Pregnancy is an experience that leads to many physiological changes in a woman's body, from the moment of conception until after childbirth. Have you ever noticed a change in your voice during pregnancy? If so, there is no need to worry, this is completely normal. Pregnancy can affect the quality and frequency of the voice, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy. In addition, fluid retention can cause the vocal cords to swell, causing a change in the voice of a pregnant woman. Continue reading this article in Dalili Medical to learn more about the truth about voice changes during pregnancy and the reasons behind them.

**Reasons for voice changes during pregnancy**

 

1. **Hormonal changes** During pregnancy, the rapid increase in progesterone and estrogen levels affects a woman's body in general, including the vocal cords. High levels of progesterone can reduce mucus production, causing dry throat, decreased muscle strength, and laryngitis. All of these changes affect the quality of the voice.

2. **Increased body fluids** Voice changes can be caused by increased body fluid volume during pregnancy, as blood volume increases by up to 45% to expand blood vessels throughout the body, including the vocal cords. This expansion can lead to some vocal changes in pregnant women. In addition, vocal cord weakness can also contribute to voice changes.

**3* Vocal cord swelling** Just like other parts of the body, the vocal cords can swell during pregnancy, leading to a feeling of heaviness in the vocal folds. As a result, pregnant women may lose their upper voice tone, as the blood vessels during this period are very fragile and may tear if the pregnant woman tries to speak in a loud voice. On the other hand, swelling in the nose may occur during colds or flu, which increases the difficulty of breathing for the pregnant woman and hinders the sound from being transmitted towards the sinuses, which affects the roughness of the voice.

**4* Decreased lung capacity** Pregnant women may have difficulty breathing during pregnancy, as the growth of the fetus inside the womb can push the diaphragm, reducing the lung capacity and ability to breathe properly towards the sinuses, which affects the hoarseness of the voice. In addition, the mother is more susceptible to laryngopharyngeal reflux during this period, which may lead to relaxation of the sphincter that prevents food from refluxing into the larynx, which changes the tone of the voice.

**5* Laryngitis** Laryngitis is one of the most prominent causes of hoarseness during pregnancy, and is often caused by a viral infection affecting the upper respiratory tract, or as a result of the appearance of cysts on the vocal cords, which are masses that form on these cords and hinder their ability to close normally during speech.

**How ​​is a change in voice diagnosed in pregnant women?**

 

Hoarseness is diagnosed to determine the cause of its occurrence, as this begins by examining the larynx and the membranes surrounding it, or by performing a laryngoscopy using a lighted endoscope. The quality of the voice is also evaluated to determine the cause by analyzing the type of voice, its height and intensity. For example, a hoarse voice is an indication of inflammation and swelling of the vocal cords due to infection or inhalation of chemicals.

**When is it advisable to visit an ear, nose and throat doctor?**

 

- A sudden change in voice after singing, coughing or sneezing.

- Feeling pain while speaking or singing.

- Significant loss of vocal range.

- Swelling of the vocal cords and a change in vocal range.

During pregnancy, women experience swelling in different parts of their bodies due to fluid retention and metabolic changes. During this period, the vocal cords also swell, increasing their weight and stiffness and reducing their flexibility. This swelling puts pressure on the vocal cords and affects the quality of the voice.

This may affect a woman's overall vocal range when singing, as women may find it difficult to reach high notes, while they may be more able to reach low notes.

**Increased risk of acid reflux** Acid reflux and indigestion are common problems that women suffer from during pregnancy. Hormonal changes cause the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally prevents stomach acids from leaking back into the esophagus, to relax. In addition, the stomach capacity decreases, making acid reflux more likely when a pregnant woman’s stomach is full.

**Increased fragility of the blood vessels in the vocal cords** Pregnancy causes blood vessels in different areas of the body to expand, leading to many pregnancy-related problems such as hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Similarly, the blood vessels in the vocal cords may expand, increasing the risk of bleeding. Therefore, singers are advised to take a break for their voices during pregnancy, and avoid trying to expand their vocal range during this period.

**Decreased lung capacity** As pregnancy progresses and the fetus grows, the diaphragm and other organs are pushed into the chest cavity, which may make it difficult for a pregnant woman to breathe deeply enough to produce some high notes. This can lead to vocal strain and reduce the ability to maintain notes for long periods while singing.

**Reduced nasal resonance** The nasal mucosa may also become swollen during pregnancy, reducing a woman’s ability to breathe through her nose. This swelling can reduce or block the resonance of the voice within the sinus cavities, causing the voice to lose its vitality and make the nasal resonance less, making the voice sound hoarse during pregnancy. The voice usually returns to normal after the baby is born, or in some cases a few months after birth. However, it is advisable to consult a laryngologist and speech therapist in some cases.

Pregnancy hormones are the main cause of most cases of voice changes during pregnancy; however, if you experience any of the following changes

You shouldYou should visit a throat and speech therapist as soon as possible if you experience voice loss during pregnancy.

You should also consult a doctor if you experience any type of discomfort or pain while speaking or singing.

If you notice a sudden change in the quality of your voice after speaking or singing, or when sneezing or coughing, it is important to take this into consideration.

Remember that if you experience any changes in your voice during pregnancy, this is a completely normal phenomenon.

**Treatment of hoarseness with herbs and natural methods**

 

**Treatment of hoarseness with essential oils** Essential oils contain chemical compounds that are effective in treating many health problems, including hoarseness. For example, eucalyptus essential oil is used to reduce mucus production and moisturize and soothe throat irritation. It can be used by adding 4-5 drops of the oil to vaporizers, or by placing some drops on the pillow to inhale its scent while sleeping at night. It is important to note that essential oils should be avoided by mouth.

**Treatment of hoarseness with water and salt** Gargling with water and salt helps eliminate harmful germs and relieve pain. To treat hoarseness using this method, you can add half a teaspoon of salt to a large cup of warm water and stir it until it dissolves, then gargle the solution at the bottom of the throat before spitting it out, taking care not to swallow it. It should be noted that this method may not be suitable for young children who may find it difficult to gargle properly.

**Treatment of hoarseness with apple cider vinegar** Apple cider vinegar is characterized by its antibacterial properties, which makes it effective in fighting infectious diseases. To treat hoarseness using apple cider vinegar, you can add a teaspoon or two of pure, undiluted apple cider vinegar to a small cup of water, and drink it once or twice a day. To improve the effectiveness and taste of this mixture, you can add a teaspoon of honey. Apple cider vinegar can also be used in a gargle solution made of water and salt.

**Treatment of hoarseness with tea and honey** Herbs, such as tea, are an effective way to treat hoarseness, as tea helps moisturize and soothe throat irritation. Some types of herbal tea, such as chamomile tea, contain antioxidants that boost the immune system, in addition to their anti-inflammatory properties. It is recommended to add honey to the tea to increase its effectiveness, as honey reduces mucus production and helps relieve coughing. A mixture of honey and warm water can also be consumed alone.

**Treatment of hoarseness with red elm tea and lemon** Red elm tea is prepared by grinding the dry bark of the red elm tree (Slippery Elm), which is used in many Indian herbal medicine recipes to treat upper respiratory infections. This tea is believed to coat and moisturize the throat, making it easier to speak and helping to treat hoarseness. Red elm extracts are also available in the form of nutritional supplements. It is recommended to add lemon to red elm tea, as it contains vitamin C, which is considered a powerful antioxidant, which enhances and strengthens the immune system.

**Ginger Hoarseness Treatment** Ginger uses are common ways to treat hoarseness with herbs. Ginger has been used since ancient times to treat many diseases, especially sore throat and upper respiratory tract infections. Ginger helps relieve dry cough that irritates the throat, and it also has antibacterial properties. Ginger can be used to treat hoarseness by drinking it as a pre-prepared tea, or by preparing it by adding fresh ginger to hot water, or eating it with different foods.

**Garlic Hoarseness Treatment** Garlic is characterized by its antibacterial properties, which helps speed up the healing process from infections. To benefit from the benefits of garlic in treating hoarseness, it can be eaten fresh or cooked with meals, or by taking nutritional supplements.

Can the problem of voice change be avoided?

 

The problem of sudden voice change can be avoided by following the following instructions:

- Quit smoking and stay away from smokers.

- Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and drinks containing caffeine.

- Drink sufficient amounts of water.

- Avoid spicy foods.

- Do not strain your voice for long periods and avoid speaking loudly.

- Gargle with a solution of water and salt.