Before getting pregnant, I imagined it would be nine months of quiet nesting, last-hurrahs and adorable, bump-hugging outfits. The reality of my pregnancy was countless toilet bowls, sleeves of saltines and visits to the chiropractor. Hormones really show off what they can do during pregnancy, from loosening up your ligaments to making you nauseous round the clock. But I hadn’t heard “pregnancy nose” before, a phenomenon going viral on TikTok where women show their before pregnancy and during pregnancy photos with a shocking change in the appearance of their nose. Curious, I reached out to an expert from O Positiv’s Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Roxanne Pero, OBGYN MD, to find out what exactly pregnancy nose is and how in the hormone we should deal with it.
Do I Have Pregnancy Nose? I Asked an OBGYN to Explain the Medical Phenomenon
Hormones are not playing
Meet the Expert
Dr. Roxanne Pero, OBGYN MD, FACOG, FACLM, IFMCP has been inspired by her own fertility journey, including her experiences with endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and hormone imbalances to empower patients on their fertility journeys with care plans that emphasize non-toxic lifestyle choices, emotional resilience, and hormone balance. She is part of O Positiv’s Medical Advisory Board.
What Is Pregnancy Nose?
Pregnancy nose is what people refer to when they notice a physical change in the appearance of their nose during pregnancy. Usually, that physical change is that the nose appears larger, more bulbous or wider. Though not an actual medical term, it is a real thing that can happen during pregnancy.
But Dr. Pero tells me something I haven’t seen in other online references on ‘pregnancy nose,’ which is that it can also refer to things going on inside your nose! “With hormonal fluctuations that increase blood flow in pregnancy, the nose is not spared and can cause congestion, stuffiness, voice changes and even a subjective change in the size of the nose,” says Dr. Pero.
What Causes Pregnancy Nose?
- Hormonal fluctuations that increase blood flow
- Weight gain
- Swelling from hormones, weight gain or both
“Hormonal fluctuations that increase blood flow during pregnancy [cause pregnancy nose],” explains Dr. Pero. Looking back at my own pregnancies, I don’t think my nose appeared noticeably larger than usual…but the rest of my body certainly was. Ankles? Massive. Feet? Swelled to the brink. On top of the swelling from blood flow due to hormones, there’s also weight gain, which can impact appearance. Dr. Daniel Barrett, a plastic surgeon, says in a TikTok on the matter that yeah, of course a person’s body might change when they’re literally growing another human: "so a lot of swelling happens in the feet; there’s a lot of swelling that happens in the face.” TLDR: when you’re growing a human, it’s like your body starts sharing a bedroom with another person, and you start to grow out of it.
How to Manage Pregnancy Nose Symptoms
- Be conscious of sodium intake
- Drink water and stay hydrated
- Saline nasal spray
- Air filters
- Nasal decongestion
- Lymphatic drainage massage
When it comes to swelling, your best bets are to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and not overdoing the sodium which can lead to more swelling. You can also try something like gentle at-home lymphatic drainage massage, as Dr. Zionko demonstrates on TikTok above.
If you’re experiencing discomfort along the lines of allergy symptoms, Dr. Pero recommends saline nasal spray and good quality air filters for living spaces. “Talk to your doctor about nasal decongestants if you are needing more relief,” she says.
Does Pregnancy Nose Go Away?
Yes. According to Dr. Pero, pregnancy nose symptoms typically resolve after pregnancy ends. This could be the next day, or it could be a few weeks. It really depends on how your body recovers. Breastfeeding—which includes an influx of more hormones—can also impact how your body changes.
When to See a Doctor About Pregnancy Nose
“There are no specific risk factors for a pregnant woman being more symptomatic,” shares Dr. Pero. However, the doctor continues, “if you’re ever concerned, talk to your healthcare provider, but if no consistent nose bleeds or difficulty breathing, there shouldn’t be any nose changes in pregnancy that are concerning.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Does your nose change with pregnancy?
Says Dr. Per: “Yes, your nose can look and feel slightly larger than when you were not pregnant due to the increased vascularity!”
Can you prevent pregnancy nose?
You cannot prevent pregnancy nose. However, avoiding extra sodium, hydrating adequately and practicing daily lymphatic massage can possibly ease some physical swelling. Allergy-like symptoms can be aided by nasal spray, air filters and talking to your provider about nasal decongestants.
How early does pregnancy nose start?
It can start, says Dr. Pero, as early as the first trimester of pregnancy.
