Nosebleeds During Pregnancy: Causes And Ways To Stop Them

Image: Shutterstock

Women’s bodies undergo various physiological changes during pregnancy, and nosebleeds often result from them. You may have strong or light bleeding from one or both nostrils during a nosebleed, and the duration of the bleeding may range from a few seconds to more than ten minutes. Pregnancy nosebleeds are mostly brought on by changes in progesterone and estrogen hormone levels; however, increased blood flow through the nasal passages and relaxed tissues are also contributing factors. Read this article to understand more about the connection between pregnancy and nosebleeds and measures to prevent it (1) (2).

Are Nosebleeds Common During Pregnancy?

Also known as epistaxis, nosebleeds are a common pregnancy-related symptom with a prevalence rate of about 20% in pregnant women compared to a prevalence rate of about 6% in non-pregnant ones. In most cases, having nosebleeds while pregnant may not be a cause for concern and does not require medical attention (3).

Did you know?

Around one in five women get nosebleeds during pregnancy (6).

When Do Nosebleeds Start In Pregnancy?

You may experience nosebleeds at any point during pregnancy, right from the first trimester to the time of delivery. Also, the amount and frequency of nosebleeds during pregnancy vary depending on the pregnant woman, her medical history, lifestyle, and other factors.

In fact, you may even have nosebleeds while you’re sleeping. If you are lying on the bed, you may feel liquid in the back of your throat before blood comes out of your nose. While you should not worry about light nose bleeding, make sure to contact your healthcare provider if you experience frequent or severe nosebleeds during pregnancy (1) (4).

An anonymous blogger recounts her nosebleed episode during the 30th week of pregnancy. She says, “Last week, I had a 30-minute nosebleed which was pouring out and just wouldn’t stop. Since then, if I even sniff, I feel like it’s about to start again. During my last pregnancy, I suffered from nosebleeds badly… I tried tipping my head back, but it went down my throat and made me want to throw up (i).”

Image: Shutterstock

What Can Cause Nose Bleeding During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, nosebleeds can be caused by several factors, including (4):

1. Increased blood flow to the nasal passages: The increased blood volume in your body during pregnancy can cause your nasal blood vessels to become more fragile and prone to bleeding.
2. Hormonal changes: Changes in pregnancy hormones result in various changes in your body, including changes in the nasal passages. They can cause the nasal passages to dry, leading to nosebleeds and congestion.
3. Dehydration: Pregnancy increases fluid demands to support the growth of the baby. However, if you don’t drink enough water and become dehydrated, it can cause the mucus membranes in your nose to dry out and crack, increasing the risk of nosebleeds.
4. Sinus infections or allergies: These conditions can cause inflammation in the nasal passages and can easily irritate the nasal linings, leading to nosebleeds.
5. Pregnancy rhinitis: It is a common pregnancy condition, especially during the first trimester, that causes a blocked (congested) and stuffy nose due to inflamed nasal mucous membranes. Pregnancy rhinitis could also contribute to the risk of nosebleeds during pregnancy (5).
6. Dry air: Dry air, dry indoor heating, too much air conditioning, cold weather, and low humidity can also dry out the nasal passages, making them more susceptible to bleeding (6).
7. Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as hypertension, pregnancy-related clotting disorders (7), and toxemiaⁱAlso known as blood poisoning or septicemia, where there is a buildup of toxins in the blood caused by the spread of bacterial infection , can cause a severe nosebleed during pregnancy (5) (6).
8. Pregnancy tumors: Pregnant women can also have light to severe nosebleeds due to the development of pregnancy tumors, such as pyogenic granulomaⁱBenign skin lesions that appear as red, small, and raised bumps in response to hormonal changes or skin injury and hemangiomaⁱA benign or noncancerous growth that occurs due to the abnormal buildup of blood vessels , which are mostly benign and dissolves after childbirth (5) (6).

Quick fact

Pregnancy tumors affect about 5% of pregnant women, developing in the gums between the teeth and, sometimes, in the nose, causing bleeding (6).

• Nose injury
• Chemical irritants from certain nasal sprays
• Overuse of nasal sprays
• History of sinus or pituitary surgery

Image: Shutterstock

How To Stop A Nosebleed During Pregnancy?

There are some effective methods you may try to stop nosebleeds during pregnancy (4) (9).

• Lightly pinch your nostrils shut for about 10 minutes; if the bleeding is not stopped, try again.
• Do not lean or lie backward, as this posture increases the pressure on the nasal blood vessels; sit straight with your head in an upright position.
• You may also lean forward to prevent blood from flowing down the back of your throat in case of a severe nosebleed.
• Apply cold compresses on the nose, forehead, or back of your neck.
• Suck an ice cube.

It may not be possible to prevent all nosebleeds during pregnancy; however, you may try the following methods to avoid nosebleeds, especially if you experience frequent nosebleeds (4).

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
• Use a humidifier at home
• Keep your nose moisturized
• Avoid doing strenuous exercises
• Try minimizing the force to blow your nose
• Get treated for sinus infections and allergies

Image: Shutterstock

Can Nosebleeds Affect Your Pregnancy?

While nosebleeds during pregnancy can be a nuisance for daily life, mostly, they can be easily managed at home without medication or treatment.

However, severe and more frequent nose bleeding may sometimes adversely affect the pregnancy due to acute blood loss. It may also put the baby at risk of developing fetal anemiaⁱWhen the hemoglobin levels and red blood cells count drop below normal in a fetus and can also lead to emergency delivery during the third trimester.

There are a few studies where pregnancy termination was shown as the best resolution since maternal changes in blood volume and nasal mucosa cease as soon as the baby is delivered (10). However, severe outcomes and unfavorable prognosis of nose bleeding during pregnancy are very rare unless caused by serious underlying illnesses.

Be watchful

If the nose bleeding does not stop for several minutes or you feel dizzy, see a doctor soon to prevent potential negative effects on the fetus (8).

When To Worry About Nosebleeds In Pregnancy?

Nose bleeding due to the following serious conditions usually requires prompt treatment to avoid potential maternal and fetal complications.

• Pregnancy tumors
• Hypertension
• Clotting disorders
• ToxemiaⁱAlso known as blood poisoning or septicemia, where there is a buildup of toxins in the blood caused by the spread of bacterial infection

Treatment may involve hospitalization, especially if the woman is in the third trimester. Besides treatment for the underlying cause, the following treatments may be considered specifically for nose bleeding (3) (10).

• Nose packing
• Hemostatic foam/sponge
• Bipolar cautery or diathermyⁱA simple and short procedure that involves an electronic device to deliver heat to the nasal mucous membranes to stop bleeding
• Tranexamic acid intravenous therapyⁱA therapy where the tranexamic acid is infused or injected intravenously to stop or control bleeding
• Surgical vessel ligation

Image: Shutterstock

When To Call A Doctor?

Call a doctor or seek immediate medical care if (4) (9) (11):

• The nosebleed does not stop after 20-30 minutes
• The blood flow is too heavy
• You have high blood pressure
• You are experiencing nosebleeds too frequently
• You have vomited or ingested a lot of blood
• You have other symptoms, such as fever and breathing difficulty, along with a nosebleed
• Nose bleeding is due to a head injury or trauma
• You’re taking anticoagulants

Infographic: How To Prevent Recurrent Nosebleeds During Pregnancy?

Nosebleeds become common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow in the nasal passages. The majority of the time, though, it is easily preventable at home. Let’s look at the infographic below for a few simple tips that can help to prevent experiencing frequent nosebleeds during pregnancy.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Nosebleeds During Pregnancy: Causes And Ways To Stop Them

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our nurturing community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with fellow parents.

Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Ben Abbes Taarji HichamMD

Dr. Ben Abbes Taarji Hicham is a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist with around 20 years of experience in the field. Having worked in various Moroccan hospitals, he currently runs a private practice. Dr. Hicham specializes in rejuvenation and cosmetic gynecology, medically assisted reproduction, breast and gynecological cancers, HPV diseases, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy, and hormonal disorders.

Read full bio of Dr. Ben Abbes Taarji Hicham

Reshmi DasMSc

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a clinical coordinator, medical content writer and medical conference coordinator. Her continuous interest in medical journals and writing makes her write well-researched articles for MomJunction.

Read full bio of Reshmi Das

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Aneesha AmonzMSc

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

Read full bio of Aneesha Amonz