Pregnancy nose: What it is, why it happens, and how to manage it

A pregnancy nose is a temporary swelling of the nose that occurs in pregnancy. Affected by hormonal shifts, increased blood flow, and fluid retention in facial tissues, it can change the size and shape of your nose. In some cases, it’s also accompanied by pregnancy-induced rhinitis, which includes symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and postnasal drip.

A pregnancy nose, as well as rhinitis, can appear at any point in your pregnancy. However, the most visible changes usually occur in the final weeks before labor. At this moment, there is not enough research to tell how many pregnant women are affected by this phenomenon. And as we currently know, there is no surefire way to prevent it. The good news, though, is that a pregnancy nose is typically reversible and can take 6-8 weeks to get better after childbirth.

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When you get pregnant, your body undergoes many major transformations. Your hormonal balance changes completely to support early pregnancy and help your baby develop. And there are many changes on the physical level too that affect your internal organs, skin, muscles, joints, and nearly every part of your body.

Of course, many of the changes that take place throughout pregnancy, such as a growing baby bump and swelling breasts, are something you must’ve been prepared for. Yet, there are some changes that can catch you by surprise. One of such is a phenomenon known as a “pregnancy nose.” Although it’s rather common, many mothers-to-be just didn’t see it coming. This can surely feel frustrating and cause many questions. This article aims to answer them all to help you get rid of worries and better understand the changes in your body.

What Is Pregnancy Nose?

Pregnancy nose is an informal term used to define the physical changes in the size and appearance of your nose during pregnancy. It typically refers to temporary puffiness and swelling of the nose, caused by hormonal fluctuations.

Sometimes, this term is confused with pregnancy-induced or gestational rhinitis. However, although these two conditions can go side-by-side, they are not the same. Rhinitis is the inflammation of the nasal passages that causes a range of discomforting symptoms, such as:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Nasal congestion
• Postnasal drip

Often, rhinitis symptoms accompany a pregnancy nose. But not always. It’s possible to have a swollen pregnancy nose without additional symptoms. In the same way, it’s possible to have pregnancy rhinitis but not notice any swelling or changes in the appearance of your nose.

The Core Causes of a Pregnancy Nose

Although seeing your reflection in the mirror change can feel somewhat disappointing, in reality, a pregnancy nose is a natural reaction of the body to the changes that are going on during pregnancy.

There are three main factors that contribute to it:

Hormonal Changes

The levels of your essential hormones change dramatically through every stage of your pregnancy, from the moment of implantation and all the way until you give birth. Of course, there are many different hormones involved in this process. However, one of them can particularly affect your appearance.

We’re talking about estrogen. One of the most potent hormones from this group, estradiol, rises progressively throughout the entire pregnancy. By the third trimester, it already exceeds your prenatal levels by 100 times. Aiming to prepare your body for labor, this hormone dilates (widens) your blood vessels, which affects vessels inside your nose, possibly enlarging it.

Additionally, hormonal fluctuations can cause inflammation in the nasal passages. This is the reason why you may experience congestion, a runny nose, and other associated symptoms.

Enhanced Blood Flow

In pregnancy, your blood flow increases dramatically. The total increase can be anywhere between 20% and 100% above normal (prepregnancy) levels. This is crucial to support your baby’s growth and development, but naturally, such a massive increase in liquid can affect your body as well.

In particular, a massive increase in blood volume can impact the delicate tissues inside your nose. This can result in swelling and puffiness.

Fluid Retention

Both hormonal shifts and increased blood volume can make tissues in your body swell. Additionally, as your pregnancy progresses, the amount of extra fluid increases, and the growing uterus starts pressing on major veins. All these factors contribute to pregnancy swelling, which may affect not only your body but your face as well, including the nose.

When Does Pregnancy Nose Start?

Both pregnancy nose and rhinitis can begin nearly anywhere in your pregnancy, starting from the second trimester. This is the time when your hormones, blood flow, and liquids start building up in the body, possibly leading to swelling.

However, many women report the most noticeable changes in their appearance, such as a bigger, wider, or puffier nose, to show in the final weeks of pregnancy. This might be because your body has accumulated a lot of estrogen, and the blood vessels have widened to prepare for labor.

How Common Is Pregnancy Nose?

To this moment, there are no studies that would explicitly state the number of women facing a pregnancy nose. According to the Ohio State University, the issue is real and might be rather prevalent. However, this matter has just started gaining more awareness today, in the age of social media and selfies. The thing is that now women are more prone to notice physical changes in their bodies and faces as their pregnancy progresses. Still, it’s hard to say how many females are affected by this phenomenon.

As for pregnancy rhinitis, it’s thought to affect approximately 30% of all pregnant women. It’s one of the common pregnancy symptoms, meaning that there is a high chance of facing it. But it doesn’t always mean significant nose swelling and puffiness.

Does Pregnancy Nose Go Away?

Of course, getting a pregnancy nose can feel overwhelming. It can significantly undermine your body image and self-confidence. However, the good news is that this change is reversible.

In most cases, pregnancy-related changes in the size and shape of your nose are temporary and start fading soon after you give birth. On average, it can take 6-8 weeks after labor for nasal swelling to reduce. The process of recovery will begin as soon as your hormone levels stabilize after delivery. But it takes time.

It’s also important to note that not every woman may notice a rapid improvement in their pregnancy nose before and after labor. If the swelling and fluid retention were severe, it’s possible to experience lingering effects. Factors like age, genetics, and overall health condition also affect the time needed to return to pre-pregnancy facial features. At this point, it’s just important to stay patient. If you have any concerns, it can also help to talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best course of action based on your personal situation.

How to Prevent and Manage a Pregnancy Nose

Naturally, every pregnant woman wants to minimize the adverse impact of pregnancy on their appearance. Unfortunately, there is no surefire way to stop pregnancy nose from happening. Since it’s a natural reaction to hormonal fluctuations and increased blood/liquid volume, there is not much you can do to prevent it. However, there are some management techniques that can help prevent excessive swelling and reduce any associated discomfort.

The baseline tips include:

• Maintain proper hydration.
• Limit salt intake.
• Limit intake of processed foods.
• Include potassium-rich foods in your daily diet.
• Sleep on the left side with your head elevated.
• Stay physically active.
• Wear loose clothing.
• Use cold compresses.

These simple tips can help you prevent or eliminate excessive face puffiness in pregnancy.

If you are also facing rhinitis symptoms, it’s recommended to get personalized advice from your healthcare provider. A doctor can help you find the best safe management options, such as saline rinses and nasal sprays that can help with a runny nose and congestion.

FAQ

Is a pregnancy nose a real thing?

Yes, it definitely is. A pregnancy nose is a natural reaction of your body to hormonal changes that happen in it during pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations cause blood vessels to dilate and can trigger inflammation. Additionally, an increase in blood and liquid volume can cause more liquid to build up in facial tissues, causing swelling that can change the appearance of your nose and face in general.

How soon does pregnancy nose go away after labor?

Many women notice significant improvements in their pregnancy nose before and after labor. It typically takes six to eight weeks for facial puffiness and swelling to go back to normal. However, it’s important to understand that the time needed for recovery can vary greatly depending on the severity of swelling, your age, genetics, and overall health condition. But don’t worry, the majority of pregnancy-related changes are totally reversible. You might just need time to recover completely. 

Can I prevent a pregnancy nose?

Unfortunately, no. A pregnancy nose is a normal reaction of your body to the changes that are going on in it. It’s also a rather common phenomenon, so there is not much you can do to prevent it. However, you can follow the general hydration, nutrition, and activity recommendations to improve liquid circulation and prevent excessive swelling.

Conclusion

A pregnancy nose can be a rather unpleasant side effect of being pregnant. However, it’s not uncommon, and there is no surefire way to prevent it. But it also doesn’t last forever. Just like other pregnancy-related changes, it’s usually temporary. So there is no need to worry too much about it.

Hopefully, this guide will help you understand the nature of this phenomenon and find ways to minimize its effect and manage potential accompanying symptoms.

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