Physical Changes During Pregnancy...Nausea and Vomiting

Pregnancy doesn't just affect your uterus, it affects every part of your body. Dramatic changes will take place over the nine months of your pregnancy. Some will be obvious, some will not. Some will be surprising to you. Often normal physiological changes that occur during pregnancy can alarm some women who don't know to expect them. Your body, however, has been designed for this pregnancy and is well-suited to handle these changes.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Nausea, and even vomiting, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy are two of the most common symptoms reported by pregnant women. Up to 85% of pregnant women report some degree of nausea with the first few months of pregnancy.

No one knows for sure what causes this nausea, although it is suspected to be caused by hormonal changes. Human chorionic gonadotropin, a pregnancy hormone, rises during the first trimester, as does the hormone Estrogen.

It is difficult to predict exactly when episodes of nausea will occur as well, although many women report feeling nauseated first thing in the morning. Hence the term, "morning sickness". This has led some to theorize the underlying cause of some nausea to be related to an imbalance in blood sugar.

For most women, the nausea and vomiting will subside after the first three months of pregnancy, however for some unfortunate women, it will continue for four or five months. A very few women will have nausea the entire pregnancy.

IS IT DANGEROUS? DEHYDRATION

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy can become concerning if it becomes so severe as to lead to dehydration, meaning that you are losing too much liquid and essential nutrients and mineral, resulting in a fluid and electrolyte imbalance. If this is the case, your health care provider may decide to admit you to the hospital for some intravenous fluids.

You should see your Health Care Provider if:

• you are losing weight
  
• you vomit more than three or four times a day
  
• your vomit has blood or a brownish color
  
• your urine is dark colored and looks concentrated
• dizziness
• thirst greater than your usual level of thirst
• passing a smaller amount of urine than usual or none at all.

HOW TO AVOID NAUSEA

There are no sure ways to avoid nausea, but many people have offered suggestions that have worked for them or for their patients:

• Don't rush getting out of bed, take your time.
  
• Eat some dry cracker or dry cereal before getting out of bed.
• Eat something before you go to bed at night, just a little bit of something to keep your stomach from being empty
  
• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day instead of three large meals
• Drink plenty of liquids
  
• Limit fatty foods.
• Limit spicy foods.
• Avoid caffeine.
• Eat a small amount of dry foods, such as crackers or toast when the nausea begins
  
• If you are particularly sensitive to smells, remember that cold foods smell less.
• Try ginger tea
• Lemon flavored candies may help
  
• Get pleny of rest
• Avoid reclining immediately after a meal
  
• Exercise each day, walking is a wonderful exercise
  
• Fresh air may help
  
• Keep a small amount of dry crackers or toast at your bedside. If you wake up at night, eat a little. It may help prevent nausea in the morning.
• Have a small snack next to your bed. If you wake up during the night, eat some of it. Many women find this helps stave off the nausea the following morning.
• Eat snacks that are high in protein .

Always check with your Health Care provider before you take any medication for nausea, even over-the-counter medication, during pregnancy.