The increase in allergy cases is influenced by the widespread use and use of cosmetics, synthetic products, disinfectants, and changes in food and human diet.
An allergic disease occurs when the human body's immune system reacts to allergens when it comes into contact with them. Allergic diseases also include acute allergies.
Among people susceptible to acute allergosis, from 5 to 20% of those affected are pregnant women. Pregnant women are most often susceptible to this disease between the ages of 18 and 24 years.
Why allergies occur
The main cause of allergies is the body’s rapid defensive reaction to an old or new allergen. By the way, a pregnant woman’s immune system works a little differently than it did before pregnancy. As a result, it is difficult to predict the body's reaction to your favorite strawberries or furry pet.
Therefore, it is not surprising that allergies during pregnancy occur in 50% of expectant mothers. The following factors can provoke it: flowering, contact with pets, dust, fruits and berries, for example, strawberries or tangerines, cigarette smoke and even cosmetics.
In the first trimester of pregnancy, allergies can occur as a reaction to the fetus; it is also called pregnancy allergy. This type of allergy gradually disappears as the body gets used to the new condition.
If a woman has previously suffered from allergies, then during pregnancy we should expect an exacerbation of the disease.
The good news is that during pregnancy, the body's production of cortisol, an anti-allergenic hormone, increases. It can alleviate the severity of the disease or even eliminate it.
Causes of the disease
Immediately after conceiving a child, a complete restructuring of the body begins. First of all, the hormonal system and immunity change. As a result, those substances that previously did not cause any reaction from the body now become “enemies”; contact with them leads to an exacerbation of allergies.
The appearance of signs of disease on the legs indicates possible contact with the following substances:
- some medications;
- cosmetical tools;
- Food;
- synthetic fabrics (sometimes natural, but they cause allergies much less often);
- household chemicals;
- waste products of domestic animals, especially cats;
- pollen of some plants.
It does not matter whether the allergen penetrated inside the body, or the interaction was only external - the reaction will not be long in coming.
The situation worsens if a woman does not take good care of her health, for example, violates the correct diet and avoids treatment for colds. This weakens the immune system even more, allergies become very acute and arise for any reason. After contact with irritants, histamine begins to be released. It is the cause of all known allergy symptoms.
Allergies during pregnancy: symptoms
Allergies during pregnancy often appear even in those who previously had no idea what this “attack” was. “Allergies during pregnancy, what can cause them?” - Interested in knowing the answer to the question? Anything can cause it!
It happens that a pregnant woman tries some new fruit or eats a lot of strawberries at once and as a result, rashes appear on her body, which also itch unbearably.
There is no need to panic too much in this situation. Usually, after a few days, if you no longer consume the product that caused the allergy, the symptoms disappear on their own.
Our medicine claims that allergies are not a disease, but only the body’s reaction to factors that irritate it, which for some reason the human immune system defines as hostile.
Now let ’s talk in more detail about allergy symptoms. In a pregnant woman, as well as in non-pregnant women, allergies manifest themselves as follows. May suddenly occur:
- nasal congestion;
- swelling of the throat;
- coughing;
- rash;
- runny nose;
- tearfulness of the eyes.
Depending on the symptoms, there are 2 types of allergies: mild and severe. In general, the symptoms of allergies in a pregnant woman are no different from the symptoms of a woman who is not pregnant.
Traditional medicine tips
Many populists claim that urticaria during pregnancy can be easily cured with the help of traditional medicine. This is also considered the safest method during this period. If a woman suffers from insomnia due to itching urticaria, it is recommended to rub the affected areas with a solution of salicylic acid or diphenhydramine. It will be useful to drink celandine decoctions - this will help disinfect the intestines and rid the body of toxins.
Herbal baths relieve inflammation well. Dried elderberry and nettle will help with this. Using pine needles will relieve the burning sensation. If it is not possible to use natural products, you can add their essential oils: eucalyptus, fir, pine, lemon balm oil. Pregnant women are advised to periodically drink freshly squeezed celery and parsley juices. You can prepare a mixture of honey and horseradish juice. These components are taken in equal quantities. Can be stored in the refrigerator and taken three times a day, a teaspoon orally.
Drinking mint infusion will help protect the body and strengthen the immune system. Mint and chamomile should be drunk throughout the day instead of the usual plain tea. It will not be difficult to prepare a simple ointment for hives: mix rice starch and glycerin in equal proportions. Within a couple of days, not a trace of hives will remain.
How allergies affect pregnancy and baby
Pregnant women are wary of any changes occurring in the body. They immediately have many questions:
- allergies during pregnancy, how does it affect the fetus?
- What are the dangers of allergies during pregnancy?
- How will allergies during pregnancy affect the expectant mother?
- Can pregnant women take pills if they have allergies?
It is natural that women worry about their health and the health of their baby.
We hasten to reassure you: experts say that there is no danger for the toddler, since allergic manifestations are not able to penetrate through the placenta to the fetus. But, in the future, the child may have a negative reaction to those substances that caused allergies in the woman during pregnancy.
It is a fact that allergies can be inherited. But there is no 100% guarantee that the child will be allergic. And all because dad’s genes are stronger than mom’s. So there is no need to get upset in advance. The main thing is not to self-medicate. Some drugs can cause developmental defects of the baby’s heart and nervous system and affect blood supply.
Therefore, you should try to avoid drug treatment, especially in the first trimester. To do this, you need to eliminate all suspected factors that may cause an exacerbation of allergies.
Allergies during early pregnancy
In the early stages of pregnancy, the baby in the womb is just beginning to form; its body reacts very sharply to any changes in the environment. An excess of some substances, a deficiency of others, and exposure to aggressive drugs can be unsafe for the development of the baby.
Unfortunately, allergies are treated with potent medications. They are contraindicated in the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, in the early stages of pregnancy this disease is dangerous.
Medicines
During pregnancy, you should be very careful when taking medications, including antiallergic drugs. It is necessary to constantly consult with an allergist and take medications only if the possible risk of impact on the fetus does not exceed the benefit received.
None of the antiallergic drugs guarantees complete safety for the unborn child. Tavegil is especially suspicious. When it was fed to pregnant rats during a scientific experiment, the newborn rats developed heart defects and paw defects. And although medical journals do not write about deformities in a person after taking tavegil, it is still not worth the risk. In this regard, diazolin is considered relatively safe: it has been used for a long time, no obvious negative effects on the fetus have been noted. However, it is advisable to drink even diazolin only as a last resort, not for long and in small amounts.
How are allergies treated in pregnant women?
Experts say that allergies are a disease of modern civilization. Almost half of the world's population has experienced allergic reactions to one degree or another.
Unfortunately, the picture is the same with pregnant women: 45% complain of allergies. To avoid allergic reactions, you need to try to exclude all possible allergens from the environment of a pregnant woman.
If allergy symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek help from a doctor. Because the choice of drugs that can be used by a pregnant woman should be done carefully. After all, they should not cause harm to the fetus.
The most commonly prescribed drugs are:
- Claritin. It is used in exceptional cases, but has no special contraindications;
- Suprastin. Prescribed for severe cases. A doctor must monitor the effect of the drug on the pregnant woman’s body;
- Tavegil. May have a bad effect on the fetus. Therefore, it is prescribed when there is no possibility of replacing it with another drug;
- Allertek . Prescribed when there is a danger to the life of a pregnant woman from allergic manifestations;
- Fexadine. If the effectiveness of therapy outweighs the risk of exposure to the fetus from the negative state of the pregnant woman, then it is recommended to take this drug.
Also, forums where pregnant women share their experience of treating allergies were analyzed. Most often used:
- Spray "Prevalin";
- Activated carbon;
- Enterosgel;
- Aqualor;
- Oralair;
- traditional methods of combating allergies.
Have you read about all these drugs? Now forget it. Self-medication during pregnancy is strictly prohibited! They should only be prescribed by a doctor. But, if the allergy is accompanied by only mild symptoms, then treatment should be avoided. And only in extreme cases take pills, remembering that the doses should be minimal and the course of treatment short.
Quite often, allergies manifest themselves in the form of a skin rash, most often on the stomach. The rashes itch, swell, and burst, which means the risk of infection getting into the wounds increases. In this case, the doctor prescribes an ointment to relieve itching.
Factors causing allergies
During pregnancy, the female body rises to a new stage of development. Therefore, his reaction to previously consumed products, cosmetics, medicines, clothes, household chemicals, etc. may be unpredictable.
Foods that most often cause allergies: chocolate, citrus fruits, strawberries, exotic fruits. During pregnancy, refrain from experiments, do not eat something you have never tried. Many expectant mothers know what they were allergic to before pregnancy. Therefore, they simply need to avoid contact with the allergen.
Another factor that can trigger allergies is animals. Bird feathers, hair from dogs, cats, and hamsters are excellent pathogens. Think about it, perhaps they caused allergic reactions. To get rid of allergies, pets will have to be temporarily relocated to relatives or friends.
Stress and anxiety, a polluted environment are also sources of allergy development. So try to be less nervous, and if possible, go to the village during pregnancy. The air is cleaner there. Although, this advice is more from the dreams section...
A bee sting can also cause allergic reactions and even cause anaphylactic shock.
Vitamins and other supplements that women have to take during pregnancy can also trigger allergies.
Allergy medications and birth defects
One of the reasons why antihistamines have come under scrutiny is that early studies identified a potential link between antihistamines and birth defects.
However, a global review of the scientific evidence, which included more than 50 major articles as of early 2014, found that most drugs do not appear to be associated with birth defects. An association has also been suggested between prenatal exposure to loratadine and the health of male infants born with hypospadias. This is a congenital defect in which the opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis, but under it. The disorder affects the urination process and also leads to problems with sexual function in adulthood if the defect is not corrected in childhood. Treatment usually involves surgery to correct the defect. But further research did not confirm such a connection.
Antihistamines have not been found to cause birth defects of any kind. Therefore, if there are clear indications and a confirmed diagnosis of allergies, the expectant mother can take them without fear for the health of the baby.
Allergy prevention
Firstly, you need to limit all contacts with the allergen, unless of course you are aware of it.
And:
- do not smell flowers, do not bring them home in bouquets;
- Eliminate honey and other foods that can cause allergies from your diet:
- do not peel young potatoes;
- have less contact with household chemicals;
- carry out wet cleaning in the apartment every day;
- wash tulles and curtains once a month;
- Leave the task of shaking out debris from the vacuum cleaner container to your husband.
Important! During pregnancy, listen to the recommendations of your doctor, and not the advice of girlfriends, neighbors and interlocutors of forums about pregnancy. Take care of your health and that of your baby, whom you carry under your heart.
