It would be correct to call an allergy not a disease, but a violation. This violation affects the human immune system, which, in case of allergies, exhibits pathological activity to harmless factors that are simply ignored during normal functioning of the immune system. In the modern world, allergies and pregnancy are an increasingly frequent combination, which is explained by poor environmental conditions, improper rest, poor nutrition and other adverse factors of modern life.
Women with allergies are often afraid to have a baby, which is explained by the woman's poor health, as well as the need for drug therapy, which can adversely affect the health of the unborn baby. But this is a fundamentally wrong position. Because of the presence of an allergic one, one cannot refuse the joy of motherhood. Allergy during pregnancy is treatable, but it must be done correctly, according to the testimony of a competent specialist, as well as with close attention to the prevention of this disease.
Those who do not want to have a child, in view of the predisposition to allergic reactions, must take into account that during pregnancy, allergic manifestations can appear even in a woman who has never suffered from allergic diseases before. This is due to the fact that the body of a woman during pregnancy can behave paradoxically, which is often manifested by various allergic reactions.
Allergy and fetal development
And so, by themselves, allergens cannot penetrate through the placental barrier and cause allergies in a child. But drugs are a completely different matter. Many drugs that are easily tolerated by patients, in the normal state, are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. This is due to their ability to penetrate the placenta, as well as into breast milk, and subsequently into the body of the child. The danger lies in the high risks of negative effects on the health of the fetus and newborn. The child's body is very sensitive to outside interference. Especially when it comes to drugs.
Teratogenicity is the ability of a drug to adversely affect the normal development of the fetus. Doctors not unreasonably try to minimize the use of drugs during pregnancy. The highest level of safety says that the drug has not been found to have a negative effect on the fetus, when conducting experiments and applying in practice. No competent specialist will ever say in his life that there is no such influence.
Nevertheless, there are situations in the practice of treating allergies, when its symptoms should by no means be ignored. So, with allergic asthma, which develops as a result of contact with dust or plant pollen, suffocation develops. This occurs as a result of bronchospasm, which causes difficulty in breathing. As a result, the baby experiences an acute lack of oxygen in the womb. Naturally, the risk from the lack of properly selected therapy, in this case, is much higher than from the hypothetical influence of drugs.
With allergies, a pregnant woman is simply obliged to pay close attention to the prevention of this disease in a child. Allergy is a hereditary disease. Also at risk are children in whose family cases of allergies have been noted.
How does an allergy go during pregnancy ? This disease, during pregnancy, can proceed according to the following scenarios:
- Allergies will not be subject to changes that affect the mother's body. This will lead to the fact that her symptoms will remain unchanged.
- During pregnancy, allergic reactions will first appear. Usually, this occurs at the beginning of pregnancy and passes by the middle of the first trimester. But in general, it is impossible to predict the development of a disease that first manifested itself during pregnancy;
- Allergy symptoms will increase during pregnancy;
- Allergy symptoms during pregnancy will weaken;
- Pregnancy will provide temporary relief from allergy symptoms. This phenomenon is quite common, fortunately for many mothers. It is caused by the inhibitory effect of cortisol (a hormone released during pregnancy) on the immune system. Cortisol eliminates the symptoms of allergic manifestations, relieves inflammatory reactions, and inhibits the production of antibodies.
What can cause allergies during pregnancy
The substance that triggers an allergy is called an allergen. This happens as follows: the allergen molecule, getting into the blood in various ways (breathing, gastrointestinal tract, through the skin). As such, it can be absolutely any substance, but often, allergens are:
- Food. The most common causes of allergies are: honey and other bee products, seafood (especially shellfish, crustaceans and fish roe), oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, kiwi, paprika and hot peppers, raspberries, strawberries, currants, egg yolks and whole milk, as well as the same products obtained from cocoa beans (chocolate, cocoa powder and drinks from it).
- Plant pollen. In our area, the most common culprits of allergies are: oak, birch, alder, wormwood, ragweed, fruit trees).
- House dust. Dust itself is only undesirable for our respiratory tract. Allergy, in itself, it is not capable of causing. But don't be fooled by the small size of dust particles - they are full of microscopic mites that can cause allergies.
- The fur of animals that contains traces of their vital activity. There are cases when the presence of any animal in the house caused bouts of an allergic reaction;
- Medications;
- Means of cosmetic and household chemicals, perfumes;
Allergy symptoms during pregnancy
An allergic reaction always has three stages, which are associated with the features of the immune system:
Stage 1 - threat identification. At this stage, human immune cells begin to produce special proteins - antibodies that combine with special cells that contain histamine.
Stage 2 - mast cells, to which antibodies are attached, begin to release histamine in response to the allergen.
Stage 3 - histamine combines with connective tissue and skin cells that are sensitive to its effects and begins to provoke allergy symptoms.
In fact, the symptoms of an allergy are:
- Allergic dermatitis is skin changes caused by an allergic reaction, which are characterized by a change in its color and structure, redness, irritation, dryness, the appearance of ulcers, blisters, of various shapes and sizes. The patient observes severe itching, in places of allergic reactions.
- Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, redness, dilation of blood vessels, tearfulness and increased sensitivity to light;
- Nasal irritation and congestion, frequent sneezing, clear secretions.
- Asthmatic manifestations;
- Anaphylactic shock and angioedema;
- Allergy symptoms are quite extensive and rarely include all groups of symptoms, so food allergies are often accompanied by manifestations of dermatitis. On the contrary, pollen allergy is expressed by manifestations of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, and stings of hymenoptera insects (wasps, bees, bumblebees, etc.) very often cause anaphylactic shock - an acute and potentially dangerous development of allergic symptoms, characterized by the appearance of laryngeal edema and a critical drop in arterial pressure.
Allergy treatment during pregnancy
This is perhaps one of the most delicate and controversial topics in the treatment of allergic diseases. It is necessary to start a story about drugs and methods of treating allergic diseases by mentioning that competent specialists should do this. Most drugs that are used for allergies can directly threaten the health of the child and the normal course of pregnancy.
Immunotherapy during pregnancy
Immunotherapy is a treatment method that involves the introduction of small doses of an allergen in order to increase the tolerance of the immune system to the action of an irritant. This is done with the help of special standardized allergen solutions, which are administered intramuscularly. Immunotherapy should take place at the stage of pregnancy planning. During pregnancy itself, any contact with the allergen is contraindicated, in view of the increased risk of developing severe forms of an allergic reaction.
The effect of immunotherapy can last for several years, which will allow you to avoid unpleasant complications caused by the need for drug therapy during pregnancy.
Antihistamines during pregnancy
Antihistamines are perhaps the most popular means for relieving allergy symptoms. Their action is based on the elimination of contact of histamine with receptors of cells located on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes, which allows you to remove allergic symptoms.
And so, during pregnancy is not used:
Diphenhydramine is one of the first antihistamine drugs that has a long list of side effects. Pr pregnancy, in the last trimester, it is potentially dangerous in view of the fact that it can cause uterine hypertonicity, which is a direct threat of miscarriage.
Astemizol - can cause fetal dystrophy.
Suprastin - undesirable use in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Tavegil - use is undesirable, since animal experiments have shown a direct relationship between intake and the occurrence of abnormalities in the development of offspring.
Pipolfen is not recommended for the treatment of allergic diseases in pregnant women.
Cetirizine is not recommended during lactation, as it passes into breast milk.
This list is not exhaustive, since no one is able to give a 100% guarantee that there will be no negative impact on the fetus. Experiments and clinical practice give only a general pattern, which is not universal for each individual case. The doctor, prescribing antihistamines, understands that in any case this is a risk to the health of the child.
Corticosteroids during pregnancy
Corticosteroids should be used with great caution during pregnancy as they are potentially hazardous substances that cause side effects such as muscle breakdown, ligament damage, myocardial weakness, immune dysfunction, increased risk of viral and infectious diseases, and adrenal insufficiency.
In some cases, women who suffer from asthmatic manifestations are forced to use corticosteroid drugs in the form of inhalation should conduct a thorough examination before pregnancy in order to determine the minimum working dosage and frequency of use.
Corticosteroids in the form of ointments, which are used for topical application to the skin, are the least dangerous. In this case, the risk of getting the active substance into the bloodstream, sufficient for the development of side effects, is minimal.
Prevention of allergies during pregnancy
- Be sure to find out the nature of your allergy before pregnancy;
- By all means avoid contact with allergens;
- Women who are allergic to insect bites should be able to use a special kit against anaphylactic shock;
- In case of contact allergies to dust, as well as plant pollen, follow safety measures: do not walk when it is dry or windy outside, wash your head and face after a walk; install thin screens on windows; use respirators and sunglasses while walking;
- Try, during pregnancy, to refrain from eating those foods that you try for the first time;
- Conduct an immunotherapy session as prescribed by a doctor;
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, do not use tobacco and alcohol;
- Take care of pets during pregnancy, as they may be allergic to their fur or feathers;
- Eat quality food based on natural, non-allergenic foods;
- If you are allergic to plant pollen, try to get out of their habitat during flowering;
- Try to avoid contact with direct sunlight, as this provokes skin sensitivity;
- Minimize the use of non-natural cosmetics and household chemicals that irritate the skin and respiratory tract;
- Avoid places where insects accumulate;
- Establish a daily routine that includes a healthy and full night's rest
Remember that competent specialists should prescribe treatment, as well as apply medication and other methods of treatment. Self-medication during pregnancy poses a direct threat to the health of the mother and child.
