How Long Will it Last?

I overheard this question being asked between two pregnant employees at work yesterday.  They weren't talking about the length of their pregnancies, or even how long labor would last. They were talking about nausea.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN PREGNANCY 

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.  

HOW TO COPE WITH MORNING SICKNESS

Many experts recommend not allowing your stomach to become empty.  This doesn't mean you have to walk around with a full stomach, in fact, just the opposite is more helpful.  

Try to eat frequent, very small meals.  Carry some saltine crackers in your purse to nibble on.  Keep them on your bedside table, too,  to snack on during one of those middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom.   This often helps prevent nausea in the morning.  Avoiding heavy and greasy foods can also help to limit nausea and vomiting.  Nausea can often be triggered, or made worse, by strong scents and smells, so it may help to avoid those.  You may need to ask someone else to do the cooking for you for a few weeks.


Image via WikipediaIf you do become nauseated, you can try to suck on lemon drops, or lemon flavored candy.  Some women have had great success with these.  Ginger candy is also helpful.   Eating something salty, such as potato chips, may calm your nausea enough to allow you to eat a meal.


Don't forget to drink enough fluid to keep you well-hydrated, but you may want to limit the amount of fluids you actually drink with meals.  Drinking before or 15-30 meals after, can help prevent nausea.  Also, don't lie down immediately after eating.


If you experience severe nausea, so that you are unable to keep down fluids or any food at all, you need to contact your health care provider. If morning sickness lasts beyond the first thirteen weeks, or into the second trimester, tell your health care provider.  There may be medications available which may help you to deal with the nausea and vomiting.