One in five pregnant women deals with allergies [1]. One in every hundred develop asthma or other threatening complications [2]. Therefore, it's best not to ignore allergies. Talk to your doctor about your allergies to avoid developing any complications.
What can be used to treat allergies during pregnancy?
The best allergy cure is to avoid encountering the allergen. Avoid animals or products that provoke an allergic reaction. Prevent dust from accumulating in the house. And if possible take a babymoon to a different region during the height of the flowering of allergenic plants [1].
But what if I can’t avoid my allergens? What medications can I take?
The first generation antihistamines (chlorpheniramine) are considered the safest ones — the ones that cause severe drowsiness. There have been long-term studies that have shown these do not have a significant impact on the child [2]. In allergic dermatitis, their drowsy effect is experienced as added bonus: because severe itching can lead to disturbed sleep, the medication relieves both problems at once [1].
Second-generation drugs (cetirizine and loratadine) do not cause drowsiness and are also considered safe. But vasoconstrictor and decongestant medications can harm a child, especially in the first trimester [3].
Can antihistamines be taken at any time?
The third trimester is considered the most risky time to take antihistamines. Withdrawal symptoms are common in newborn babies: diarrhea, poor appetite and tremors. These symptoms can manifest up to four weeks in newborns [1].
How do I identify an allergen? Can I have skin tests?
In identifying an allergen, a thorough history is taken (when, where, under what circumstances do the allergic reactions occur) and sometimes a blood test for specific IgE immunoglobulins to allergens of a certain group will help. Skin tests will have to be postponed until the baby is born [1].
I started ASIT before pregnancy. Should I stop?
Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) is the most reliable method of protection against a specific allergen. An allergen is introduced into the body in micro doses, forcing the immune system to get used to it and not react too violently.
This treatment usually takes several months. It cannot be started during pregnancy, but you can continue the course you started. Recent studies show that immunotherapy with allergens not only improves the course of the disease in pregnant women, but can also prevent allergic sensitization in a child [1].
Sometimes it is necessary to reduce the dose of the administered allergen and increase the frequency of administration. It is better to discuss these features in each specific case with your allergist [3]. But if you started ASIT quite recently and the doses of the drug are still minimal, then it would be wiser to interrupt the therapy and resume it after the baby is born [1].
