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You’ve likely heard of people’s feet or breasts swelling during pregnancy, but did you know that the nose can be affected as well?
Thanks to a recent social media trend, people are coming together and calling attention to “pregnancy nose,” or the phenomenon of one’s nose swelling while pregnant.
Social media users began widely buzzing about the subject around the end of 2022, though people like Chrissy Teigen spoke up about “gain[ing] weight in [her] nose” on Twitter way back in 2018.
With the conversation’s recent incarnation, people specifically utilized TikTok to share their experiences with their nose swelling during pregnancy. They were even sure to bring photos to highlight just now much a person’s nose can change while expecting.
As women’s stories began to circulate on social media, people who haven’t had children shared their shocked reactions. In fact, some spoke of how afraid they were of having their nose swell up, and others declared “pregnancy nose” to be a “form of birth control.”
Check out how some people handled the news down below.
According to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, pregnancy rhinitis affects approximately 20% of expectant women. On top of feeling congested, tissue can swell and cause the nose to look wider, AND
“During pregnancy, the body makes more blood and fluids, which can cause swelling, even in unexpected places such as the nasal passages. Blood vessels in the nose can swell with this additional volume, causing stuffiness.”
Other factors can include higher estrogen levels, as well as the production of human growth hormone (HGH).
Additionally, Dr. Shannon M. Clark of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston told NBC News that—while nasal inflammation is harmless and common—people should alert their medical provider if widespread swelling is accompanied by blurred vision or headaches, as “those are all signs of preeclampsia.”
“Preeclampsia in pregnancy is a complicated condition and needs to be monitored and diagnosed properly.”
What are your thoughts on the overall conversation, and do you have any firsthand experience with “pregnancy nose?”
