Why Does Your Nose Bleed When You are Pregnant?
Nose bleeding during pregnancy has been experienced over 20% of the women. Pregnancy makes the blood vessels in your nose expand and the increased blood supply will put pressure on the small and delicate vessels on the nose, thus making them rupture easily. Bu thankfully, these nose bleeds are not harmful and you may experience this over the course of your pregnancy often. Doctors have ruled out this as anything serious.
What Causes Nose Bleeding During Pregnancy?
Women are likely to experience 50 % increase in blood volume when she is pregnant. This increased volume is necessary for a better circulation that brings the necessary nourishment to the baby. As a result, this expands the small vessels in the nose, putting more pressure on the blood vessel, thus making them susceptible to rupture.
The pregnancy hormones like progesterone and oestrogen affect the way in which your blood vessels work. Progesterone is responsible for an increase in blood supply and this in turn puts pressure on the blood vessels and on the veins in your nose. The mucous membranes dries out and swells and is likely to get worse in winter. This makes it all the more easier for the blood vessels to break thus making you experience a minor bleed. Sometimes you may experience blood after you blow your nose and not necessarily a nose bleed in that sense.
Dry air in your room could also be a factor for your nose bleeding. It can be a cause and the sad part is, you might not even realise it.
The other possible reason could be a high blood pressure or a clotting disorder that leads to nose bleeding.
Nose Bleed Signs During Your Early Pregnancy:
While nose bleeding is sure common during your pregnancy, the gums are also another area prone to bleed. Nose bleeding and bleeding gums are a result of increased blood supply in the body, that is needed for circulation and for the nourishment of the baby. Studies have shown how recurring nose bleeding is almost four times common in pregnant women as compared to the non-pregnant women.
How to Stop Blood from Nose During Pregnancy:
Stopping your nose bleeding during pregnancy: Here are some easy ways through which you can treat nose bleeding during pregnancy.
1. Vinegar:
Vinegar is known to seal the walls of the blood vessel in the nasal passage and has been an effective cure for nose bleeding. Here is how to use it.
- Dip a ball of cotton in white vinegar.
- Plug the cotton on the nostril that is bleeding.
Leave the cotton for about 5 to 7 minutes. It is safe to use this whenever you experience nose bleeding.
2. Ice Pack:
Ice packs or even ice when applied to a bleeding area out of injury is known to stop bleeding. It acts by constricting the blood vessels and also reduces the inflammation in case of an injury. Here is how you can make an ice pack.
- Put some crushed ice into a pouch and cover it with a towel.
- Place the pack over your nose and hold up until the bleeding stops completely.
Vegetables pouches can also be used, the ones that were stored in the refrigerator, as an alternate solution.
3. Vitamin C:
another way to stop the nose bleeding is to use vitamin C. They help to prevent the rupture of the blood vessels and veins and give you comfort. The best way to use vitamin C for the purpose is to take foods rich in it. Orange, lemon and other citric fruits can effectively treat the bleeding problem. You can consume them as fruit or also make juice out of it and drink it every now and then.
4. Steam:
Steam is another way to hydrate the nasal blood vessels. Breathing in steam thus can effectively reduce the risk of nose bleeding. Inhale steam from a hot pot of boiled water once or twice a day. You can also think of getting a steam bath. Both of them have been proven to work effectively in treating nose bleeding.
5. Breathing through your nose and squeezing out through your nostrils closed for about 5 15 minutes will also help. Set a timer and do this for at least twice a day. The other strategy is to sit down and lean a little forward keeping your head higher than your heart. Remember not to lie down or tilt your head back when you do these. You could end up swallowing blood, thus causing nausea or vomiting.
When Should you Seek Medical Assistance?
Go for a medical help if you experience the following.
- When you have trouble breathing because of nose bleeding
- When the blood flow is very heavy
- When your bleeding causes fatigue or disorientation
- When the bleeding does not stop even after 30 minutes of pressure.
While our remedies will come in as saviour in times of emergency, remember to always consult a doctor when you experience extreme discomfort. At the same time, when you encounter this for the first time, do not freak out. Bleeding gums and nose bleeding during pregnancy are fairly common and pretty harmless.
