Nosebleeds in Pregnancy Third Trimester are a common condition that pregnant women can suffer from.

Hormonal changes and increased blood volume contribute to this problem, which can appear during any stage of pregnancy.

Although it is not generally a cause for concern unless the bleeding is excessive, these nosebleeds can be annoying.

They usually go away quickly with simple home treatment.

Nosebleeds can affect one or both nostrils and can last from a few seconds to up to ten minutes.

They can even occur while you sleep, and sometimes manifest as a feeling of fluid in the throat.

Common Causes of Nosebleeds During Pregnancy

The most common causes of Nosebleeds in Pregnancy Third Trimester include:

• Hormonal changes: The hormones produced by a woman’s body during pregnancy help increase blood flow and cause the tissues in the nose to relax.
• Increased blood volume: The blood volume in a pregnant woman’s body increases by up to 50% to support the growth of the baby. This can cause capillaries to burst.
• Dehydration: It is easy to get dehydrated during pregnancy, which can dry out the nasal membranes, making the network of blood vessels that feed them sensitive, causing bleeding.
• Rhinitis during pregnancy: Swelling of the mucous membranes in the nose causes congestion and stuffiness.
• Allergies or colds: These can irritate the blood vessels in the nose, causing them to become inflamed.
• Pregnancy tumors: These are non-cancerous masses of capillary blood vessels that bleed easily. (NHS, n.d.)

Home Remedies to Manage Nosebleeds

To control nosebleeds in pregnancy third trimester, you can do the following:

• Sit upright.
• Pinch the soft part of your nose below the bridge of your nose for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Don’t try to tilt your head back.
• Bend forward so the blood drains out of your body instead of being swallowed.
• Breathe through your mouth.

• Apply ice packs to your forehead, neck, or bridge of your nose.
• Use a decongestant nasal spray such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) before pinching your nose.
• Keep your mouth open when sneezing to reduce pressure on your nose.
• Avoid touching your nose.
• Blow your nose gently.

These simple measures can help constrict blood vessels and slow bleeding.

To prevent nosebleeds, you can also do the following:

• Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Put saline gel on a cotton ball and place it inside your nose when it feels dry.

If you are prone to nosebleeds, you can do the following:

• Avoid strenuous exercise.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects.
• Try to reduce the number of times you blow your nose.
• Sit up straight instead of lying down. (PubMed, n.d.)

When to Seek Medical Attention

You should contact your health care provider if:

• The nosebleed lasts longer than 15 minutes.
• If you feel like you are losing a lot of blood.
• If you swallow a lot of blood and vomit more than once.

And keep in mind that nosebleeds in pregnancy third trimester are common because there is more blood flow to the tissues inside your nose.

References

1. NHS. (n.d.). Retrieved from Nosebleeds in pregnancy
2. PubMed. (n.d.). Retrieved from Torrential epistaxis in the third trimester: a management conundrum