Do you have a nosebleed? Could that mean you can tell your baby’s sex now? Well, gender reveal is a lot more complicated than a mere nosebleed. But why this nosebleed, then?
Nose bleeding is not a sign of gender reveal but rather a symptom of hormonal changes occurring in the pregnant body. It can appear after the 16th week of pregnancy and can continue off and on with a time range of almost 10 minutes. Crazy right? You need to take care of it before it gets out of hand. As for gender reveal, there are other ways to tell!
Does Nose Bleeding in Pregnancy Mean Boy or Girl?
There is absolutely no evidence that nose bleeds indicate the sex of the baby. No scientific theory backs this old wives’ tale. However, there are multiple reasons why you are having a bloody nose. Some of these reasons are:
Increased Blood Volume
At the initial stages of pregnancy, the body has increased blood volume as the hormones are readying the body for the fetus. The presence of more blood in the tiny blood vessels increases the heart rate. As a result, the blood pumping to your body parts, including your nasal passage, is increased and can flow out, damaging the sensitive blood vessels there.
Hormonal Changes
Additionally, hormones having a party in your body also lead to nosebleeds during pregnancy. Not only this, but they can also make your nose stuffy and blocked and attack your gums by making them swollen and bleeding.
A nosebleed varies in time range, and it may also be heavy or light. If it is heavy for a prolonged period of time, you must consult your doctor. Otherwise, it isn’t harmful to you or your baby’s health.
What Are the Symptoms of Having a Boy?
You can never be 100 percent sure about what you are having unless you get your hands on the accurate ultrasound picture and your doctor reveals the sex of the baby. But before that, if you cannot wait, there are ways you can try to tell if you are welcoming a baby boy into your life:
Nub Theory
You can start by looking at the nub of the baby in the ultrasound scan. This is about the angle of the baby’s genitalia. If the genitalia of the unborn baby looks at an angle of more than thirty degrees, you are having a boy. This theory is called the nub theory and is not entirely reliable when conducted before the baby’s genitals fully develop. Therefore, it seems more like an old wives’ tale.
Heartbeat Type
Apart from myths and theories, some symptoms are considered to hint at the baby’s gender. One such symptom involves the baby’s heart rate. Some people suggest focusing on the type of heartbeat you hear during the sonograms.
If the sound is like that of a train, then you are having a boy. But there’s hardly a chance that this is true. Regardless, you can always try and confirm it at the 20-week scan.
The Shape of the Bump
A common trick used forever is predicting the baby’s sex by analyzing the shape of the baby bump. For a baby boy, they consider a lowered and more packed down baby bump as the sign. Based on this, you might have heard people telling you that you are having a boy, but like other symptoms, there’s only a low chance this is true with zero scientific evidence.
Does Your Nose Grow When Pregnant With a Boy?
No. Not at all. This can not be stressed more. Pregnancy makes your body undergo multiple changes, but it does not completely change your body shape, only your belly. However, fluid retention and swelling due to quick chemical changes occurring in your body can affect your face; therefore, changing the way your nose looks. It is definitely not a sign of your baby’s gender.
As pregnancy can make your nose grow, it can also take a hit at your checks and even parts like hands and feet. But that will only be swelling and nothing more than a blood increase, as blood flows in high volume in the body. So if your nose somehow looks bigger, it is temporary and will go back to normal once your blood and hormonal levels are back to regular levels. It is in no way an indication of a baby boy coming into the world.
What Are the Symptoms of Having a Girl?
If you thought that pregnancy nosebleeds indicate the gender of the baby is an absurd statement, brace yourself for some symptoms that are considered for when you are having a baby girl. The most common symptom and one of the biggest myths concern morning sickness. This theory says that you are having a girl if the morning sickness is extreme. It is not exactly convincing to the doctors, but nevertheless, it is seen as a hint.
Skin Symptoms
Another telltale symptom considered for having a girl is the condition of your skin. It is said if you have dull skin along with acne, you are most likely having a girl. Sounds a bit gender biased, doesn’t it? Well, in any case, there is no scientific evidence to back this theory up. You may have the pregnancy glow even if you are having a girl.
Breast Symptoms
Other indicators have more to do with your breasts. You will have swollen breasts during pregnancy. That’s a fact, but some people emphasize that there’s a sign even here. According to them, if your left breast is bigger than the right one, you will have a girl. I know you must be staring down right now, but there is really no need, as doctors do not confirm this.
Similarly, if your nipular area or nipples are the same and are not becoming darker, you are having a girl. This also does not mean anything because female breasts undergo all sorts of changes in terms of color and texture. So this just doesn’t mean anything.
What To Do When You Have Pregnancy Nosebleed?
Usually, when you are not pregnant, a nosebleed is a symptom of a sinus infection. These two may be the cause of nosebleeds during pregnancy, but other causes accompany it as well. Therefore, if you get a nosebleed during pregnancy, you should treat it differently in order to maintain your health.
One thing that is always helpful during nosebleeds, even if you are not pregnant, is trying to sit or stand in order to keep your head higher than your heart. This maintains your blood pressure if it is increasingly high and leads to higher blood flow. This will also help to keep the blood from flowing back to your throat.
Another thing you can try is leaning forward. This will make the blood flow out instead of in. It also helps keep your sinuses clear of clotting. In this posture, you can pinch your nose for 10 to 15 minutes. Applying this pressure will definitely reduce blood flow.
Last but not least, you can try a cold pack on the nasal bridge. A cold pack helps in constricting the blood vessels making the blood flow decrease and eventually stop. In addition to a cold pack, you can take nasal sprays that are safe during pregnancy and pinch your nostrils afterward for maximum effect.
Nosebleed Prevention
If blood makes you squirmish, prevent nose bleeding. There is no guarantee that you can always prevent it, given every pregnancy is different and your condition may be somewhat exceptional.
Start by blowing your nose gently. Try not to squeeze too hard, or the blood will definitely pour out. And as much as you are tempted, DO NOT PICK YOUR NOSE. That will only worsen a nose bleeding condition.
Other than these tips, you need to focus on your outer environment. If you have dryness, especially during winter months purchasing a dehumidifier will prove great for your nose. Furthermore, it will help you lose dryness and keep your sinuses moist and pain-free.
In case you already had a nosebleed, you should sneeze with an open mouth and try to avoid bending down for long periods, as that can trigger nosebleeds. Moreover, try to avoid exercise or hitting your nose.
When To See a Doctor?
You cannot be reckless during your pregnancy at all. If the nosebleeding doesn’t appear normal and puts you in discomfort, you must contact your healthcare provider before the nasal bleeding harms you beyond repair.
But how to know when is the right time? If you experience nose bleeding continuously for more than half an hour, that is your cue to visit your doctor. If the matter is serious, you will also experience difficulty in breathing, which is a sign that you must go to the doctor now.
Prolonged nose bleeding can make you lightheaded or completely disoriented, which is not good for your pregnancy. So keep an eye on this as well. Other than that, it is totally up to you. If the nasal bleeding is making you anxious and you have trouble breathing, do not hesitate to call your doctor. He will know what to do. You just relax afterward.
Finally…
You know how accurate nosebleeding is in telling the exact gender of your baby: It does not show scientifically and precisely what you are going to have. In fact, it has more to do with the sudden increase in your blood volume due to the increased requirement of the body for blood and nutrients for the growing fetus.
In addition, you must be watchful of nosebleeding if it happens frequently and excessively. Excessive nosebleeds can only worsen your health. Even if it is not harmful to the baby, it can still cause you headaches and discomfort.
As for the gender reveal, if you really want to know the gender of your baby, you should wait for the 20-week anatomy scan, as it is the only reliable way to find out the gender. You might hear a number of myths but believe me, you will find no truth in them. So be patient, and wait for the scan.
