Written from firsthand experience with a deviated septum and checked against clinical sources. We make Ventriq Nasal Strips, so we are always upfront that a strip relieves symptoms rather than fixing the structural problem. Read our methodology or our editorial policy.
Our number one pick for pregnancy congestion: the Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strips. Nothing goes into your bloodstream: the band simply lifts the nostril walls from the outside, so you get a little more air at night while the swelling runs its course.
Yes, nasal strips are one of the few things you can use for a blocked nose in pregnancy without adding any medicine, and for night time stuffiness they can genuinely help. A strip works purely mechanically: a springy band lifts the sides of your nose and widens the nasal valve, the narrowest part of the airway. It does nothing to the swelling itself, which is driven by pregnancy hormones and extra blood volume, so think of it as comfort while you wait for things to settle, not a fix. Talk to your midwife, GP or pharmacist about the congestion itself, especially before using any spray or tablet.
Why Your Nose Blocks Up in Pregnancy
A stuffy nose that turns up in pregnancy, with no cold and no allergy behind it, has a name: pregnancy rhinitis. Higher oestrogen and progesterone levels and a big rise in blood volume make the lining inside the nose (the mucosa) swell. Swollen mucosa takes up space in an airway that is only a few millimetres wide at the valve, so even a small amount of swelling has an outsized effect on how hard you have to pull air through.
It tends to feel worst at night. Lying down sends more blood to the head, and your nasal cycle (the natural switching of swelling from one side to the other every few hours) can leave you with one side fully shut. That is exactly when people start mouth breathing, snoring, and waking up with a dry throat. The usual pattern is that pregnancy rhinitis clears up within a couple of weeks of the birth, but that is little comfort at 3am in the third trimester.
Where I Come In
I have obviously never been pregnant, so I will not pretend to know what that is like. What I do know is the mechanics of a nose that will not let air through. I played rugby for over ten years and my nose took enough hits that it was probably broken more than once. An ENT specialist referred me to a Consultant Otolaryngologist in Dublin who recommended septorhinoplasty (procedure code 5975). I put the surgery off so I could keep playing, and I built Ventriq because I wanted a drug free way to get my sleep back in the meantime.
The reason I think strips suit pregnancy in particular is the same reason I like them: there is nothing to absorb. When you are pregnant the list of medicines you can casually reach for gets very short, and a piece of tape with a spring in it sits outside that whole question.
The Best Options for Pregnancy Congestion, Ranked
Here is how I would rank the realistic options for a blocked nose at night. Ventriq is our number one pick, and I make it, so weigh that accordingly. The others are genuinely worth knowing about.
1. Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strips: our number one pick
The Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strips are the one I make and the one I use. They are built for a full night of lift with an adhesive designed to hold through tossing and turning, which matters when you are shifting between pillows every hour. Ventriq comes in one size only, so if you have a particularly small nose, read our guide on choosing the right nasal strip first. Skin can become more reactive in pregnancy, so try one on for an hour in the evening before you commit to a full night.
2. Breathe Right Original or Extra Strength
Breathe Right is the brand most pharmacies stock, and that availability is a real advantage when you need something tonight. The Original comes in sizes and has a clear version that some people find gentler on the skin. Extra Strength gives more lift. If you want to compare the two brands directly, see Ventriq vs Breathe Right.
3. Saline sprays and rinses
Plain saline is not a medicine in the usual sense; it rinses and moistens the lining. It pairs well with a strip because it tackles a different part of the problem. Ask your pharmacist which product they would suggest in pregnancy, as not everything on the nasal aisle is plain saline.
4. Raising your head and adding humidity
An extra pillow or a wedge under the top of the mattress lets gravity drain some of that pooled blood away from your nose. A humidifier helps if your bedroom air is dry and your nose crusts overnight. Neither costs much, and both stack with a strip.
5. Internal nasal dilators
Cones and clips such as Mute sit inside the nostril rather than on the skin. They avoid adhesive entirely, which is a plus if your skin is reacting to everything right now. The trade off is that they press on a lining that is already swollen and tender, which some people find uncomfortable. I compare the two approaches in internal vs external nasal dilators.
What to Avoid or Check First
Decongestant sprays and tablets are where you need to be careful. Many are not recommended in pregnancy, and medicated sprays can cause rebound congestion if used for more than a few days, leaving you worse off than before. I go into that rebound effect in nasal strips vs nasal sprays. Do not start any medicated product without checking with your pharmacist, midwife or GP.
A few signs mean the conversation with your midwife or GP should happen sooner rather than later:
- Snoring that is new, loud, and comes with gasping or pauses in breathing
- Headaches, blurred vision or sudden swelling in your face, hands or feet
- A fever, thick coloured discharge or facial pain that points to an infection
- Nosebleeds that are heavy or frequent
A strip will not help with any of those, and it should never be a reason to put off getting checked.
How to Get the Most From a Strip in Pregnancy
- Wash and fully dry the skin on your nose first. Moisturiser and natural oil are the main reasons strips peel early.
- Place it on the soft part of the nose just above the flare of the nostrils, not up on the bony bridge.
- Press the ends down for a few seconds to bed the adhesive in.
- Peel slowly in the morning, ideally after a warm shower or a damp cloth to loosen it.
- Pair it with side sleeping and a raised head of the bed for the biggest combined effect.
If you want the bigger picture on nasal breathing and sleep, our complete guide to nasal breathing and better sleep covers it, and best nasal strips for sleeping goes deeper on what makes a good night strip.
The Bottom Line
Pregnancy rhinitis is common, usually temporary, and miserable at night. A Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strip is our number one pick because it adds airflow without adding anything to your body, but it does not shrink the swelling or replace advice from your midwife, GP or pharmacist. Use it alongside a raised pillow and saline, and get anything unusual checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are nasal strips safe to use while pregnant?
Nasal strips are drug free and work on the outside of the nose, so nothing is absorbed into your body. That is why they are one of the options people ask about in pregnancy. If you have any doubt, or your skin is reacting more than usual, check with your midwife, GP or pharmacist first.
What is pregnancy rhinitis?
Pregnancy rhinitis is nasal congestion that appears during pregnancy without a cold or allergy behind it. Hormonal changes and increased blood volume make the lining of the nose swell. It usually settles within a couple of weeks after the birth. Your midwife or GP can confirm whether that is what you have.
Will a nasal strip cure my blocked nose in pregnancy?
No. A nasal strip lifts the sides of the nose to widen the airway, which can make breathing easier, but it does nothing to the swelling or its cause. It is a comfort measure, not a treatment.
Can I use a decongestant spray when pregnant?
Many medicated decongestants are not recommended in pregnancy, and some sprays cause rebound congestion after a few days. Speak to your pharmacist, midwife or GP before using any medicated product. Plain saline is often suggested, but ask which one suits you.
Why is my nose more blocked at night when I am pregnant?
Lying flat sends more blood to the head, which adds to the swelling in the nasal lining, and the natural nasal cycle can shut one side completely. Raising the head of the bed, sleeping on your side and using a nasal strip can all ease it.
Should I worry if I start snoring during pregnancy?
Light snoring from a stuffy nose is common. Loud new snoring with gasping or pauses in breathing, or snoring alongside headaches, vision changes or swelling, should be mentioned to your midwife or GP promptly.
Pregnancy rhinitis will pass, but you still need to sleep in the meantime. Try Ventriq Sleep Nasal Strips for a drug free bit of extra airflow at night, and keep your midwife in the loop about the rest.
