Allergy during pregnancy: how to treat, pills, effect on the fetus

Pregnancy affects all processes in a woman's body. The changes also affect the immune system, which can lead to malfunctions and immunosuppression. Against this background, the risk of developing a new and recurrence of existing allergies in the expectant mother increases. Allergies during pregnancy occur in 30% of women.

Features of allergies during pregnancy

Allergic diseases rarely appear in women in an interesting position for the first time. By this time, many expectant mothers are already aware of their “own” intolerance to certain allergens and the symptoms that the disease causes, but there are exceptions. Pregnancy can be a specific catalyst that may exacerbate the problem.

The immunity of the expectant mother works with a vengeance, so she can react unpredictably to any allergen. So what allergens should you watch out for during pregnancy?

The main allergens include:

• dust;
• pollen and ragweed plants;
• pet hair;
• medications;
• certain food products, more often chemical additives;
• ingredients of some cosmetics;
• cold;
• sunlight.

There are also predisposing factors that increase the risk of an allergic reaction:

• chronic stress;
• weakened immune defenses;
• uncontrolled treatment with various medicines;
• frequent contact with household chemicals;
• wearing synthetic clothing;
• abuse of cosmetics;
• non-compliance with recommendations for proper nutrition;
• excessive consumption of foods that are potential allergens;
• unfavorable ecological situation.

Types of allergies during pregnancy

Allergies during pregnancy are of the following types:

• Allergic rhinitis. It proceeds with profuse nasal discharge, constant sneezing and itching, nasal congestion. A runny nose can be triggered by seasonal blooming, pet hair, and house dust. Also, the cause of such rhinitis is sometimes the toxicosis of pregnant women.
• Allergic conjunctivitis. Manifested by profuse lacrimation, photophobia, corneal hyperemia. Rhinitis and conjunctivitis are usually combined with each other, i.e. are diagnosed at the same time. The causes will usually be the same as for allergic rhinitis.
• Urticaria, dermatitis. The disease is characterized by rashes on the skin, redness and swelling of the skin, excruciating itching. The external picture of the pathology resembles a nettle burn. Usually, the reaction occurs locally, at the site of contact with a potential allergen. For example, facial allergy during pregnancy is often the result of intolerance to one or another cosmetics.

• Quincke's edema. The pathology affects the eyelids, lips, tongue and upper respiratory tract. The disease develops rapidly and suddenly. The greatest risk is edema of the larynx and trachea, as a result of which respiratory function may be impaired. Sometimes Quincke's edema affects the tissues of the joints, causing pain and impaired mobility in them, and digestive organs, as a result of which a woman may complain of abdominal pain, signs of intestinal obstruction.
• Anaphylactic shock. The most severe form of allergy, which occurs with a change in consciousness and a drop in blood pressure. In the absence of appropriate assistance, a woman may die. Anaphylactic shock develops within an hour after encountering an allergen. The provocateurs of this condition can be plant pollen, medicines and cosmetics.

Effect on the fetus of allergies

Any changes in health worries the expectant mother. Especially when it comes to the first pregnancy. If, before the onset of pregnancy, a woman could purchase any remedy for the treatment of allergy symptoms at the pharmacy, then now, she has to think about the health of the fetus and how this or that drug will affect its development a drug. This means that the pills for allergies during pregnancy must be prescribed by a specialist.

It turns out that allergies are dangerous because they can be inherited. However, this does not happen in all cases. Sometimes the father's genes take precedence.

It is possible to consider in more detail the situation, what effect on the fetus by trimesters has an allergy during pregnancy, in the table.

Trimester of pregnancy	Influence on the fetus
First trimester	The placenta is not formed, so it cannot protect the unborn child. At this time, the fetus is laying and actively developing all organs and systems. There is a high probability of the formation of developmental anomalies due to the pathogenetic effect of medications taken by the expectant mother.
Second trimester	The placental barrier is already fully formed, so the future baby is well protected from irritating factors and most medications. The danger is only those antiallergic drugs that are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Third trimester	Allergens do not penetrate the fetus, it is still reliably protected by the placenta until the very birth. But the poor health of the mother against the background of complications of allergies can affect the unborn child in a bad way.

Also, an allergy during pregnancy can cause complications in a woman's health. Banal allergic rhinitis can cause attacks of bronchial asthma and anaphylactic shock, disrupting normal breathing. Oxygen deficiency can provoke the development of fetal hypoxia. The same thing happens with a runny nose, weakness, coughing of a woman - the future baby feels all the changes in her body and they affect its development.

What to do if allergy symptoms appear?

It is important to consider that an allergic reaction in pregnant women is sometimes a completely normal response of the immune system, as a sign of intolerance to a new product or chemical. For example, a woman bought a face cream that she hadn't used before. In this case, the body may inadequately respond to a component that is part of the cream, which was unfamiliar to it before. The result is a minor allergy that goes away quickly enough without any intervention.

The situation looks more complicated with the symptoms that arose before and are manifested during pregnancy in a woman's body. This case requires the following actions:

1. See an allergist. If allergy symptoms appear, first of all, you need to find out their source and diagnose the problem. The specialist prescribes diagnostic measures for the woman - usually these are skin tests or a blood test for allergies.
2. Start treatment on time. An allergy that has arisen against the background of bearing a baby is complicated by the fact that not all medications that are sold in a pharmacy can be drunk. Allergy treatment during pregnancy can only be prescribed by a specialist who decides which drugs will be safe for the expectant mother and her child.

1. Avoid contact with known allergens.
2. Avoid eating potentially allergenic foods such as chocolate, citrus fruits, etc.
3. For face and body care, choose only natural cosmetics.
4. Limit contact with household chemicals as much as possible.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic measures include:

• a blood test to determine the total titer of immunoglobulin E and antibodies to allergens;
• skin allergy tests;

• study of the history of the disease;
• recording data in a food diary if food allergies are suspected during pregnancy.

How to treat allergies?

Preventive measures will help reduce the risk of developing the disease. It is undesirable for the expectant mother to come into contact with synthetic detergents, eat potentially allergenic foods, and use cosmetics to a minimum. Also, to prevent the development of allergies, a woman should avoid stressful factors, both mental and physical.

If you did not manage to protect yourself from allergies, with its primary manifestations, you should seek medical help. Only a doctor, on the basis of a comprehensive examination, can accurately determine the causes of the disease, a specific irritant and tell you how to treat allergies.

Allergy in early pregnancy develops most often, but it is highly undesirable to use medications at this stage. If a woman has allergic reactions to pollen, if possible, stay at home before going out. wear sunglasses and a medical mask, wash clothes thoroughly and wash shoes after walks.

Allergic rhinitis treatment. Nasal sprays and drops prescribed for common rhinitis can also improve the well-being of allergic rhinitis. The best allergy medications for expectant mothers are natural remedies based on sea water. It can be Aqua Maris drops, Dolphin spray, Aqualor, etc. The listed drugs cleanse the nasal cavity, flushing allergens from the mucous membrane, normalize nasal breathing without harming the unborn child.

In addition to the listed drugs, with allergic rhinitis, pregnant women can use the following allergy remedies:

• drops of Pinosol of natural origin, which include eucalyptus and mint oils: drug softens the nasal mucosa, helps relieve its swelling, making you feel better in case of allergies improves;
• spray Prevalin - this medicine forms an invisible film on the nasal mucosa, neutralizing the action of allergens;
• Salin drops - the drug is based on sodium chloride, its main action is to safely cleanse the nasal cavity from potential irritants.

Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. For instillation into the eyes, Innoks drops are suitable, which contain only natural ingredients.

Treatment of itching, skin rashes, peeling. Allergy ointment during pregnancy helps to get rid of skin reactions - rashes, dermatitis. For expectant mothers, zinc ointment will be the safest, which dries the skin, successfully removing inflammation and external manifestations of allergies. An alternative to zinc ointment can be the Zindol remedy, which is created on the basis of zinc oxide.

Ointments and creams with extracts of medicinal plants are also effective against skin allergic reactions. For example, an ointment containing calendula, chamomile, celandine, etc. You can buy them at the pharmacy.

If we are talking about atopic dermatitis, then Physiogel has proven itself well. It is applied to areas of the skin damaged by inflammation and scratching with a thin layer. The product moisturizes the skin well, contributing to its regeneration. It can be used on the face like a pregnancy allergy cream.

Treatment of food and drug allergies. The main treatment for these conditions, which positively affects the well-being of the expectant mother, is to cleanse the body. Usually, this type of allergy occurs with clinical signs of urticaria and other rashes. Therefore, the first thing to do is to exclude a potential irritant from use, and then cleanse the body with the help of drugs such as Enterosgel and Lactofiltrum.

In case of a severe allergic reaction, if the skin allergy is accompanied by severe itching and discomfort, you can drink twice the dosage of any sorbent (activated carbon, etc.). The amount of the drug depends on the weight of the expectant mother: 1 tablet is designed for 5 kg of body weight.

Antihistamines during pregnancy

This point should be considered separately, since it is important to take medications for allergies during pregnancy with great care and with the permission of the attending physician. The allergist examines the patient's history, conducts appropriate diagnostics and examination, and, if necessary (if preventive measures and the above methods do not help treatment of allergic diseases) prescribes antihistamines, provided that the potential risk of complications for the developing fetus is not higher than the expected benefit from treatment.

All drops and tablets that have an antihistamine effect are highly undesirable to use for the treatment of allergies in the first 12 weeks of gestation. As for the second and third trimester, there are no such serious restrictions, antiallergic drugs are prescribed much more often.

The following table will address the issue of drug selection for the treatment of allergies by trimester.

Trimester	Choice of treatment
First trimester	Any antihistamines are prohibited, as there is a high risk of complications of pregnancy and anomalies in the development of organs and systems in the fetus. What to do if an allergy during pregnancy occurs in the first trimester? It is necessary to limit ourselves to preventive measures and to carry out treatment using safe means: nasal drops (Aqua Maris, Salin) and Pinosol for rhinorrhea; - zinc ointment or paste, Physiogel - for skin rashes; homeopathic medicines - Rinitol EDAS 131, Euphorbium compositum - have a positive effect on the state of the immune system, fight the manifestations of allergic rhinitis; Laktofiltrum, Enterosgel, Activated carbon - for food allergies.
Second trimester	Treatment in the second trimester has more expanded boundaries, since the placental barrier that protects the fetus from the negative effects of medications has already been formed. How to treat if an allergy occurs during pregnancy at this time: antihistamines - Diazolin, Pheniramine; hormonal drugs - Dexamethasone, Prednisolone; vitamins - vitamin C and vitamin B12 are natural antihistamines that reduce the signs of allergies, eliminate dermatoses, bronchial asthma.
Third trimester	A problem such as allergies is solved much easier in the third trimester than at other stages of pregnancy. A woman is prescribed antihistamines of a new generation, characterized by an increased level of safety. It can be Fenistil, Zyrtec, Feksadin and other drugs.

Forbidden to take during pregnancy

Not all antihistamines can be drunk for allergies, since many of them can harm the mother herself and the unborn child. Let's list them:

• Diphenhydramine - provokes increased excitability, the myometrium can cause tone and premature contractions of the uterus, resulting in a spontaneous abortion or premature delivery;
• Pipolfen - poisonous, destroying the fetus with toxic substances;
• Astemizole - like Pipolfen, kills the unborn child in the womb with toxins;

• Terfenadine - may cause fetal weight deficiency;
• Suprastin - appointed in exceptional cases when it comes to saving the woman herself.

Allergy prevention

To prevent allergies from being caught by surprise during pregnancy, the expectant mother should adhere to the following prevention tips (especially for women who are already familiar with allergies).

1. Proper nutrition. It is important to eat exclusively high-quality and natural products. It is advisable to exclude all potential allergens from your diet, for example: strawberries, chocolate, citrus and much more. You shouldn't try new cuisine and change your taste habits. Pregnancy is not a time for experimentation.

2. Healthy lifestyle. Adequate sleep, walks in the fresh air, exclusion of addictions, including passive smoking, are essential aspects of the healthy development of a future baby.

3. Personal care. Cosmetic products and body care products during pregnancy must be selected especially carefully, since they can cause an intolerance reaction in the expectant mother. Preference should be given to hypoallergenic products. The same goes for fabrics. The materials that surround the expectant mother, for example, from which her clothes are created, should be natural.

At the end of the article, I would like to note that allergies and pregnancy can be a dangerous combination if the treatment is ineffective and untimely. But it is impossible to self-medicate, as it can be dangerous for the unborn child. Any medications must be prescribed by a specialist.