It would be an understatement to say that your body goes through a lot during pregnancy.
Along with the excitement and anticipation of meeting your new arrival, there are a lot of new and unfamiliar symptoms to deal with, too. Nosebleeds during pregnancy are one of them — and they're actually pretty common.
Here’s everything you need to know when it comes to dealing with pregnancy nosebleeds.
Is it normal to get nosebleeds while pregnant?
Medically known as epistaxis, nosebleeds happen in over 20% of pregnant women, according to a 2019 study (compared with 6% who get nosebleeds whilst not pregnant), making it a fairly common occurrence [1].
Although they can be common, they should not be severe.
If they are severe or you’re worried, then definitely speak to your doctor about the symptoms you’re having.
If you’re getting them regularly, it’s helpful to write down exactly when and for how long, plus any activities to note that may bring them on.
Nosebleeds can happen any time of day and can even occur when you’re asleep. If it happens when you’re sleeping, you may wake at the sensation of blood at the back of your throat.
What causes nosebleeds during pregnancy?
A few different factors may cause nosebleeds in pregnancy:
Increased blood flow
During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by a staggering 45% to ensure the healthy growth of the baby [2].
This blood volume increase can cause things like nosebleeds and bleeding gums because of an increase in tiny blood vessels. It can also make the skin feel warmer, potentially sweating more.
Rhinitis
Pregnant women may experience rhinitis, which is the inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the nostrils.
This can cause symptoms like congestion, a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and itchy eyes. Basically, it’s what a minor cold or allergy can feel like.
Having rhinitis when pregnant means you’re likely to be blowing your nose more, which in turn, could cause a bloody nose.
In addition to that, the lining in your nostrils (mucous membranes) is more likely to dry out and tiny blood vessels to break causing either a full-on nosebleed or spots of blood in the tissue when blowing your nose.
Hormonal changes
Of course, your body is also going through many, many hormonal changes during pregnancy, which is often related to pregnancy rhinitis.
The increase in oestrogen causes increased levels of blood to the lining of the nose and progesterone causes increased blood volume.
Pyogenic granuloma
Pyogenic granulomas are small, raised bumps on the skin [3].
It is a non-cancerous growth that is more common during pregnancy and therefore is often given the name pregnancy tumour.
These bumps can bleed easily because of the number of blood vessels. They can develop in the mouth and nose. They're thought to be more common due to prior injury but the exact cause is unknown.
It’s important to note that not all nosebleeds whilst you’re pregnant are caused by pregnancy.
There are lots of other causes, including:
- Injury
- High blood pressure
- Blood clotting disorders
- Blowing your nose too much
- Air humidity or temperature changes
How long do nosebleeds usually last?
Nosebleeds during pregnancy can start from your first trimester, right up until your baby is born.
How long your nosebleed episodes last can vary from anywhere between seconds to 10 or more minutes.
If your nosebleed lasts longer than 15 minutes, you feel dizzy or you're having trouble breathing, it’s recommended to see medical advice. You may be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist to determine the cause of your bleeding nose symptoms.
You might experience nosebleeds regularly during pregnancy or just a few times.
How to stop a nosebleed
If you’re experiencing a nosebleed, follow these steps:
- Sit down and lean forward
- Breath with your mouth open
- Allow the blood to drip from your nose and spit any out that you get in your mouth
- Firmly pinch the bridge of your nose
- You can put an ice pack on your forehead or the back of your neck — this is to constrict blood vessels to stop nose bleeding
- After 10 minutes, let go of your nose to see if the blood has stopped
- If the bleeding continues, seek medical advice whilst continuing these steps
Advice on dealing with nosebleeds has changed over the years. Despite these steps previously being given, it’s important not to do the following:
- Lie down
- Tip your head backwards
- Blow your nose
- Pack your nose full of tissues
Once your nose has stopped bleeding, you’ll need to be a little careful afterwards, too.
- Try to avoid lying down
- Be careful picking or blowing your nose
- Don't do any strenuous exercise
- Avoid hot drinks
How to prevent future nosebleeds
There are a few ways to prevent nosebleeds, but it might not be something you can stop altogether, since unfortunately, it can be something that just happens. It should never cause severe epistaxis though.
- Be extra careful when blowing your nose, particularly if you have a stuffy nose or you have a cold
- Stay hydrated
- Take supplements like Kin’s Prenatal Vitamin and Iron Support to help meet all of your nutritional needs alongside a balanced diet
- Use a nasal lubricant to help your nose from drying out
- Keep the air moist as the dry air can cause more nosebleeds during pregnancy — you might find this is more common in cold weather, too
- Opt for gentle over strenuous exercises
- Manage allergies to decrease congestion
When to see a doctor
Severe cases aren’t common and typically present due to a pre-existing condition.
If you’re ever worried about nosebleeds during pregnancy, mention concerns to your doctor or at your next prenatal appointment.
Otherwise, you should visit them if:
- Your nosebleeds last more than 15 minutes
- You're having excessive nosebleeds
- You have another nosebleed after an earlier episode
- You’re worried about the amount of blood coming from your nose
- You feel generally unwell or dizzy
- You're having trouble breathing
- You have a nosebleed as a result of an injury
- You have medical conditions or are on medication that could cause frequent nosebleeds or severe nosebleeds
- You're on blood thinners
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