounts on it, it is better to take care of the exclusion, if not all, then at least most of the allergens.
Food
To the group of risky foods, which, if not with ease, then in most cases cause allergies in pregnant women, can be attributed to: citrus fruits, some types of fish, vegetables and fruits, tested for the first time, and chocolate.
Do not tempt fate and include this list in your diet while you are carrying your baby; try to get by with your usual dishes without any culinary experiments, otherwise you will have an allergy during pregnancy. What to treat and stop food allergens, we will consider a little later, but for now we’ll name the next and probably the most dangerous factor causing allergic reactions - stress.
Stress and the environment
Strong stresses and experiences, coupled with the adverse environment, which is located not far from you in the face of the chemical industry or metallurgy, is 100% likely to reward you with one of the types of allergies.
Even if you are in an idyll with nature and have your own suburban housing, it is extremely difficult to avoid allergens. Insects can become the source of the real troubles. It often happens that even a bee sting, which previously was absolutely harmless to you, causes severe tumors, fever, and in some cases anaphylactic shock.
Animals
The coat of cats and dogs, down of birds - these are factors that can become the causative agents of not only allergies, but also other no less unpleasant diseases. So if you have a pet, the best option for him and for you will be to leave for the duration of the pregnancy.
Better live with friends and acquaintances, otherwise you will face constant runny nose or skin allergy during pregnancy. How to treat this type of allergy, what are the consequences and manifestations, we will consider below.
Manifestations and consequences of allergies
All allergic reactions can occur in mild or severe form. They differ from each other not only in places of localization, but also in the involvement of other organs in the allergic process and indicators of well-being.
Light form
- Rhinitis. The main symptoms are a runny nose, frequent sneezing, nasal congestion. In some cases, sinusitis, sinusitis and polyps occur.
- Conjunctivitis. It is caused by photophobia, redness of the cornea, lacrimation, and, as a result of conjunctivitis, rhinitis occurs.
- Hives. As a rule, this is an allergy to flowering during pregnancy. Than to cure this ailment and suffer from constant itching, it is best to avoid contact with any wild vegetation. The places of localization of urticaria are hands and stomach, and in its appearance it resembles a burn with small blisters.
Severe form
- Quincke's edema. Locations - face, neck and shoulders. Especially dangerous is the swelling of the larynx and trachea, which greatly complicates breathing. What is allergy treated during pregnancy during Quincke's edema, you need to find out from a competent allergist, therefore, in this case, self-medication is not worth it.
- Anaphylactic shock. This manifestation of an allergic reaction is accompanied by a sharp drop in blood pressure and bronchospasm. The form of shock implies a loss of consciousness, and therefore the lack of quick help is fraught with very sad consequences.
- Generalized urticaria. This form is a little similar to the urticaria described above, but, unlike the mild form, the generalized one has a chronic course and most often occurs in the second half of pregnancy, when the body begins to actively rebuild all its hormones. As in the first case, the whole process is accompanied by itching and blisters, along with weakness, irritability and impaired well-being.
The effects of allergies on pregnancy
Both mild and severe allergies do not affect the fetus in the second and third trimester, since all of the above allergens cannot penetrate the placenta.
Nevertheless, taking some antihistamines can adversely affect both the general condition of the woman herself and the health of the unborn baby. In addition, an allergic mother is more often in a bad mood and more irritable.
Pregnancy allergy: how to treat?
The basis for the treatment of any allergic reaction is prevention, that is, prevention of any contact with a possible allergen that can provoke the whole chain of diseases. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to determine the source of the allergen and in every possible way to avoid it.
Allergy symptoms and their subsequent elimination are directly related to the severity of the allergy itself, therefore, with a mild course, you can choose ointments, solutions and creams, that is, those drugs that are applied topically, in other cases, the intervention of an allergist or therapist is necessary.
So, we will consider how allergies are treated during pregnancy and how.
Traditional medicine
The most common traditional drugs for relieving symptoms and treating allergies are ointments. The herbal extracts contained in them perfectly cope with inflammation and stopping allergic reactions.
For rhinitis, you can use special sprays and drops that will eliminate nasal congestion and practically relieve a cold (for the duration of the action). You can use the usual vasoconstrictor drops in a child's dosage without harm to the fetus.
Pills will help to cope with allergies, but they will also have a negative effect on the baby, so be careful when taking any medications.
So, you are in trouble - an allergy during pregnancy. How to treat and subsequent risks are described below.
- "Diphenhydramine" with its chemical composition can provoke excitability of the uterus, as a result of which it will cause premature birth.
- Pipolfen has toxic constituents, therefore it is not recommended during breast-feeding.
- "Terfanadine" can affect the weight of the fetus with frequent use.
- Allertec is more or less safe in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
- "Suprastin" and "Tavegil" is recommended to be used only on the basis of vital signs, that is, when the effect of taking can exceed the potential risk to the fetus.
Allergy during pregnancy: how to treat (folk remedies)
To eliminate the local symptoms of allergies, traditional medicine will help, through which you can prepare ointments, chatters and healing broths at home. They are considered quite reliable and have passed the test of time.
Chatterboxes consist of an active substance such as starch, talc or clay, mixed with water, alcohol or oil. Mixed components are applied to the problem area of the skin and have a calming, anti-inflammatory and softening effect.
Local decoctions of celandine, string, nettle, chamomile and calendula, that is, all that allergy is treated during pregnancy without the risk of exacerbating it, help a lot.
Proper nutrition during pregnancy
A balanced and proper diet is one of the most important factors in the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases. There are products that, by their composition, can easily provoke an allergic reaction and its further development: chocolate, chicken, fish, citrus fruits, eggs, etc. For some women, this list is individual, so it all depends on the predisposition to the type of allergen.
If you don’t know which food component you are allergic to, then the best way out is to have a food diary where your diet and reaction to certain foods will be reflected. The exclusion of such harmful products from the diet will greatly facilitate the course of pregnancy and the well-being of women in general.
But even if a woman does not suffer from food allergies, she is recommended to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet, starting from the 6th month of pregnancy, in order to avoid the development of diathesis in the unborn baby.
Severe Allergy Treatment
In this case, the use of antihistamines alone will not be possible, especially since they are effective only for topical use.
If all the symptoms of Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock are present, then you must immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance in order to avoid extremely unpleasant consequences.
Summarizing
Without a doubt, we can say that the only reliable adviser for any manifestations of allergies should remain a profile doctor. Careful observance of all his recommendations and taking care of yourself during pregnancy will significantly reduce the risk of allergic reactions, which will positively affect both the mother and her unborn child.
Do not abuse self-medication; at the first sign of a serious allergy, consult a doctor immediately. Remember, your health and the health of your child is priceless!