Nosebleeds
An early sign of pregnancy that can sometimes last through the third trimester is nosebleeds. Nosebleeds are more common during pregnancy than many people realize. What causes them?
While minor nosebleeds are harmless, they can be embarrassing and often happen at the most inconvenient times. When pregnant, a woman has an increased amount of blood running through her body. Her blood vessels are more sensitive and the vessels in the nose expand. When the air is dry and the nostrils dry out, the veins are vulnerable and often a nose bleed occurs.
How to Stop One
If you get a nose bleed while pregnant, you should first attempt to stop it in the same way you would a normal nosebleed. Apply pressure to the nostril for at least 10 minutes with your head tilted back and above your heart. You can also try putting ice in the area to help the veins close up. If after 10 minutes your nose bleed does not stop, talk to your doctor to see if there is something else you can do.
How to Prevent a Nose Bleed
- Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated will also help keep your nose from drying out – dehydration can cause the veins to break and a nose bleed to begin.
- Blow gently. If you must blow your nose, blow it easily. Blowing too hard can put extra pressure on the veins and cause them to burst.�
- Use a humidifier. If the air is dry around you, try getting a humidifier to run in your home and bedroom. Keeping the air moist will prevent nosebleeds.�
- Lubricate your nose. You can use a nasal lubricant to help keep your nostrils moist, but stay away from nasal sprays and decongestants as they can further dry out your nose.
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Frequent nosebleeder says...
I disagree with the advice to tilt one’s head back. If you’ve ever had a real nosebleed, you’d never tilt your head back. It may look like it stops the bleeding, but it doesn’t. I’ve had regular nosebleeds my whole life [and they increased with frequency during pregnancy,] and tilting my head back always caused the blood to run down the back of my throat. Not only is it gross, but it causes me to gag and cough up the blood.