By the end of the second trimester, a pregnant woman’s blood volume has increased by nearly 50%. This extra fluid puts pressure on the delicate capillaries in the nose. When these vessels are engorged, the nose produces more mucus to clear them out, but if that mucus dries out quickly, it leaves behind hard, crusty layers that block moisture.
Every morning, she woke up feeling like her nose had been packed with cotton balls and left in the sun. It wasn't just stuffy; it was painfully dry, making every breath feel scratchy and occasionally leading to a tiny, alarming spot of blood on her tissue. dry nose pregnancy
Because pregnancy limits the medications you can take, it is important to avoid certain over-the-counter remedies unless prescribed by a doctor. By the end of the second trimester, a
After a particularly uncomfortable night, she reached out to her doctor. "It’s actually very common," her OB-GYN explained. "Hormones like estrogen and progesterone increase blood flow to your mucous membranes, which can cause them to swell and dry out—a condition often called ". Every morning, she woke up feeling like her
: Following her Kaiser Permanente guide , she applied a tiny dab of petroleum jelly inside her nostrils before bed to seal in moisture.
Symptoms can appear at any time but are most prevalent during the . This is when blood volume peaks and hormonal levels are at their highest. Typically, the condition resolves on its own within two weeks after delivery as hormone levels return to baseline.
Because pregnancy limits the use of many over-the-counter decongestants (avoid oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine unless prescribed by your doctor), you must rely on physical and natural remedies.
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