Pregnancy comes with a host of strange symptoms. There are the obvious ones everyone talks about, morning sickness, cravings, and mood swings. But then there are the really weird ones that no one seems to mention.
For me, one of the strangest symptoms during pregnancy was excessive saliva.
Yeah… we’re talking about spit.
It might sound like a small or silly symptom when you read about it, but for me, it was actually a huge problem.
Between the horrible morning sickness and my bizarre craving for mayonnaise (which is funny because I’ve never really liked mayonnaise), excessive saliva became something that genuinely interrupted my daily life.
What is excessive saliva during pregnancy?
Excessive saliva during pregnancy is sometimes called ptyalism gravidarum. It happens when your body produces far more saliva than normal, often alongside nausea or morning sickness.
In my case, it wasn’t just a little extra saliva. It was a mouthful every few minutes.
And when you’re already extremely nauseous, the last thing you want to do is swallow your saliva constantly. Unfortunately, swallowing it often made my nausea even worse.
I spoke with my doctors and searched online for solutions, but most of the advice was simply to swallow it or try to ignore it.
That might work for mild cases. But when it’s constant and overwhelming, it’s not that simple.
When Excessive Saliva Becomes a Real Problem
At times, it made going out in public uncomfortable because my mouth would suddenly fill with saliva and I had to figure out how to discreetly deal with it.
It even affected my sleep.
There were nights when I woke up coughing and choking on my own saliva, and although I was never someone who drooled in my sleep before pregnancy, I often woke up with my pillow completely soaked.
To make matters worse, brushing my teeth seemed to trigger even more saliva, which made an already unpleasant routine feel even worse.
It sounds dramatic, but when something is happening constantly and is disrupting your quality of life, it wears on you.
Why does pregnancy cause so much saliva?
There isn’t one clear answer, but excessive saliva is often linked to:
- Hormonal changes
- Increased nausea and vomiting
- Heightened sense of taste and smell
- Acid reflux
For many women, it shows up during the first trimester alongside morning sickness.
For me, it lasted through my first trimester and most of my second trimester before gradually improving near the end of my pregnancy.
How I Managed Excessive Saliva During Pregnancy
Since there didn’t seem to be any real solution, I had to get creative with how I managed it day to day.
Here are a few things that helped me cope.
My “Two Tumbler” Strategy in Public
When I went out, I carried two water tumblers with me.
One was for drinking water like a normal person.
The other… was where I discreetly spit.
To everyone else, it probably looked like I was just a pregnant woman who was constantly thirsty. But in reality, that second tumbler saved me from some very awkward situations… or should I say spit-uations.
Sleeping With a Towel
On nights when I knew the saliva would be bad, I actually slept with a towel hanging from the side of my mouth.
Not glamorous, I know.
But it helped prevent soaking my pillow and also helped reduce breakouts that could happen when saliva sat against my skin overnight.
Keeping Cups Everywhere
I always had a cup nearby to spit into.
There was one on my desk, one on the kitchen counter, and one on my nightstand.
Thankfully, my husband was incredibly understanding. He never acted grossed out and continued to be supportive while I was carrying our child, which I appreciated more than he probably realizes.
And here’s a funny detail: I used the extra Solo cups we still had left over from parties before I got pregnant.
It made me laugh thinking about how those cups had once been used for beer pong and flip cup games. Now they had a very different job—holding my saliva during pregnancy.
But honestly, they were perfect for the situation. They were disposable, easy to grab when I needed one, and I didn’t have to constantly wash cups over and over again.
Pregnancy has a way of repurposing things in ways you never expected.
Toothpaste Tip
One thing I didn’t personally try, but have seen suggested, is switching to a non-fluoride toothpaste, which some people say makes brushing their teeth more tolerable during pregnancy.
Other Things That May Help
While nothing completely solved the problem for me, some suggestions you may want to try include:
- Staying well hydrated
- Eating small meals when you’re able to tolerate food
- Making sure your iron levels are adequate (iron can sometimes help reduce nausea)
- Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on mints
- Sucking on ice chips
For me, gum and mints didn’t work well because they actually made my nausea worse, but everyone’s experience can be different.
You’re Not Weird — This Happens to Other Pregnant Women Too
If you’re experiencing excessive saliva during pregnancy, just know that you are not weird and you’re definitely not alone.
It’s one of those symptoms that people don’t talk about much, but it can be incredibly frustrating when you’re going through it.
For me, the symptom lasted throughout my first trimester and most of my second trimester before gradually improving.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a clear solution for everyone. Sometimes it’s simply something you manage until your hormones settle down.
But if you’re dealing with it right now, just know that someone else has been there too—spitting into cups, carrying secret tumblers, and counting down the days until the symptom finally fades.
Maybe one day there will be an actual solution for excessive saliva during pregnancy. But until then, those Solo cups were put to very good use.
Sources
Geddes, J. K. (2026, February 9). Too much saliva in pregnancy? What it means and what can help. What to Expect. https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/saliva.aspx
Millard, E. (2025, June 16). Feel like you’re drooling up a river? Here’s why you might have extra saliva during pregnancy. BabyCenter. https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/your-body/excessive-saliva-during-pregnancy_9454
