The hard part about it is that there isn’t really a way to predict with any accuracy who will be overly sensitive to a particular smell. In fact, smells that you once loved may now give you a headache or make you want to hurl. Though when asked, many pregnant women had some categories of smells that seemed to top their lists over and over. They include:
Food Products
When you’re pregnant, you might have a love/hate relationship with food. One day you crave something, the next day you’re gagging at the thought of it. The smell of coffee in the morning used to get you out of bed and ready to tackle the day, now the only thing you tackle is the toilet bowl. Certainly, the biggest offenders are foods that linger and are already pungent, like onions, garlic, curry, etc. But there are also smells that you just can’t stomach for whatever reason including spaghetti sauce, fried foods, syrups that are heavily flavored.
Nature
Fresh cut lawns, new spring flower buds, and other nature scents are often popular offenders. One mom said that she wound up wearing a mask outdoors, just to avoid the once loved smells of spring. One mom even said that she couldn’t stand the normally loved smell of the ocean.
Normally Avoided Smells
There is a whole category of smells that we don’t normally like to smell. This would include smells like garbage, the litter box, etc. What is different is the physical reaction to the smells, in addition to the level of smell needed to trigger a reaction. You might find that you need to take the garbage out more frequently or use something that you can tolerate to mask any odors. More than one mom has admitted to throwing up while taking out the garbage, even as early as five weeks pregnant. And yes, you can regulate this chore to someone else, but you will still likely have a garbage can in your kitchen.
People
Yes, people smell. And I’m not talking about co-workers with bad hygiene, although they certainly don’t help. This tends to be the stuff that people wear. It could be deodorant or perfume. It might also be at a level you never would had noticed had you not had super schnozz activated by baby. But being pregnant can turn even the slightest hint of cologne into a teenage boy covered in Axe body spray levels.
Your Pets
Wet dog is one thing, but pregnant woman versus wet dog – ouch! That said, while certain pet smells and chores, like walking, changing the cat’s litter box, and curbing the dog were unable to be performed, other women reported that their four-legged pets were just “gross” smelling to them. Another woman reported that her fish’s water was gagging her, even after the tank had been thoroughly cleaned.
Chemicals
In this category, I would place things like paint, nail polish, household cleaners, and gasoline. These are obviously things that can cause harm if you sniff them. They all come with labels to be used in well-ventilated areas in general. That said, you may find, even if you were someone who liked these smells before, that they now bother you. Avoid them at all costs. If you read this and feel like I’ve said you should avoid:
peoplefoodoutdoorsindoorschorespets
You’d be right. But we all know that it isn’t possible. The good news is that many women while maintaining the heightened level of smell, don’t continue feeling as grossed out to everything past the first trimester. And you may not experience any nasal issues at all, or just a few. I’ve not found many women who experienced aversions to everything on this list. So figure out where your sensitivities are and avoid those as much as possible. Breathe through your mouth to lessen the smell. And if you can mask it with a scent of your own, like a flavored lip gloss—do whatever it takes!
