Nosebleeds: another random pregnancy thing I didn't know about?

[titmouse]

Evening all,
I'm 21 weeks and my nose has been bleeding a bit today - not gushing but definitely blood coming forth. Is this another normal pregnancy thing or should I be worried? I feel fine, just a bit disconcerted that for part of the day I had a bit of a bloody blob in my nose which must have been visible and nobody at work told me!

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmm, have you turned your heeting on recently? Dry air can cause this.

That being said, a nose bleed might be a sign of higher blood pressure, which is a big deal. Do you have a MW appt soon?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmm, have you turned your heeting on recently? Dry air can cause this.

That being said, a nose bleed might be a sign of higher blood pressure, which is a big deal. Do you have a MW appt soon?

[Bewilderbeast]

I had shocking nose bleeds for about 5 weeks in pregnancy, can't remember when though, midwife said it was perfectly normal, something to do with hormones and softening bits etc. But get your blood pressure checked just in case

[Beccabump]

I had delightful nosebleeds on and off for a few weeks once I hit 16-20 weeks. My MW told me this was normal and just one of those fun pregnancy things! It was not good as I was teaching in Reception at the time and had to keep running off to grab handfuls of tissues!

I guess I can only say if you are worried check with your MW or doctor? xxx

[GYo]

Hello
Im 22wks and have had this for a while. Not gushing but constantly bloody if I blow my nose. Worse in office and cold weather.

Thing blood vessels are more delicate in pregnancy.

Think its normal as long as not losing pints...

[pippo]

yep I had these too was told v common. Had quite a few specially when tired.

[titmouse]

NotQuite Cockney that's funny you should mention the heating, it has been broken since friday, so my house is freezing but my office is pretty warm and probably quite dry.

Gyo it's like yours - bloody when blowing not gushing.

My next MW appt is the week after next. I feel fine, if I had a sudden rise in BP would I have any other signs? It has been normal so far (in life) so I don't know what high BP feels like.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I think people get headaches with high blood pressure. The reason why blood pressure is a big deal is because it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, so if you've got swollen extremities (more so than they were last time you got checked over, anyway!), then that might be a cause for concern.

[titmouse]

Ah crap. Had a feeling like a migraine all week but I don't really get them, I put it down to a truly horrible scalp massage at a spa last monday - it felt like she was trying to split my head in two like you break a bread roll - but head has been so much better for about 24 hours.

my hands are no more big and ham-like than normal, but maybe I should go to the doctors.

[NotQuiteCockney]

It's probably nothing - that sounds like a likely explanation for the headache, tb. And the dry air and normal pregnancy stuff explains the nosebleeds.

But if it's easy for you to do, it might not be a bad idea to go pee on a stick (for protein, not a pregnancy test!) and get your BP tested.

[titmouse]

I'll call the surgery in the morning and see if they can fit me in, I'm not panicking, but I've got 2 days off work now so if I need to go to the doctors its a good time to do it!
This peeing on a stick - this is something I do at the doctors? Can't buy protein sticks?

[flippineck]

I get nosebleeds when I'm pregnant - they just start randomly and quite suddenly, are quite heavy for about 5 minutes and then stop again. With DD I think they started at about 17 weeks, but I'm pregnant again and this time they started at 13 weeks. I've read that they're common, but I haven't actually met anyone in real life who had the same problem. MW last time didn't know much about them, not seen anyone to mention it to yet this time.

I didn't have any BP problems, but maybe for your piece of mind you could get yours checked?

[titmouse]

thanks ladies I reckon it wouldn't hurt to get it checked out as the weird migraine had me flummoxed, I am not a headachy person, and as I said I put it down to a dodgy massage but you never know.
I'm not really a panicky/paranoid person but work has been really stressful recently and I've been doing waay too much so maybe I've made my BP rise.

[TinkerBellesMum]

I had a doctor (obs) tell me that the blood has to go somewhere as you're not having periods! I think he was joking!

It is a common symptom of pregnancy, speak to your GP or MW if you're worried (always) or if you're having other symptoms. Remember if you're stressing about it your BP will go up anyway so you could end up with a self fulfilling prophecy, relax a bit!

Oh and don't blow your nose for a few days after a bleed, you'll make it worse!