Nosebleeds during pregnancy

Are you suffering from nosebleeds during pregnancy? This can be quite worrying, not to mention irritating and socially embarrassing. But are nosebleeds during pregnancy normal? Let's take a look at what causes them and what you can do to stop nosebleeds.

A woman's blood volume increases by around 50 percent once she becomes pregnant. This additional amount of blood comes in gradually, commencing at around six to eight weeks of pregnancy, and peaking during the third trimester. This blood is needed to sustain your bigger and more hard-working uterus and breasts, as well as internal organs like the kidneys, which experience a bigger strain because of the pregnancy.

While most scientists would say that there is no evidence that this increased volume of blood puts the veins under more pressure, this is almost certainly what explains why lots of women have nosebleeds during pregnancy. Of course, nosebleeds are more likely when you have a cold, are at a high altitude, or other things that normally also put the nose under pressure.

So, what can you do to stop nosebleeds once they start? There are a lot of myths around about nosebleeds, so it can be hard to know what is actually most effective. The trick is to keep your head higher than your heart. So, no lying down when you have a nosebleed. It also helps to press on the nostrils for a while, until you have determined that the bleeding definitely stops. This may take a few minutes to 10 minutes. If your nosebleed continues for a long time 20 minutes, half an hour, or more, despite measures to stop the bleeding, consult your doctor for advice.

There is some evidence that staying well hydrated lessens the chance of nosebleeds, because this keeps your mucus membranes moist. Avoid stuff that puts pressure on your nose, like sneezing through it, as well.