stuffy?

[Anonymous]

I've read that pregnant women are often stuffy b/c we're making more nasal mucus (ew) but never really experienced it until now. I'm 39 weeks and can barely breath. Feel fine (considering I'm 39 weeks) otherwise and its clear so I don't think I'm sick but wow, just really stuffy.

Anyone else?

Sniffle.

[Anonymous]

Dear Sniffle, I am 7 weeks and have been congested for 7 weeks. Could be a cold, though. Being tired and nauseous are all confounding factors.

[Anonymous]

I am 15 weeks and have been stuffy since about week 6, so I feel your pain. Pregnancy rhinitis (combined with nosebleeds) can bite me! I wake up gasping/wheezing and congested fairly often (it's annoying during the day, but worse at night). I've been propping my head up as much as I can and taking benadryl when absolutely necessary, but honestly, it doesn't seem to help that much. Between the congestion and the side pain I get (I have to flip sides about once an hour since I get a cramp/stitch/something in my side when I sleep on it) I am not getting much sleep, even this early. Makes me not very excited about the future....

[Anonymous]

I'm at week 17 and have been stuffy for several weeks. It's never anything too bad, but it's definitely annoying!

[Anonymous]

I was stuffy and sniffly my entire pregnancy. I'm still finding folded up kleenex (clean) in the pockets of all of my clothing. Nothing really worked, though hot tea made me feel better, even if it didn't reduce the sniffles.

[Anonymous]

Two pregnancies have both been the same....

My own snoring is driving me crazy and for some reason I wake up drooling!

FWIW I generally don't drool while I sleep so this must be pregnancy related.

[Anonymous]

Get a Neti pot ladies!

[Anonymous]

I'm just shy of 36 weeks and stuffy too. Though it is also Ragweed season here in DC - I don't know which to blame.

[Anonymous]

I second the neti pot suggestion! I used to take multiple allergy meds (pre-preg) and with the neti pot I don't need any.

[Anonymous]

I'd thought it was because of increased blood flow, not increased mucus. I'm very stuffy but not snotty (26 wks), especially at bedtime. I had a prenatal massage last week and she taught me some pressure points (or something) -- tips of fingers/toes (wasn't sure that one worked), and also sort of grasping/squeezing the bridge of your nose and jiggling gently (that one actually does seem to help).