When do nosebleeds occur during pregnancy

And don't lie down or tilt your head back: You might end up swallowing blood, which could cause nausea and vomiting or even make you accidentally inhale some blood into your lungs. If the bleeding hasn't stopped after 15 minutes of applying pressure and ice, continue for another 10 to 15 minutes. Contact your provider if you have frequent nosebleeds during pregnancy.

She may want to do an exam to rule out any bigger problems. If you get nosebleeds often, it could be a symptom of something else, such as high blood pressure or a bleeding disorder.

Sometimes, a nosebleed during pregnancy requires immediate medical attention. Call or have someone drive you to the emergency room if:. Even though nosebleeds are common in pregnancy, it can be a little unnerving to be bleeding. If you're ever in doubt about whether or not to call your practitioner, err on the side of caution during pregnancy.

It might also help you feel prepared to read our article on Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.

When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.

We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. ENT Health. Giambanco L et al. The way a nose could affect pregnancy: Severe and recurrent epistaxis. The Pan African Medical Journal Mayo Clinic. Piccioni MG et al. Management of severe epistaxis during pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature. Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Patient education: Nosebleeds epistaxis Beyond the Basics.

Join now to personalize. Photo credit: Nathan Haniger for BabyCenter. Are bloody noses common in pregnancy? What causes nosebleeds during pregnancy? When should I seek help for a nosebleed?

Torrential epistaxis in the third trimester: a management conundrum. BMJ online first: 09 Oct. Anaesthetic management for the delivery of a parturient and definite management of her recurrent epistaxis. Rhinologic issues in pregnancy. Allergy Rhinol Providence 3 1 :e Incidence of pregnancy-related discomforts and management approaches to relieve them among pregnant women.

Epistaxis nosebleeds. Show references Hide references. Enter your due date or child's birthday dd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 mm Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec yyyy Trying to conceive? We use your health information to make our site even more helpful. By clicking the button, you agree to our policies and to get emails from us. Join BabyCentre. Sign up to receive free emails and track your baby's development. Alas, it probably feels like every part of your body is swelling these days thanks to pregnancy edema , but honestly, now your nose?

Plus your allergies may be kicking in , which only adds to your nose woes. Congestion and nosebleeds happen often in pregnancy thanks to increased vascularity or blood flow and the swelling of mucus membranes, which is also known as pregnancy rhinitis.

And the culprit behind it all? Yup, you can point to higher-than-usual levels of the pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone coursing through your veins. This extra blood flow and swelling softens nasal membranes, leading to congestion. You may also develop postnasal drip, which in turn can cause coughing or gagging at night as if you didn't have enough other things keeping you awake. Luckily, it can be cauterized at an ENT's office, which will put a stop to frequent nosebleeds.

Blow the right way. To clear your breathing passages without doing too much damage to those delicate nasal membranes, use the right blowing technique. Use your thumb to close one nostril, and blow gently out the other side. Repeat with the other nostril until you can breathe again. Make sure you use a soft tissue to prevent chafing. Ask about OTC relief. Medications like antihistamines and most decongestant nasal sprays may be safe for short-term use — so ask your practitioner to recommend one that's effective and okay for you to take while you're pregnant.

Saline sprays, decongestant chest ointments and nasal strips are also considered safe for you and baby. Moisten the air. Try putting a warm-mist humidifier in your room to add some nose-soothing moisture to the air. Moisten in there. To combat the dryness in your nose, dab a little petroleum jelly in each nostril using a cotton swab. Get more vitamin C.