allergies MUCH worse during pregnancy?

[minkl]

I have very mild allergies non-pregnant. With DS they were better during the pregnancy. but this time around, I am having DAILY allergy attacks to my cats. I just can't believe how noticable it is. I wonder if it has anything to do with gender? I think I am having a girl this time. I read that asthma is much more prevalent with pregnant women carrying female fetuses.
anyway, I also read studies about how the immune system shifts away from TH1 immunity to TH2 immunity in order for the body to not reject the embryo, and that causes a shift toward autoimmunity which makes allergies worse. But why with this pregnancy and not with my last?

Did this happen to anyone else? What was the gender?

[heatherRN]

This happened with me, but got better half way through the pregnancy. I had a boy.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

With my dd my allergies went away almost totally. With ds on the other hand they got way worse :( I ended up on abx several times due to sinus infections due to my allergies flairing up.

[northwoods1995]

I have allergies and asthma. My symptoms were much worse during my 2nd pregnancy than during my first (boy first, girl second).

[jocelyndale]

My allergies have been much worse and I developed asthma in the second trimester. (My asthma is usually mild, triggered only by one or two things, and was considered occupational when diagnosed years ago.)

I've had to go back on some meds (loratidine, accolate) to control the asthma. Fortunately, going back on the two meds has also brought the hives under control, if not the eczema.

I use nasal irrigation for nasal/sinus symptoms. I also shower before bed, have HEPA filters, and use encasings on the mattresses/pillows.

[Firsttimepreggers]

It's hard to say if my allergies are worse, because before getting preggo, I took Allegra. It kicked butt on all of my allergies. Now, I can only take Claritin. I'm sick pretty much every day with sinus/breathing problems. I'm having a girl. I should also add that I am literally allergic to everything that they test for. Yay me. :irked:

[Morwenna]

I only started getting allergies when I moved here (to OR). When I was pregnant with my last daughter, I had NO allergies at all! I thought it was because I was drinking hebal tea infusions with nettle in them, but maybe that wasn't it?