Surviving Pregnancy: Nausea and Vomiting
Physical Changes of Pregnancy Physical Changes of Pregnancy As your baby grows, it is normal for you to have some discomforts. Some of these may occur only in the early weeks of pregnancy. Others may occur only at the end. Still others may appear early, then go away, only to return.
Nausea and Vomiting Nausea and vomiting are common during the first 12-14 weeks of pregnancy, but sometimes happen throughout pregnancy. This is called "morning sickness," but it can occur any time during the day.
Nausea and vomiting can occur due to low blood sugar. After a night's sleep the body is in a fasting state, it has had no food since the day before, this can cause your sugar to be low and cause you to have some nausea and cause vomiting. It is the trend to eat carbs in the early part of pregnancy to help with nausea. Carbs can be helpful but they digest fast and can cause your sugar to crash again, causing the nausea and vomiting to return.
Pro-Tip: Eat your carbohydrate but after 30min to an hour follow it with a protein source you can handle eating. This will help your blood sugar stabilize and hopefully hold off the nausea and vomiting.
Second and Third Trimester Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and Vomiting is not limited to first trimester or morning sickness. For some, nausea and vomiting return in the third trimester. The increase in hormones and steroids can cause nausea and vomiting to return later in pregnancy. Pressure from the baby can also cause your stomach to shrink, after eating, this can contribute to nausea and potentially vomiting.
Pro-Tip: Eat small frequent meals to help avoid over eating. Eating six mini meals will assure enough calories and encourages a good blood sugar throughout the day.
When To Seek Help:
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance. Mild cases are treated with dietary changes, rest, and antacids. More severe cases often require a stay in the hospital so that the mother can receive fluid and nutrition through an intravenous line (IV). DO NOT take any medications to solve this problem without first consulting your health care provider. Make sure to tell your midwife if you are vomiting more than once per day or if vomiting continues after 16 weeks.
Some Helpful Tips and Remedies
Remedies for Pregnancy:
Peppermint, catnip, freeze dried nettle, or spearmint tea. Ginger tea in small doses (brew a cup and take teaspoons at a time, don't use more than one cup per day). Sea- sickness acupressure bands. Vitamin B-6, 25mg 2x a day for up to 2 weeks only. Homeopathics may help, ask your midwife. Make sure to tell your midwife if you are vomiting more than once per day or if vomiting continues after 16 weeks.
Here are some tips to make you feel more comfortable:
Eat dry toast or crackers before getting out of bed in the morning
Get up slowly and sit on the side of the bed for a few minutes
Use peppermint oil and ginger chews
Take 10mg three times a day of B6
Eat five or six small meals each day. Try not to let your stomach get completely empty
Try and achieve 92oz of water each day
Avoid greasy or spicy foods
Try ginger tea through the day. Put a couple of slices of ginger into a pot with water to boil for 5-10 minutes. Add lemon and/or honey.
Use Seabands
Avoid unpleasant smells
Contact your midwife if nausea or vomiting is severe