If you’re pregnant, it’s important to speak to your GP before taking any new medication to ensure that it’s safe for you and your baby.
Antihistamines like cetirizine and loratadine may be safe to take during pregnancy, but some others have been known to cause birth defects.
If your allergy symptoms are minimal, try to avoid taking an antihistamine medicine - but if they are severe, speak to a healthcare professional first to see what treatment options they advise.
More often than not, you will be advised to try hay fever eye drops or nasal sprays before taking allergy tablets, as they are usually the safer option during pregnancy.
This is because the medicines in eye drops and nasal sprays enter the bloodstream in smaller amounts than those in oral medications like tablets or capsules.
Either way, you should only take hay fever medication of any kind during pregnancy if a medical professional has advised that you should do so.