This morning I was convinced I was coming down with a sinus infection or, somehow, experiencing seasonal allergies for the first time since childhood.
Nope.
Just another exciting pregnancy perk unlocked: pregnancy rhinitis.
Apparently, pregnancy rhinitis is nasal congestion, sneezing, or a runny nose that happens during pregnancy without any actual allergies or infection causing it. The culprit? Rising hormones and increased blood flow, which can make the tissues inside your nasal passages swell.
And before anyone asks: no, this is not the infamous “pregnancy nose” situation. Trust me, I think about pregnancy nose daily. This is specifically the nasal passages swelling, not my actual nose deciding to expand its real estate.
Pregnancy continues to be a fascinating game of “Is this a medical issue or just another completely normal symptom no one warned me about?”
