Nosebleeds during pregnancy
Is there an increased
risk of nosebleeds during pregnancy? When you become pregnant, your circulatory
system must expand to accommodate your baby. With this expansion, your body
creates more blood and circulation increases. These changes can lead to
problematic side effects, such as more frequent nosebleeds during pregnancy.
How to prevent nosebleeds during pregnancy?
There are many small
blood vessels in your nose. Due to increased circulation during pregnancy,
these blood vessels are more likely to burst, causing nosebleeds. If you need
to blow your nose or dry yourself for any reason, do so gently. This will help
reduce the chance of nosebleeds during pregnancy.
Plus, you're much
more likely to get nosebleeds when the air is dry, which is why it's important
to use a humidifier at home during the winter months. Humidified air will help
reduce the risk of nosebleeds during pregnancy.
Treatment of nosebleeds during pregnancy
You can slowly stop a
nosebleed by doing the following:
- Make sure to sit or stand with your head upright.
- Lightly squeeze your two nostrils towards the center of your nose. Do this for a couple of minutes, and then let go. Repeat this step if the bleeding has not subsided.
- If the flow of blood is heavy, you may also lean forward slightly so you do not ingest any blood.
- You should call your doctor immediately if your nosebleed follows a head injury.
Other reasons to see
a doctor include:
- You have high blood pressure.
- The nosebleed continues after completing the steps listed above.
- The blood flow is substantial.
The good news is that while these nosebleeds can be unpleasant, in most cases they are not a threat to you or your baby.