Pregnancy is a time when a woman’s body goes through many changes and admittedly most of them are not exactly pleasant. One thing that most women will experience during pregnancy is a heightened sense of smell or hyperosmia. All of a sudden, everything smells weird. Scents that you love may become unbearable to you once pregnant. Studies show that at least two-thirds of women become more sensitive to smells during pregnancy and they are more reactive to the scents around them. In fact, a heightened sense of smell is one of the earliest signs that you are expecting.
If you suddenly find that the scent of your favorite perfume or food makes you gag, do not be alarmed. You are simply experiencing what millions of pregnant women around the world experience while pregnant. Pregnancy-induced sense of smell is common and you may find that many scents that did not bother you before have become less appealing now.
You may also find that you like scents you did not even notice before. If you suddenly can’t stand the smell of your husband, there is no cause for alarm. Many women have admitted to becoming more sensitive to the smell of the people around them.
Why The Sense Of Smell Changes
There are several theories out there regarding the change in the sense of smell during pregnancy, but it all comes down to hormones and an increase in blood flow. There are different things going on when a baby is growing in the mother’s womb and a keener sense of smell can be blamed on those hormonal changes.
Most pregnant women notice the change during the first trimester, but the significance and severity in the change of smell may vary from one woman to the next. Many experts agree that the heightened sense of smell can be a trigger for morning sickness.
Can Sensitivity To Smell Be Avoided?
Unfortunately, there is not much that you can do to avoid a heightened sense of smell. You cannot stop your nose from being increasingly sensitive while your hormones are all over the place! This is one of those pregnancy experiences that you have to learn to cope with while waiting for it to pass.
The situation can change during the final trimester, but for sure will change once the baby comes. Everything smell related will go back to normal. On the other hand, if you suffer from Hyperosmia, the increased ability to sense odors can occur due to other non-pregnancy related conditions.
How To Cope With The Change
The heightened sense of smell can be an inconvenience but it doesn’t have to keep you down. Like with other changes during pregnancy, you can learn to adjust, knowing that it is just for a season. The strong sense of smell tends to pass when the baby is born, or even earlier.
You can do a few things to cope with the change. First, cook and eat only foods that you like to smell and leave windows open to get rid of cooking smells and other musty odors. Odors tend to cling to fibers so you should wash your clothes more often. Placing a cup of bicarbonate of soda in your fridge can help to neutralize offensive odors.
Avoiding Offensive Scents
It is a good idea to get rid of deodorants and cleaning products in the home that make you sick. Switch to non-scented toiletries or products that have fragrances that you like. Talk to those around you and ask for some consideration. When your family and friends understand what you're going through, they will be glad to accommodate you during this time. Try as much as possible to avoid the smells that bother you when you are out in public. It might not be possible to avoid every bad smell, but at least you can minimize exposure by being aware of your surroundings.
People with hyperosmia experience smell more acutely than other people. This condition can cause the individual to experience discomfort or even get ill because of certain odors. Trigger odors for the condition vary from person to person. Once you identify the scents that trigger nausea or an upset stomach, limit your exposure as much as possible.
Fortunately, pregnancy-induced hyperosmia goes away after the pregnancy when the hormone levels normalize. Meanwhile, if there is a scent or safe essential oil that you like, put a few drops on a flannel or tissue and carry it when you go out. This will give you something pleasant to smell any time you are assaulted by offensive scents out there.
Sources: momlovesbest.com, motherandbaby.co.uk, medicalnewstoday.com, whattoexpect.com,