Excessive Saliva at 18 Weeks?!?!

I had this happen with my 5th child. I brought a spit cup to every activity i was at. People thought i was probably chewing tobacco. I was also on the anti nausea drug zofran. are you on anything? it did eventually go away but probably not until 22 weeks. I feel for you but you will get through it. Just bring a spit cup everywhere.

So nice to see a name to this. I had an excess amount of saliva when I was pregnant, as well. It was never to the extreme that has been mentioned here. I remember reading about it in the book "What to Expect When You are Expecting" but not much in the way of solutions. I hope that you find the help you need. What a miserable thing to deal with in your pregnancy! Good luck to you. :)

I wasn't that bad, but I slobbered on myself quite a bit. I would choke on my own spit all the time. My hubby would tell me to breath and swallow at different times. I would talk and have to swallow the whole time excessively so it wouldn't just drool out of my mouth. But that was off and on. Not sure what you could do??? Have you tried a B6 supplement? I used that for swelling and it might help with excessive spit???? One supplement in the morning can't hurt. (don't do too much because it can cause temporary nerve problems in excess).

Hello F., with both of my pregnancies I had something similar. My Dr just said it was fromt he increased fluids thru the body and did not think anything of it. Although I do not think I had it quite as extreme, I did feel that I was constantly spitting when evern possible. It was hard at work and many times I would close my office door and keep plenty of tissues of I was not able to do so. I hate to tell you, but mine lasted the entire pregnancy. I found that mint candy/lifesavers seemed to help. Sorry I can not give better advice, I just muddled through it.

I also had the same excessive saliva problem when I was pregnant with my son. It was so bad that I also had a spit bottle that I would use all day long. It gagged me so bad. I actually ended up with hyperemesis, which I pray does not happen to you, because it is the worst! I got to the point that I couldn't keep down water or a popsicle! It is a rare condition and like I said hopefully yours will not get any worse. Good luck!

Yikes. I had a lot of saliva and had a yucky metallic taste in my mouth where I'd want to drink, eat or chew on something. It also made me sick to my stomach but never so much that i felt the need to spit. I can't believe your doc didn't give you any suggestions. What about your dentist? He may know a trick. Good luck.

I FOUND THE ANSWER!!!! I suffered with excessive salivation during each of my five pregnancies and was miserable throughout. I tried everything from spitting, to stuffing paper in my cheeks, to eating to combat the bad taste, hard candies, gums, etc. Nothing worked long term. I decided to add a full squirt of lemon juice (from those little bottles you use to make guacamole) in a cup of ice water. I made it pretty strong and after drinking a cupful, I was able to go without spitting for about an hour!! I know the acid is probably destroying my teeth, but I'm absolutely DESPERATE to end this endless salivation. It absolutely worked for me! I hope it can work for someone else.

Hi F.,

I also had excessive mucus during my first trimester and into my second trimester of pregnancy. It certainly let up as I got further along, but I would recommend irrigating your nasal passages. I used Neil Med's system (available at most pharmacies) for congestion later in my pregnancy and wish I had known about it earlier. If you use 2 packets it helps dry you up. It's very easy to use.

Best of luck to you and feel better soon!
R.

I know exactly what this is. I had this with my first pregnancy and have it again NOW with my second. I also gag and dry heave because of it contantly, and vomit if I attempt to swallow it. I have to sleep with multiple towels. During the daytime I carry a spitcup constantly at home or paper towels in public. The only thing that I find helpful when around other people is to snack on salty popcorn, pretzels, and/or to drink constantly. Unfortunately plain water tends to make me gag because I can "feel" the saliva in it. Yuck!

It's called ptyalism (sometimes misspelled ptylism on the internet ) and its truly a terrible experience during pregnancy. It is rare. Rare enough in fact, that in my doctor's office, of which there are 5 ob/gyn's, I am the first patient they actually had with it. According to my ob, she studied it in med school YEARS before but I am the first she's had. That being said, even though its very rare, you aren't alone out there. I know of one other person who had it too. I went through it for 7 months (I believe)with my first pregnancy and for this one - I am 13 weeks and hoping to God it doesn't go that long this time. Unfortunately, since its so rare, there isn't really medical research or ways that I know of to help it.

I very recently saw on a message board discussing it that someone recommended "ipecacuanha" (a homeopathic solution) but I haven't seen my doctor yet to ask about it. Here is a link of discussion about ptylaism:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=273591

Good luck to you. If you hear of anything that would help, please pass that back to me.

Hello F.,

The same thing happened to me with noth my pregnancies. No Doctor or Midwife gave me an answer. I read in What To Expect When Your Expecting that it is a symptom for some women especially those suffering from morning sickness. I chewed chicklet gum , brush my teeth alot a gargled with Listerine- that helped. But at night it was just frustrating- I felt like a slobbering dog. I hated this. It eventually went away after severl months.

Sorry I couldn't be more help

D.