What causes pregnancy nose?

Between not sleeping because of my heavy belly and waking up to a nose that looks twice its normal size, pregnancy is wild. It is just estrogen causing the blood vessels in your nose to swell up and hold fluid. It looks funny in photos, but thank god it goes back to normal after delivery.

My wife's nose literally looked like a cute little potato in her third trimester! Don't worry, you aren't permanently changing, it's just your body's crazy hormones playing a prank and retaining water. It will shrink back right after the baby arrives.

The increased blood volume and estrogen are what cause the nose to swell up and get stuffy. If your doctor has cleared you for light exercise, going for a brisk 30-minute walk daily can help improve blood circulation and actually reduce that overall fluid retention.

Hormones cause this nasal swelling, but make sure you are also keeping an eye on your overall fluid retention. If you have gestational diabetes, sometimes extreme swelling can be linked to other issues, so always share these physical changes with your medical team during your routine checks.

Yes, it is entirely due to hormonal swelling and increased blood flow, and it disappears completely after child birth.