It is important to distinguish pregnancy rhinitis from other causes of congestion. If you also have itchy eyes, sneezing fits, or a tickly throat, you may be dealing with seasonal allergies. If you have green or yellow mucus, facial pain, or a fever, you may have a sinus infection. However, if your primary symptom is simply a clear, runny or blocked nose, it is likely pregnancy rhinitis.

Nasal congestion during pregnancy is a frustrating but physiological reality for millions of women. It is a sign that your body is working hard—increasing blood flow and adjusting hormones—to nurture your baby. While you cannot prevent it entirely, you can manage it effectively with safe, non-drug strategies like saline rinses, humidifiers, and sleeping upright.