Nosebleeds during pregnancy may be alarming for most women. It can cause a lot of inconvenience but there is generally nothing to worry about, unless you are bleeding a lot from the nose.
In pregnancy, nosebleeds are pretty common and may be caused because the blood vessels in the body begin to expand to accommodate the increased volume of blood. Pregnant women also often suffer from congested noses and therefore may experience nosebleeds if they blow too hard. Nosebleed symptoms often begin toward the end of the first trimester and may continue until after delivery.
Nosebleeds could also occur for reasons that are not connected to pregnancy. Dry and cold conditions tend to irritate the inner membrane of the nose because of which nose bleeds occur. The medical name for a nosebleed is epistaxis.
What you can do to relieve nosebleeds during pregnancy:
1) Sit down and lean your head forward (not backward). This will make your nose bleed less, positioning your head above the heart. If you lean back, this can cause your body to experience more issues, such as gagging, nausea and vomiting.
2) Squeeze the softer parts of your nose together.
3) Apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables on your nose and cheeks. But remember to wrap it in a towel.
4) Use a saline nasal spray to help alleviate nosebleeds.
What you can do to avoid getting a nosebleed during pregnancy:
1) Drink extra fluids to help keep all of your mucous membranes well hydrated.
2) Blow your nose gently. Aggressive blowing can lead to nosebleeds.
3) Try to keep your mouth open when you sneeze. Closing your mouth during a sneeze places all the pressure on the nose. This pressure can be enough to start a nosebleed.
4) Keep a humidifier at home.
If the bleeding is serious, do call your gynea or GP.