(最後更新 08/08/2010)

在網路上查到有關懷孕時流鼻血的資料是這麼說的：懷孕時會有一些平常不會有的症狀，如流鼻血、比較容易鼻塞和比較常流鼻水。這些症狀是因為懷孕時比較容易鼻黏膜腫脹，鼻腔內膜變薄，所以有時擤鼻涕會有血絲，更嚴重時還會流鼻血。另外若是空氣太乾也容易流鼻血。 一般只要經過冰敷即可逐漸恢復，但若出血的時間超過一週，每次的出血量都很大，就要考慮可內是鼻腔瘜肉、血管瘤引起，最好接受耳鼻喉科的進一步檢查，不可等閒視之。

What to expect when you are expecting 書上如是說

Nasal stuffiness, often with accompanying nosebleeds, is a common complaint in pregnancy. That’s because the high levels of estrogen and progesterone circulating in the body bring increased blood flow to the mucous membrances of the nose, causing thme to soften and swell – much as the cervix does in preparation for childbirth.

You can expect the stuffiness to get worse before it gets better – which won’t be until after delivery. You may also develop sinus congestion and a postnasal drip, which can occasionally lead to night time coughing or gagging. Don’t use medication or medicated nasal sprays to clear things up, unless they are prescribed by your practitioner. Saline (salt) sprays are, however, completely safe and can be surprisingly effective.

Congestion and bleeding are more common in winter, when heating systems force hot, dry air into the house, drying delicate nasal passages. Using a humidifier may help overcome this dryness. You might also try lubricating each nostril with a dab of petroleum jelly, applied gently with a cotton swab. Some people find nasal strips, available at drug stores, helpful in alleviating stuffiness. Since they are not medicated, they are also safe to use.

Taking an extra 250mg of vitamin C (which your practitioner’s approval),in addition to your required vitamin C foods, may help to strengthen of bleeding.

Sometimes a nosebleed will follow overly energetic nose blowing in an art, which you would do well to master: first gently close one nostril with your thumb, and then carefully low out the opposite side. Repeat with the other nostril, continuing to alternate until you can breathe through our nose.

To stem a nosebleed, sit or stand leaning slightly forward,, rather then lying down or leaning backward. Using your thumb and forefinger ,pinch the area just above your nostrils and blew the bridge of your nose, and hold for give minutes; repeat if the bleeding continues. If the bleeding isn’t controlled after three tries, or if the bleeding is frequent and heavy, call your doctor.

Mini me

媽媽的經驗如是說 這本書這段寫的徵兆我全都有。自從懷孕後，常常會鼻塞，流鼻水。從不流鼻血的我，還流了二次的鼻血，而且都是在睡覺時發生的。一次發生在半夜，一次在凌晨。

這二次都是睡到一半時，覺得鼻子有熱熱的東西流出來，第一次發生時我還以為是流鼻水，拿手指去擦，但熱流的感覺仍持續，我再拿另一根手指去擦一下，但感覺不太對，因為怎會黏黏的，開燈一看….竟是鮮紅的鼻血。

幸好因我小弟小時常無故流大量鼻血，因而學得正確的處理方式，要不我會跟大部份的人一樣不是把頭往後仰就是躺下，這樣反而會讓血倒流，甚至會流到胃裡，造成不適。那晚的直覺反應是馬上坐起，拿面紙塞著鼻孔，然後就一直坐著，等到鼻血不流了，才躺下再繼續睡。

第二次也是一樣的情形，但已有了第一次的經驗了，所以這次一感到有鼻子熱流流下，馬上起來拿面紙塞著，再坐個幾分鐘，等不流算了再繼續睡。

二次的鼻血流量都很少，不到一分鐘就停止流血了，所以沒用到指壓止血法，也沒跟醫生說這情形。但是如果流量大也頻繁的話，則得跟醫生說，也許會需要醫療診斷。

除了流鼻血外，我也有輕微的鼻塞和流鼻水，這二症狀雖然沒有變得更嚴重，但自懷孕以來一直持續著。反正未懷孕前，我來美住第五年起就開始有鼻子過敏的症狀： 每天起床後約會有二小時會有輕微的鼻塞和流鼻水（奇怪的是只要我一回台，或離開加州，這些症狀就自動消失了），所以對於輕微鼻塞和輕微流鼻水也不覺得有什 麼特別令我困擾的地方。

若是鼻塞嚴重，晚上睡時可以睡高一點的枕頭好把頭墊高，這樣可以改善鼻塞的情形。我是早已把頭墊高睡好幾個月了，因為比較好睡。

更新: 08/08/2010

昨天 08/07/2010 又無預警的流鼻水。原以為只是流鼻水，拿面紙擤鼻涕時輕輕一吹，想不到面紙上被鼻血噴的好紅。這次得靠指壓法壓了約15分鐘，換了三張面紙才止血。

這次經驗提醒我，以後不管是不是流鼻水，只要鼻子裡覺得有水水的，一定要用面紙輕輕的擤，才不會把鼻血誤認為鼻水吸進去。