Overview Of Pregnancy Nausea
Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that can occur at any time of the day during pregnancy.
Commonly Associated With
Nausea in the morning – females; Vomiting in the morning – females; Nausea during pregnancy; Pregnancy nausea; Pregnancy vomiting; Vomiting during pregnancy
Causes Of Pregnancy Nausea
The exact cause of morning sickness is unknown. It may be caused by hormone changes or lower blood sugar during early pregnancy. Emotional stress, fatigue, traveling, or some foods can make the problem worse. Nausea in pregnancy is more common and can be worse with twins or triplets.
Exams & Tests
Your provider will do a physical examination, including a pelvic exam, and look for any signs of dehydration.
Your provider may ask the following questions:
- Are you only nauseated or do you also vomit?
- Does nausea and vomiting occur every day?
- Does it last throughout the day?
- Can you keep down any food or fluid?
- Have you been traveling?
- Has your schedule changed?
- Are you feeling stressed?
- What foods have you been eating?
- Do you smoke?
- What have you done to try to feel better?
- What other symptoms do you have — headaches, abdominal pain, breast tenderness, dry mouth, excessive thirst, unintended weight loss?
Your provider may do the following tests:
- Blood tests including CBC and blood chemistry (chem-20)
- Urine tests
- Ultrasound
- Treatment
Try to keep a positive attitude. Remember that in most cases morning sickness stops after the first 3 or 4 months of pregnancy.
To reduce nausea, try:
- A few soda crackers or dry toast when you first wake up, even before you get out of bed in the morning.
- A small snack at bedtime and when getting up to go to the bathroom at night.
- Avoid large meals; instead, snack as often as every 1 to 2 hours during the day and drink plenty of fluids.
- Eat foods high in protein and complex carbohydrates, such as peanut butter on apple slices or celery; nuts; cheese; crackers; milk; cottage cheese; and yogurt; avoid foods high in fat and salt, but low in nutrition.
- Ginger products (proven effective against morning sickness) such as ginger tea, ginger candy, and ginger soda.
Here are some more tips:
- Acupressure wrist bands or acupuncture may help. You can find these bands in drug, health food, and travel and boating stores. If you are thinking about trying acupuncture, talk to your doctor and look for an acupuncturist who is trained to work with pregnant women.
- Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke.
- Avoid taking medicines for morning sickness. If you do, ask a doctor first.
- Keep air flowing through rooms to reduce odors.
- When you feel nauseated, bland foods like gelatin, broth, ginger ale, and saltine crackers can soothe your stomach.
- Take your prenatal vitamins at night. Increase vitamin B6 in your diet by eating whole grains, nuts, seeds, and peas, and beans (legumes). Talk to your doctor about possibly taking vitamin B6 supplements. Doxylamine is another medicine that is sometimes prescribed and is known to be safe.
