Just when you think you know all the quirks of pregnancy — you get a nosebleed. Is it related?

First off, yes. Especially if you’re not prone to nosebleeds normally, this new phenomenon is probably related to your pregnancy. And second off — don’t worry. This strange “side effect” is pretty common.

About 20 percent of people who are pregnant have nosebleeds. That’s 1 in 5!

While a nosebleed can be irritating and messy, it’s not normally a sign that anything’s wrong. Here’s why you’re getting nosebleeds when you’re pregnant and what to do about them.

Your body is already doing things you never thought possible before you got pregnant. This includes raising your blood volume by about 50 percent. All this new blood flow is necessary to keep you going and feed your growing little one.

The blood vessels in your body also widen to help move the extra blood. This includes the tiny, delicate vessels in your nose. More blood in your nose (and body) along with spiking hormone levels in pregnancy can sometimes lead to nosebleeds.

All of this happens in the first trimester of pregnancy, so you might have nosebleeds even before you’re showing. But you can get nosebleeds at any time during your pregnancy.

You might have a pregnancy nosebleed from one or both nostrils. It can last from a few seconds to almost 10 minutes. Your nosebleed may be just a spot to heavy bleeding. Or, you may have dried, crusty blood in your nose that you don’t notice until you blow it.

If you have a nosebleed while you’re lying down or asleep, you may not even realize it. You might feel something oozing down the back of your throat, though.

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and you get a nosebleed, let your doctor know.

Here’s what to do if you have a nosebleed while you’re pregnant (or even when you’re not):

  • Sit or stand up if you’re lying down.
  • Keep your head upright — this lowers the pressure inside the blood vessels to help slow the bleeding.
  • Don’t lean back or tilt your head back — it doesn’t help stop or slow the bleeding.
  • Gently pinch your nose just above the tip where it’s soft so that the two sides of your nose are touching each other.
  • Hold your nose like something stinks for about 10 minutes.
  • Spit or rinse out any blood in your mouth.
  • If you have a heavy nosebleed, you can learn forward a little to help stop the blood from running down the back of your throat and into your mouth.
  • Cool down the blood vessels in your nose by sucking on an ice cube or putting wrapped ice on the bony ridge of your nose.
  • You can also ice the back of your neck or forehead — whatever feels good!
  • After doing all the above for a good 10 minutes, let go of your nose and check to see if your nose has stopped bleeding.
  • If the nosebleed is still flowing, repeat all the above for another 10 minutes.

You might get a pregnancy nosebleed for no reason at all. But you can sometimes lower your risk of a nosebleed by keeping the pressure in your nose down — and by not irritating the sensitive blood vessels in your nose even more than they already are. Here’s how:

  • Keep the inside of your nose moist with a bit of petroleum jelly or aloe vera.
  • Avoid pinching or rubbing your nose or face.
  • Blow your nose gently if you’re stuffed up or have a runny nose.
  • Sneeze with your mouth open (not very attractive, but it’s OK in this case — just have a tissue handy to cover your mouth)
  • Avoid picking your nose (as if you ever do that).
  • Avoid air-conditioners and fans.
  • Keep the air in your home moist by using a humidifier.
  • Avoid intense workouts that include a lot of bending or jumping.

See your doctor if you think you’re losing a lot of blood during a nosebleed — for example, if your nose is bleeding for longer than 10 minutes or if you’re bleeding so much you are having trouble breathing.

You’ll also want to tell your doctor if you’re getting nosebleeds often, or if you have a history of high blood pressure.

In very rare cases, a nosebleed along with other symptoms might be a sign that you have a serious health condition. These serious symptoms are extremely rare. If you happen to have any of them, you’ll notice!

Nevertheless, see your doctor right away if you have a nosebleed and other symptoms, like:

  • blurred vision or spots
  • chronic or severe headaches
  • vomiting (that’s not morning sickness)
  • sudden swelling in your legs (edema)
  • chest pain
  • stomach pain
  • severe stomach bloating
  • fever
  • chills
  • sudden weight loss
  • yellowing of your eyes or skin
  • dark urine
  • light-colored bowel movements

Nosebleeds are more common when you’re pregnant than when you aren’t. They’re usually nothing to worry about.

Let your doctor know if you have a nosebleed that lasts longer than 10 minutes or is very heavy. See your doctor right away if you have other symptoms along with nosebleeds.