Hayfever

Commenting to follow the thread because I’m dying over here 😭

I have really bad hay fever every year, they’ve told me there’s no safe antihistamines at all, they can recommend eye drops and nasal sprays but you have to go through the GP as pharmacy’s won’t give you anything because of the risk xx

I’m sure we can take piriton but double check with your midwife, also have a look at eye drops they’ll help flush any pollen out your eyes xx

@Amber the worst isn’t it 😢

@Kim il have to give my gp a call, I can’t even leave the house without my eyes streaming or nose it’s killing me off 😬

@katie good idea, il ask!

In the NHS website it says the anti-allergy/antihistamine tablets that are safe in pregnancy are the ones that have Loratadine on the packaging. Usually on the front quite big. I've bought some from supermarkets and Boots, they're not quite as common but not too difficult to find. They help so much as I could barely keep one eye open!

@Charlotte I had read this apparently clarityn is a good brand!

I thought the same about loratadine but the GP said if you take it it’s your own choice as there isn’t enough information about it to make it 100% safe

I was given the same information as @Kim - I was told although they’re considered “safe” there has been limited studies. If you google a medication and it’s category/class in pregnancy (eg class C) it’ll tell you its status - A is no risk in human studies, B is no risk in animal studies and C is risk cannot be ruled out. - although some have had minimal human studies, there isn’t definitive answers As far as I’m aware Loratadine is class B 🤷🏼‍♀️ (was told this by my GP) do with that information as you will - I’m trying to avoid tablets completely so I’m struggling and I’m usually prescribed fexofenadine which is an absolute no no - highly recommend after pregnancy though 😂 xx

Both my pregnancies I couldn’t have anything, was an absolute nightmare, I just used Optrex eye spray which seemed to ease my eyes also whenever I came in from outside I always washed my face to make sure there was no pollen on my face

Oh my goodness, I have been suffering so badly this past week! I've used Loratadine a couple of times this pregnancy when my eyes have been so swollen and itchy, but I'm aware it's better to avoid tablets if possible. A classic recommendation is Vaseline around your nostrils and under your eyes to try to trap pollen, but I don't think that makes much difference. I actually saw a midwife today for the whooping cough vaccine and she said Piriton is safe to use as that's what they give women who develop cholestasis (severe itching condition) in pregnancy.

If you also have problems with sneezing etc try cleaning your nasal passages out using sterimar honestly it’s so helpful and not invasive. I was also super congested and this really helped and stopped me sneezing. You may have pollen trapped in your sinuses too

The other thing that works if you're more cautious of the tablets which I completely understand and to be fair I've only taken one once every few weeks if that, is eye drops, I used the Boots own irritation ones and they're brilliant for me.