Believe it or not, it's pretty common to have a runny or
stuffed-up nose during pregnancy. Up to 30 percent of pregnant
women have congestion without having allergies or a viral
infection like the common cold. This condition even has a name:
rhinitis of pregnancy. It can start as early as your second
month and tends to worsen later in pregnancy. The congestion
should ease up soon after you give birth and be gone completely
within two weeks after delivery. Higher amounts of estrogen
during pregnancy can contribute to swelling in the mucous
membranes lining the nose and even cause you to make more mucus.
What's more, the amount of blood in your body increases during
pregnancy, which may cause swelling in the tiny blood vessels in
the lining of your nose and congestion in the surrounding
tissue. Other hormones may also play a role. If you have no
other symptoms, it's probably rhinitis of pregnancy. If your
stuffy nose is accompanied by sneezing, coughing, a sore throat,
mild aches and pains, or possibly swollen