Nausea And Vomiting During Early Pregnancy
, MD, Wake Forest School of Medicine
Up to 80% of pregnant women have nausea and vomiting to some extent. Nausea and vomiting are most common and most severe during the 1st trimester. Although commonly called morning sickness, such symptoms may occur at any time during the day. Symptoms vary from mild to severe.
Hyperemesis gravidarum Hyperemesis Gravidarum Hyperemesis gravidarum is extremely severe nausea and excessive vomiting during pregnancy. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum, unlike women with ordinary morning sickness, lose weight and become… read more is a severe, persistent form of pregnancy-related vomiting. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum vomit so much that they lose weight and become dehydrated. Such women may not consume enough food to provide their body with energy. Then the body breaks down fats, resulting in a buildup of waste products called ketosis. Ketosis can cause fatigue, bad breath, dizziness, and other symptoms. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum often become so dehydrated that the balance of electrolytes Overview of Electrolytes Well over half of the body’s weight is made up of water. Doctors think about the body’s water as being restricted to various spaces, called fluid compartments. The three main compartments are… read more , needed to keep the body functioning normally, is upset.
Why Do You Get Morning Sickness
When you wake up and have to make an immediate run for the toilet, the first question youll probably ask yourself before saying not again! will probably by why is this happening? Again, there is no definitive answers that scientists or doctors can find.
It has been debated that morning sickness occurs as an evolutionary instinct to protect expecting women from consuming dangerous foods, but it could also just be an unpleasant side effect that arises when hormone levels change. Researchers have even considered that morning sickness could be the result of the internal tug of war for resources going on in your body between your body and your growing baby.
Wondering why you may feel sudden bouts of extreme nausea? There are a number of triggers that could provoke that queasy feeling without you doing much of anything. These common scents could send your pregnant body into puke mode.
- Chicken – cooked or uncooked
- Gasoline
- Leather – couches, car seats
These triggers may make trips to the grocery store or even your own fridge a daunting task. Learning your triggers and managing a diet and environment that is free of them and friendlier to your body will soften the blow morning sickness deals time and time again.
Treatment For Nausea And Vomiting In Pregnancy
Pregnancy sickness can have a profound impact on sufferers and coping with it can be a real challenge, particularly if you have small children at home already. Please see our ‘Get Help‘ section for advice on coping strategies and how to access our support network.
Popular opinion says that medications in pregnancy are not safe for the baby and that women must simply put up with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. There are however a variety of safe treatments available for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and in its severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum may prove very dangerous if left untreated. Please see our treatment page for further information about what is available.
Seabands: Stimulation of the P6 point, located three fingers breadth above the wrist, has been used for many years to treat nausea from a variety of causes. Trials of a non-blinded randomised nature have shown a decrease of persisting nausea by at least 50%. Bands worn at the wrist that apply pressure may be a simple way of stimulating the P6 point. There are no theoretical concerns about the safety of acupressure in pregnancy.
Also Check: Can Donating Plasma Hurt An Unborn Baby
Should I Be Worried About Nausea During Pregnancy
If your vomiting is such that you are losing too much liquid and essential nutrients and minerals, if you are suffering from dehydration you should tell your doctor. If you suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum the vomiting is causing fluid and electrolyte disturbance your doctor may decide to give you fluids through a drip, this usually requires hospitalization.
You should see your doctor if you are losing weight, vomiting many times during the day for many days, becoming dehydrated, or your vomit has blood or a brownish color, your urine is dark colored and looks concentrated.
In the vast majority of cases the nausea will go away without anything to worry about.
Here are some tips for reducing the severity of morning sickness nausea. For a comprehensive list of ideas, view our article, Top Tips To Minimize Morning Sickness.
You should not take anti-sickness tablets unless your doctor has prescribed them for you.
Learn Who Gets Morning Sickness And When It Hits
Unfortunately, nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are quite common morning sickness affects somewhere around three-quarters of pregnant women. While some women are more likely to get it due to family history and other factors, scientists still havent pinned down its exact cause, though many experts think that it is connected to hormonal changes during pregnancy. One major pregnancy hormone in particular, called human chorionic gonadotropin , is widely thought to be the primary culprit women with higher levels of this hormone are more likely to get morning sickness .
According to experts, the most important risk factors for morning sickness include:
-
If you are pregnant with twins, triplets, etc.
-
If you had morning sickness during a previous pregnancy
-
If other women in your family had morning sickness
-
If you have a history of nausea and vomiting prior to pregnancy
Morning sickness usually starts early in a womans pregnancy, within the first nine weeks for almost everyone. Symptoms tend to peak around 10 weeks, and then usually subside by 14 to 16 weeks. For some women, nausea and vomiting might continue past that time. The timing is extremely variable, said Dr. Robert Silver, M.D., professor and chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah. However, if nausea and vomiting begin after nine weeks of pregnancy, let your doctor know so that she can consider other possible medical conditions.
Also Check: Restylane While Pregnant
When Should I Go And See A Doctor
If your nausea and vomiting can’t be controlled, you will need to be admitted to hospital so that doctors can assess exactly what treatment you need. There are medicines that can be used to help alleviate the symptoms of HG, such as anti-sickness drugs, vitamins B6 and B12, steroids, or a combination approach.
You may also have intravenous fluids inserted into a vein through a drip, and the anti-sickness drugs may also need to be inserted into a vein or muscle.
Contact your GP or midwife immediately if you notice any of the following:
- You have very dark-coloured urine or do not urinate for more than eight hours
- You are unable to keep food or fluids down for 24 hours
- You feel severely weak, dizzy or faint when standing up
- You have abdominal pain
How To Get Rid Of Morning Sickness
Fortunately time is in your favor. However, there are some nausea remedies that can help make early pregnancy more manageable.
#1 Vitamin B6
No one really understands why vitamin B6 relieves morning sickness, but it works. One thinking is that women become deficient in vitamin B6 in pregnancy and that this deficiency worsens pregnancy nausea. Therefore, by replacing the B6 vitamin, the nausea improves.
If you decide to take Vitamin B6, you should take 10 to 25 mg every 6 to 8 hours. Many vitamin B6 supplements are higher doses. The maximum dose is 200mg/day so there is a large range of safe dosing. All studies evaluating the safety of vitamin B6 have found no risks to mom or baby. However, I have provided a link for a vitamin B6 supplement that contains just 25mg of vitamin B6.
#2 Eat small, frequent meals
Nausea worsens when your stomach is empty. Your stomach acid accumulates making you feel more nauseous. Similarly, when you eat a large meal your stomach becomes overly full. This can also worsen your nausea.
It is best to eat small, frequent meals. Also try to select mild foods. Foods like toast, chicken soup and bananas are typically easier to digest. Avoid spicy and greasy foods.
#3 Ginger
In the beginning of my pregnancy I would carry these ginger chews wherever I went just in case I felt a wave of nausea coming on.
#4 Continue to take Folate
Recommended Reading: Sore Breasts After Mirena Removal
Tips To Help Survive Nausea During Pregnancy
Positive pink line on pregnancy test? Check. Small flutter on early ultrasound? Check. Nausea and vomiting? Double-check.
Often the constant feeling of nausea, which is accompanied by vomiting, soon overshadows the excitement of early pregnancy. Approximately 50-90 percent of women experience nausea and vomiting in their pregnancy, and 5 percent of women have the same symptoms throughout the entire pregnancy, per The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“The term ‘morning sickness‘ is misleading nausea can occur any time of the day,” says Emily Linklater, D.O., Mayo Clinic Health System OB/GYN physician. “For most women, the nausea ends sometime in the late stages of the first trimester. Nausea may also be worse or better in one pregnancy versus another.”
Unfortunately, science hasnt proven the exact cause of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The elevated pregnancy hormone, BHCG, and elevated estrogen have both been hypothesized as contributing to symptoms.
What can an expectant mother do? Here are some tips for surviving nausea and vomiting:
If over-the-counter options do not improve nausea and vomiting, then its wise to speak with your health care provider about anti-nausea prescription medications. Many prescription medications are safe in pregnancy and can relieve severe symptoms.
Stick To Foods That Appeal To You
Chances are you’ll be able to find a few healthy foods that you can keep down. Theyll take care of most of your nutritional requirements until a more varied diet becomes palatable.
Remember that no one food has a monopoly on any particular nutrient or meal. For example, you can get your vitamin A and protein from peaches and yogurt at dinner instead of broccoli and chicken. Or have pasta for breakfast instead of cereal.
Don’t worry too much about getting your daily dozen in the short term. There will be plenty of time later on in your pregnancy for eating well.
Recommended Reading: Donate Plasma While Pregnant
When Do I Need To Call My Doctor
Do not wait until vomiting becomes severe to call your doctor. Seeking care for morning sickness early in pregnancy can help prevent it from becoming more severe. Severe vomiting is not a normal aspect of pregnancy and requires medical care or even hospitalization.
Another reason to investigate severe nausea and vomiting is that it may be a symptom of other medical conditions including ulcers, reflux , food-related illnesses, thyroid disease, gallbladder disease, or inflammation of the appendix, stomach, pancreas, or liver.
- Have nausea that lasts all day long and keeps you from eating and drinking.
- Vomit 3 or more times a day.
- Have vomit that is brown in color or has blood in it.
- Lose weight.
- Feel extremely tired or confused.
- Feel dizzy or have fainted.
- Have a fast heart beat.
- Produce little to no urine.
Does Morning Sickness Harm My Baby
Mild to moderate nausea and vomiting of pregnancy usually is not harmful to you or your baby. However, it can become a problem if you cant keep food or liquid down, become dehydrated, and lose weight. Unmanaged severe nausea and vomiting can prevent you from getting the nutrition you need and affect the weight of your baby at birth.
Don’t Miss: Is It Safe To Donate Plasma While Pregnant
When Does Nausea End
Since the symptoms of pregnancy vary so greatly for all women, its tough to give you an end point for when nausea will end. However, most women typically report pregnancy nausea ending around the time that the 2nd trimester begins, so about 12-13 weeks.
This can be extended longer into weeks 18 or 19 or even end sooner like week 10 or 11. Just know that the pregnancy nausea WILL end and youll feel so much better when it does!
Those Rare But Serious Cases
If nothing seems to work and morning sickness is getting in the way of your everyday activities, then doctors might suggest anti-nausea drugs that are safe for pregnancy, says Dr. Niebyl. “It depends on how sick you are. If you can’t take care of your kids or go to work, most would prefer to take a medication.”
In about 1% of all cases, morning sickness can be so severe as to cause dehydration and imbalances in the body’s chemistry. When that happens, a woman will probably need to be hospitalized so that they can be treated with intravenous fluids and anti-nausea drugs. “If a woman can’t keep anything down for 24 hours or she’s lost weight, she should go to the hospital or contact her physician,” says Niebyl. “It just not good for the mother.”
Erick says women often wait too long to seek medical attention. “I think people get really out of control with being dehydrated because they read a book that said, ‘Oh, this is normal’ or somebody said, ‘Buck up, it’s only pregnancy. Meanwhile, they can’t get out of their pajamas and fail to differentiate that some morning sickness is one thing, but outrageous morning sickness is not a good thing.”
Show Sources
Recommended Reading: Nutraburst While Pregnant
Are Some Women More At Risk For Developing Severe Morning Sickness
Yes. The risk for severe morning sickness is increased if a woman:
- Is pregnant with more than 1 baby twins, triplets, or more.
- Has a personal history of severe morning sickness with a previous pregnancy and/or has a mother or sister who had a history of severe morning sickness with a pregnancy.
- Is pregnant with a girl.
- Has a history of motion sickness.
- Has a history of migraines.
- Is overweight.
- Has a condition called trophoblastic disease, which leads to abnormal cell growth in the womb .
Is It Normal For The Sickness To Stop Suddenly
Yes, it can stop overnight. But it can also just fade away: your symptoms getting less and less until, suddenly, you realise youre not feeling so queasy any more.
Some women dont necessarily notice when their nausea stops they only notice when its there, says Dr Kaye. It can stop surprisingly suddenly, though, but that doesnt mean that anything has happened to your baby.
Don’t Miss: Donating Plasma While Trying To Conceive
Treatments For Morning Sickness
Unfortunately, there’s no hard and fast treatment that will work for everyones morning sickness. Every pregnancy will be different.
But there are some changes you can make to your diet and daily life to try to ease the symptoms.
If these do not work for you or you’re having more severe symptoms, your doctor or midwife might recommend medicine.
Morning Sickness : When Will It End
Get the 411 on morning sickness. We have all the details on getting through this well-known pregnancy condition. Including symptoms, when it starts and, most importantly, morning sickness remedies.
Morning sickness might be the most well-known symptom of pregnancy, and it is typically associated with the first trimester, however, if you are experiencing it, you just want to know when it will end and how you can make yourself feel better while it lasts. Lets break down the basics of morning sickness, including what you can expect and what you can try to find some relief.
If you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, you are in good company. According to the American Pregnancy Association, more than half of pregnant women experience some type of nausea or vomiting during pregnancy. The name morning sickness does not really fully explain the condition since your sickness can occur in the morning, afternoon or evening. For some very unlucky women, nausea can last all day, with only a few moments of relief. Each woman and pregnancy can be quite different, and the symptoms can vary.
If you have morning sickness, you might find that the nausea affects your work or home life. You can try the following options one at a time and figure out what works for you:
- Eating small meals throughout the day
- Drinking lots of water
- Nibbling on candied ginger or peppermint
- Changing when you take your prenatal vitamins
- Eating crackers
Recommended Reading: What Cause Pregnancy
What If Im Still Sick After 14 Weeks
If you have morning sickness further into your pregnancy than the typical time period, or if you have severe vomiting, contact your doctor.
A condition called hyperemesis gravidarum occurs in .5 to 2 percent of pregnancies. It involves severe and persistent vomiting that can lead to hospitalization for dehydration.
Women experiencing this condition my lose more than 5 percent of their body weight, and its the second most prevalent reason for hospital stays for pregnant women. Most of these rare cases resolve before the 20-week mark, but 22 percent of them persist until the end of the pregnancy.
If youve had it once, youre at higher risk for having it in future pregnancies as well. Other risk factors include:
- a family history of the condition
- being of younger age
- being pregnant for the first time
- carrying twins or higher-order multiples
- having higher body weight or obesity
Whats Severe Morning Sickness
Severe morning sickness is when nausea and vomiting get so serious that a pregnant woman vomits several times a day, loses weight, and gets dehydrated or is at risk for dehydration.
If this rare pregnancy-related condition isnt treated, it can affect a woman’s health and her baby’s ability to thrive.
The medical term for severe morning sickness is “hyperemesis gravidarum” , which means “excessive vomiting during pregnancy.” It usually follows a similar timeline to normal morning sickness. But it can go longer, sometimes lasting for the whole pregnancy. Often, the symptoms get less severe as the pregnancy continues.
Most cases of hyperemesis gravidarum affect a woman’s first pregnancy. But women who have it in one pregnancy are more likely to have it in future pregnancies.
You May Like: Can Pregnant Women Use Vagisil
