Can sneezing during pregnancy harm the fetus?

There are many questions about pregnancy, especially if this is your first pregnancy. Not infrequently, these unanswered questions actually make you even more anxious and stressed out during pregnancy. One of them is the question, can sneezing during pregnancy harm the baby? Many suspect that the force of pressure on the abdominal muscles when sneezing can squeeze the baby in the womb. Is that right?

First identify what causes sneezing during pregnancy

Many women sneeze more frequently during pregnancy. Pregnant women are prone to catching flu because your immune system works a little slower to detect disease. This decrease in the immune system aims to make your body more careful and not mistakenly perceive the fetus as a foreign object which it will attack.

However, frequent colds and sneezing during pregnancy are not only caused by the flu. There is a special condition calledpregnancy rhinitisor rhinitis during pregnancy, which is caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy. Rhinitis during pregnancy is a type of non-allergic rhinitis which usually disappears completely two weeks before delivery.

Some women are also more prone to recurrence of allergies during pregnancy, such as allergies to animal hair, mites, or dust. Sneezing and a runny nose are classic allergic reactions.

So, is frequent sneezing during pregnancy dangerous for the fetus?

Stomach pressure when sneezing is what causes concern for pregnant women. It is feared that the muscle strength will suppress and endanger the fetus in the womb. This assumption is wrong. Sneezing while pregnant will not harm your baby.

Some mothers do tend to feel sharp pain around the stomach when they sneeze. This is due to the pressure on the muscles that surround and support the uterus as it grows during pregnancy. Even though it feels a little uncomfortable, it's not dangerous.

The body of pregnant women is designed as well as possible to be able to keep the baby safe and protected in the womb. No matter what gestational age you sneeze, this will not pose a risk to your baby.

Having allergies during pregnancy does not increase health risks to the fetus, such as low birth weight (LBW) or preterm labor.

But still not to be underestimated

However, that does not mean that sneezing can be taken for granted.

Sneezing can signal symptoms of other illnesses, such as flu or asthma. Difficulty breathing due to worsening cold and asthma symptoms can leave a baby in the womb deprived of oxygen. This of course endangers his safety, if allowed to continue.

In some cases, the flu can pose a danger to pregnant women. Moreover, it is not only pregnant women who get the flu, the baby in the womb turns out to have the flu too.

Therefore, immediately consult a doctor when you begin to feel symptoms of flu, allergies, or asthma during pregnancy to get the right treatment.

Pregnant women who sneeze cannot be given drugs arbitrarily

Whatever is consumed by pregnant women will definitely be passed on to the baby in the womb. For this reason, you have to pay attention to what you put into your body, especially drugs.

Some pain relievers, antihistamines, and allergy medications are safe for consumption by pregnant women. However, you are still obliged to consult your doctor before taking certain medicines.

Apart from medication, you can do the following simple tips to reduce discomfort caused by sneezing, including:

Enough rest.
Stay active.
Maintain regular food intake, even if appetite decreases.
Increase your consumption of natural vitamin C to boost your immune system, for example by eating oranges, strawberries, mangoes, tomatoes, and so on.
Drink plenty of water to maintain body fluid levels.
Improve your sleeping position by placing your head higher than your body to clear a congested nose.