Allergies v. Baby

If you have been around me at a time when the trees are filling in with leaves, the wind blows a steady breeze, and Satan's flowers are pooping their pollen everywhere and I haven't taken my Zyrtec, then you probably know how horrible my seasonal allergies have gotten over the last few years....it's badness...for everyone involved as well as anyone who has to witness my mug after such an attack.

This past summer we went to a NY Yankees game in NYC and I had an attack that thankfully calmed itself down (with the help of some dollar store antihistamine and chugging two adult beverages like a champ)...yep, I pretty much couldn't spell my name after that hit me.

Well, unfortunately they frown upon regular drinking of alcohol while pregnant....so that's not an option.  I did not want to take regular medication of any kind while pregnant, but I asked my doctor about Zyrtec and she said that it should be fine.  Thus I have been taking it on a daily basis to keep from having an NYC repeat.  On Sunday, however, I had my first "Mommy" moment and went into a panic because I hadn't felt MERVE move as much as I usually do near my bedtime.  I got up, ate something, drank something, even got on the elliptical for a few minutes to stir him up.  I ended up laying on my stomach because he usually lets me know when he's uncomfortable by giving me a quick jab.  He finally moved a couple of times and I felt a little better.

The next day it still seemed like he was moving less than usual (but I was feeling him on a regular basis) and I ended up in the ultrasound room at the hospital asking for some quick peace-of-mind.  His heart rate was fine and he was moving everything, but he was moving slow and sleepy-looking.  So I skipped my Zyrtec dose yesterday to see if he was having side effects of the drug that I wasn't having and it seemed (and it could have been coincidence) that yesterday he was back to his normal amount of activity.  So I skipped it again today.....

WOW.  I was doing fine until about mid-morning when the itching started....then the watery eye (just one).....then the sneezing.  This cycle continued until I finally gave up, told MERVE that I was very sorry, and I took a Zyrtec.  Two hours later I decided that it was best if I just went home for the day, because anyone who looked at me said either, "You look miserable," or, "You look bad," or some other ego-boosting comment.

So what is a future-mother to do?!  I really don't know the answer because now I find myself in a struggle between doing what's best for my precious baby and keeping my allergies at bay so I can work to provide for my little one!  Ugh....