Why are my gums bleeding?

Not trying to freak you out, but you could have pregnancy gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease that affects nearly half of all pregnant women. If your gums are swollen, red, tender and bleed when you floss or brush, you can go ahead and blame your hormones, which are responsible for making your gums more sensitive to bacteria. 

Pregnancy gingivitis won’t harm you or your babe, especially if you practice good dental hygiene. Just remember to brush thoroughly (but gently) after every meal, floss daily and see your dentist regularly for preventative care. Let them know you’re pregnant before your check-up and discuss the best way to treat it together.

If you developed a small lump on your gums that bleeds when you brush, you could have a rare, HARMLESS lump called a pregnancy tumor or pyogenic granuloma. Pregnancy tumors can actually pop up anywhere on your body during pregnancy, but they show up most often in the mouth. It should disappear once you have your baby.