Nosebleeds during pregnancy – What to do?
During pregnancy, the hormonal changes lead to numerous physical changes. Increased nosebleeds are also among the most common pregnancy complaints. In most cases, this is completely harmless, even if it may initially cause anxiety.
Even if it often appears as if the blood is dripping from the nose in large quantities, it is usually only a relatively small loss of blood. The hormone changes during pregnancy cause the connective tissue in the body to loosen, including the connective tissue around the vessels. In addition, the blood flow is increased, firstly by an increased amount of circulating blood, and secondly by an increase in the pulse rate and dilation of the vessels.
In the nose, many venous vessels are relatively superficial and can be easily injured in some people by mechanical stimuli with minor injuries, for example by severe rhinitis. Due to the increased blood flow during pregnancy, greater pressure is also exerted on the walls of the vessels, which causes them to tear more quickly and nosebleeds to occur more easily. In addition, the mucous membranes of the nose can swell slightly due to the strong blood circulation and the hormone-induced loosening of the connective tissue.
This is often perceived as very unpleasant, as it can lead to nightly snoring, which impairs nasal breathing. This causes the nasal mucosa to dry out, especially in winter, due to the reduced humidity. Dry mucous membranes, however, are also more vulnerable and the walls of the blood vessels also tear more quickly as a result.
This also provides some ideas on how to prevent nosebleeds. It is important to keep the nasal mucous membrane as moist as possible at all times. A sufficient amount of drinking helps to moisten the mucous membranes.
You can also prevent it by regularly rubbing the nose from the inside with fatty, moisturizing nasal ointments, which also keeps the mucous membranes supple. Regular nasal rinsing with isotonic saline solution or “sea water” is also useful. You can also make sure that the humidity in the house does not get too low, especially in winter, by either setting up a humidifier or simply placing a pot of water on the heater in the bedroom, so that the water gradually evaporates.
You should also be a little more careful when sniffing. Strong blowing can also cause the vessel wall to burst and cause nosebleeds due to the strong increase in pressure. Nosebleeds are a common phenomenon and in very few cases there is a serious illness behind it.
Even during pregnancy, a frequent nosebleed does not necessarily mean that there is a risk to the health of the pregnant woman or the unborn child. During pregnancy, the female body is subject to many changes due to changes in the hormone balance and the adaptation of the organism to the needs of the child. The hormone progesterone, which is produced in greater quantities during pregnancy, and the release of female sex hormones (estrogens) lead to a loosening of the connective tissue.
This also affects the sensitive mucous membranes of the nose. It is easier for them to tear and bleed. During pregnancy the blood volume in the circulation also increases.
As a result of the adjustment processes, blood pressure and heart rate slowly increase. These factors additionally increase the probability of nosebleeds. Independent of pregnancy, this is also favored by factors such as dry heating air. Nosebleeds during pregnancy are therefore quite normal. If frequent, if not daily, nosebleeds occur with bleeding durations of several hours and larger blood losses, a doctor should be consulted to rule out a serious illness.
