Nausea during pregnancy – how to control it and what to use?

In some women, nausea can disrupt the course of pregnancy. The result of constant return of digestive contents can be dehydration, in which case a hospital stay will be necessary. Hydration can prevent malnutrition of the baby, so despite the nausea, the mother-to-be should drink a lot. Nausea in pregnancy is faced by most first-borns and women with multiple pregnancies.

When does nausea occur in pregnancy and what is the cause?

Nausea in pregnancy usually begins at the very beginning of pregnancy, that is, in the first trimester. This is when the largest amount of the pregnancy hormone, chorionic gonadotropin, is present in a woman’s body. 

The hormone is produced a few days after conception and increases until the end of the first trimester. A high level of chorionic gonadotropin not only determines the normal development of pregnancy, but is also the cause of the slowing down of the digestive system and sensitivity to odors in the mother-to-be. So when it comes to nausea, the causes lie in the hormonal changes taking place in a woman’s body. 

Nausea in pregnancy also has a psychosomatic basis. The reason is fatigue, emotions due to pregnancy, and later even difficulties in daily life. There are many women who can’t cope with the discomforts of pregnancy and stress eats away at them, resulting in the body’s defensive reaction of nausea without vomiting. Some women experience only morning nausea in pregnancy, while others are inconvenienced by pregnancy nausea throughout the day.

Lack of nausea during pregnancy does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with the baby. Much depends on the woman’s body. A reason for concern may be the complete cessation of all pregnancy discomforts. 

How long does nausea last in pregnancy?

While it is known when nausea begins in pregnancy, it is not easy to tell when it passes. Nausea in pregnancy usually begins between 4 and 7 weeks of pregnancy, when the pregnancy hormone increases intensely. They should stop around the 14th week, but in many women they last up to the 22nd week of pregnancy and beyond. Their cause may be the fear of impending childbirth or the stress and accompanying fears of motherhood. For this reason, some moms are nauseous at 9 months of pregnancy.

Continued nausea may be an indication for hospitalization. This phenomenon is referred to as unrestrained pregnancy vomiting. Constant vomiting results in electrolyte disturbances and rehydration drips are necessary.

What helps with nausea during pregnancy?

For pregnant women, unpleasant ailments are a hassle, because they do not know what for nausea in pregnancy they can use. Any way seems inappropriate to them. Pregnant women are not allowed to use antiemetic drugs available at the pharmacy unless recommended by the attending physician and given full approval. Moms-to-be are therefore left with the old tried-and-true ways.

What helps with nausea during pregnancy?

• Eating food before getting out of bed;
• Large amounts of drinking throughout the day to prevent dehydration;
• Avoiding fried or very spicy foods;
• Avoiding foods with irritating effects;
• Vitamin B6 supplementation;
• Oral hygiene – brushing your teeth helps relieve nausea during pregnancy. In some moms, the vomiting reflex is caused by a metallic aftertaste in the mouth;
• Reducing stress to a minimum;
• relaxation massages;
• acupuncture.

To prevent nausea during pregnancy, you can turn to herbs. Ginger has antiemetic and stomach-relieving properties. An infusion of ginger with honey will help control the vomiting reflex. You can buy ginger candies or ginger express tea for brewing in herbal stores and pharmacies. More creative moms can bake ginger cookies. They will be a good snack before rising from bed.

The solution is also plenty of rest. Women with nausea during pregnancy are very weakened. Very often they complain of headaches, and it is easy for them to faint.

See also: How to choose the right cosmetics for pregnant women?