I have now hit the 28 week mark in my pregnancy. I am so excited to think that in just 11 weeks time, I will be in the week of my caesarian. Most of my pregnancy has been enjoyable, but there is one area that is driving both me, my dogs and my partner nuts and that is my snoring.
I have gone from being a light breathy type snorer, to a roaring force ten hurricane. Even my shih-tzu, who is a snorer himself, has taken to sleeping downstairs. Aware that I need to do something about it, I started researching anti-snoring devices on the internet. There are literally thousands of different devices, some of which look more like medieval torture devices over health aids.
The problem with most of the tablet and throat spray solutions I found, is that while they didn’t say they weren’t suitable in pregnancy, they simply said ask your pharmacist. Now this is that helpful when you are trying to buy online. So I decided to head down to my local pharmacy to see what they suggested.
I opted for Boots, which had a massive section on anti-snore remedies. They had throat sprays, nasal sprays, mouth guards, headbands, nasal strips, pillow sprays, scented diffusers, herbal remedies and several plastic things that you shove up your nostrils.
I picked up a pillow spray, some tablets, a throat spray and nasal strips. All of which said that I needed to consult a pharmacist before use. I took them to the counter to ask what this actually meant and whether they were safe. The answer she gave was actually pretty surprising. If it has the guideline ‘ask your pharmacist before use’, it actually means that the product has not been tested to see if it has any affect on pregnant women and may or may not harm the baby. Essentially this warning means, the company doesn’t know and so leaves it up to the pharmacist, eliminating themselves from any legal comebacks if anything goes wrong. Shocking right?!
Thankfully, my pharmacist was brutally honest and said that anything that involves chemicals, herbs or an ingredient actively entering my body or bloodstream should be avoided. The only exception was the pillow spray, which only contained lavender and was safe for use. This meant that my options for anti-snoring devices ended up being a mouth guard or nasal strips. I don’t like the thought of anything stuck in my mouth overnight, so opted for the nasal strips.
I am delighted to say that they are a massive success. The strips stick to either side of your nose and the metallic strip inside pulls your nose out, increasing the volume of your nasal passage. For me, this was instant relief. I have been so congested since becoming pregnant, that it was wonderful being able to breath again! The strips have meant that I can now breath through my nose, which stops me relying on my mouth for air and prevents the vibrations through my throat. I am back to a near silent sleeper again. I would definitely recommend them to anyone suffering from the dreaded pregnancy snores.