June 22nd, 2012 by Hasham

Causes of Nose Bleeds During Pregnancy

Your body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy. You may be finding yourself blessed with all kind of new discomforts and aggravations. Nose bleeds may be one of them. Nose bleeds and nasal congestion are very common complaints during pregnancy. As your pregnancy develops, your blood volume increases. The combination of hormonal changes and increasing blood flow contributes to some of the nasal problems of pregnancy. Many women complain of being feeling more congested, having more sinus headaches, or having more frequent nosebleeds when they are pregnant.
How to stop a nose bleed

Sit down and pinch the end of your nose. You don’t want to lie down. Your head should be higher than your heart. Don’t tilt your head back because you may end up swallowing blood. This might make you nauseated or sick to your stomach. Keep your nose pinched, applying pressure for five to ten minutes. You want to hold the end of your nose long enough for the blood to clot and stop the flow of blood. Applying ice may help too. Ice will help to constrict the blood vessels and should help stop the bleeding. If you are still bleeding after ten minutes, continue applying pressure to the end of your nose. Make sure that you do not stop applying pressure to check the bleeding because this may allow the blood to start flowing again. If your nose is still bleeding after 20 minutes or if you are having severe bleeding call your doctor.
How to prevent nose bleeds

Avoid drying medications like nasal sprays and decongestants. You should consult your doctor about any medications that you take during your pregnancy.

Avoid being around smoke or heavy perfumes that might irritate your nose.

Use a humidifier. Humidifiers help to keep the air in the room moist. This can help to clear up congestion and keep your nasal passages from drying out.

If your nose feels congested, don’t pick your nose or blow your nose forcefully. Try taking a steamy shower to loosen up the congestion or rinsing your nose with saline drops. (Do not use medicated drops without consulting your doctor).

Causes of Nose Bleeding during Pregnancy

Increased blood flow: During pregnancy blood volume and flow increases up to 50%, thus putting pressure on the nose vessels. This often results in bleeding nose.
High level of estrogen: Increased estrogen level can also lead to nose bleeding during pregnancy.
Other causes:
Nosebleeds can even occur if the pregnant women have cold.
Women who take less fluid during  pregnancy are also at arisk of noswe bleeding. This is because lack of fluid will dry mucous membrane dry.

Preventing Nose Bleeding during Pregnancy

Even though nose bleeds during pregnancy is common but with a little effort you can prevent or minimise it’s occurrence.

Since you know that pregnancy will make you prone to nose bleeding it is better to take precautions beforehand. Dry mucous membrane is more likely to bleed than the hydrated one so increase fluid intake during pregnancy. It will help your mucous membrane to stay hydrated.
If you have cold then avoid rough blowing. Instead make use of soft tissues that will help to soothe your nose.
Use humidifier to maintain moist air in your room. Dry air can dry your mucous membrane and result in bleeding nose.
Use pillow to elevate your head while sleeping. This will prevent mucus from blocking your throat.
If you have frequent nosebleeds then you can take a nasal lubricant or can use a little dab of petroleum jelly. This will keep prevent your nasal membrane from drying out and thus prevent bleeding.

How to Stop Nose Bleeding during Pregnancy

Bleeding nose requires immediate attention. Here are some of the things you can do for your bleeding nose:

If your nose is bleeding then make sure that you don’t tilt your head backwards. By doing so you may end up swallowing blood. Pinch the end of your nose for five to ten minutes so that the blood clots.
You can also apply ice to constrict the blood vessels.
If bleeding occurs for more than 15 minutes then immediately consult your doctor.

How can I stop a nosebleed?

When your nose starts to bleed, sit down, keep your head higher than your heart, and put pressure on the bleeding nostril for five to ten minutes. (Use a watch — it’s longer than you think.)

Using your thumb and the side of your bent index finger, firmly pinch the whole soft lower part of your nose and exert pressure toward your face. Don’t let up for a second — even if you’re getting very curious to see if the bleeding has stopped — because that could interfere with the coagulation process.

Applying ice can help, too, because it constricts blood vessels. Hold a cold pack or a bag of frozen peas over your nose and cheeks with the hand that’s not pinching your nostrils closed. Don’t lie down or tilt your head back: You might end up swallowing blood, which could cause nausea or even vomiting.

If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after ten minutes of pressure and ice, continue for another ten minutes as long as you’re not bleeding heavily. Consult your healthcare practitioner if the bleeding doesn’t stop after 20 minutes of pressure.

You’ll need a medical evaluation if you get a nosebleed following a head injury, even if you only have minor bleeding. Let your practitioner know if you have frequent nosebleeds so she can rule out underlying problems.