Nosebleeds during pregnancy are pretty common and although emberassing as they can be not really anything to worry about unless its really extreem. Pregnant women actually have 30% to 50% more blood circulating in their bodies than they would normally. This blood is needed in order to maintain a healthy placenta and baby.

What causes the nosebleeds

The bloodvessels in your nose  are expanded often cause of the pregnancy and your increased blood supply can easely cause the delicate vessels to rupture more easely. Simply blowing your nose can be the reason for a nosebleed. Also usualy during pregnancy a small cold is not uncommon and that can also be the reason of those allready more common nosebleeds to occure even more often.

Smoking and drinking alcohol can also cause nosebleeds, because they cause the blood vessels to become irritated and break. A lack of Vitamin C, a proven tissue builder, may also be involved in causing nosebleeds during pregnancy.

What you can do to stop the nosebleeds.

• Sit down
• Lean forward and keep your head at a level that is above your heart
• Pinch your nose firmly, just under the bridge
• Maintain pressure for at least  five to ten minutes
• Don’t release this pressure until ten minutes are up – it will stop the coagulation process
• If you have some ice, put a bag of it over your nose – this will help the blood vessels to constrict
• Don’t lie down or lean your head back – this could cause you to swallow your blood, which can lead to nausea and vomiting
• Once the bleeding has stopped, try not to blow your nose for at least 12 hours

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.

What can you do to prevent them.

• don’t pick your nose!
• try to blow your nose gently
• when you sneeze, keep your mouth open to relieve the pressure on your nostrils
• buy a humidifier for you house or office to keep the air nice and moist
• put petroleum jelly or saline drops in your nose to keep the mucous membranes hydrated
• drink lots of fluids, especially water
• bulk up on your Vitamin C intake as it promotes tissue healing

sources used for this article: pregnancy-info.net babycenter.com