There is nothing quite like hayfever to really ruin your summer and, to make things worse, being pregnant means you can’t use certain medication. In fact, many over the counter anti-histamines and decongestants are not recommended for use during pregnancy, unless they have been advised by your doctor.
Thankfully, there are plenty of natural ways to help you ease your suffering:
Keep an eye on the pollen count
The pollen count is higher in the late afternoons and early evenings so try to aovid going outside at these times, if possible.
Wash away the pollen
If you suffer particularly bad, try having a shower after you’ve been outside and wash your hands regularly. This way you are ridding your skin from any excess pollen.
Wash your clothes
Wash your clothes often and avoid hanging them out on the line when the pollen count is high.
Petroleum jelly
Rub a little petroleum jelly around the outside of your nostrils and the tear ducts of the eyes to catch the pollen and prevent it from goetting into your system.
Aromatherapy oils
Aromatherapy oils like menthol and eucalyptus act like a decongestant. Simply add a drop to very hot water and breathe in the vapours or light a candle and allow them escape that way.
Green Tea
Green Tea is great for hayfever sufferers as it contains antioxidants that help to treat allergies.
Raw honey
Consuming raw honey can help your immune system become less sensitive to pollen. Eating local honey will help to build your resistance to local pollens and is handy if you are going on holidays.
Don’t sneeze
This is a hard one, especially when you feel the urge to sneeze coming on. In fact, sneezing can disturb the pollen in your nose and actually make it worse, so try to keep the sneeze in.
While natural remedies may not stop your hay fever, it will help to ease the suffering until your doctor can recommend something a bit stronger after the birth.
