Only about 15% of women DON’T suffer from nausea at some time during their pregnancy. Since each woman is different and each pregnancy is different, the severity will vary – nausea does tend to get worse with each pregnancy though.
More than half of women will also have vomiting, but nausea can still be quite debilitating even without ongoing vomiting.
What causes nausea?
No one knows exactly what the cause is. It is believed that a combination of the many physical changes taking place in the body, especially the higher levels of hormones during early pregnancy.
How long will it last?
Nausea usually starts between 5 and 6 weeks of pregnancy. By 7 weeks, it’s usually as bad as it’s going to get. Although common in the morning, “morning sickness” can actually last all day, or be worse in the evening. For 80% of sufferers, nausea gradually lessens, with more with usual daily activities, making it necessary to find ways to cope.
But the large majority of the time nausea isn’t physically harmful to mom or baby. If you were healthy before you started pregnancy, your body and your baby will draw on your nutritional reserves. There is even a theory that the minimal nutrition of the first trimester during the stage when the placenta is growing essentially tricks the body to grow a larger, more efficient placenta.
What if I can’t keep anything down?
About 1% of women suffer from incredibly overwhelming nausea and/or excessive vomiting in pregnancy, a condition called “hyperemesis gravidarum”. In such cases, the lack of food, fluids, and nutrients may be quite harmful to their health, and eventually, the well-being of their baby, if left untreated. Initial treatment usually includes IV fluids, as dehydration makes the condition worse, which in turn increases the amount of nausea, vomiting, and fluid loss; longer-term treatment usually involves various drug prescriptions.
Having low blood sugar can cause or worsen nausea, so eat small, frequent meals.
Carry snacks such as raw almonds (which also minimize heartburn).
When you first wake up, eat a snack, and then rest for 15 minutes before getting out of bed.
Keep a few crackers or a bowl of nuts in the bathroom, so you can keep your blood sugar up by snacking during those middle-of-the-night trips.
Until your nausea decreases, eat according to your cravings – better to eat something, than nothing at all
Carbs & Proteins
Eat protein for sustained energy. Try some just before bed to avoid morning nausea.
Go for complex carbs, as refined carbs can quickly cause a blood sugar low.
Some women find carbs (crackers, dry toast, popcorn, granola bars) more relieving, others prefer proteins (nuts, cheese, peanut butter)
Flavors, Smells, Textures
Women may crave certain flavors: salty, sweet, sour. Find what works for you.
Smelling citrus fruit – oranges and lemons – can help. Eating citrus also helps your body to efficiently absorb iron.
Keeping the saliva flowing by sucking on something sour can help
Avoid spicy, fatty, and fried foods
Try eating food cold, as it may not smell as strong as when hot. Try popsicles.
Minimize cooking smells.
The smells of coffee and red meat are often triggers.
Fluids
Don’t let dehydration make your nausea worse: try to drink 2 liters a day.
Add a dash of sea salt plus a dash of lemon or cranberry juice – all of this helps speed digestion
Drinks that lessen nausea count towards your 2 liters: ginger tea, ginger ale, anything bubbly like sparkling water or seltzer
Caffeine counts against your 2 liters, as it causes more dehydration – drink an extra cup of water for every cup of caffeine or ounce of chocolate
Avoid sodas, as the high sugar content will likely make your nausea worse ultimately
Note – commercial sports drinks are full of sugar, often as much as soda
Indigestion
Avoid letting your stomach get fully empty
Don’t take supplements on an empty stomach.
Try digestive teas if indigestion, constipation, or diarrhea is associated with your nausea: fennel, mint, chamomile, etc.
Eat foods with natural enzymes and probiotics, like yogurt with live cultures. Or take a probiotic supplement.
Take digestive enzymes at mealtime, such as papain and bromelain.
Try activated charcoal for a “sour” stomach, 2 capsules when nauseous, up to twice a day.
Physical stress can make nausea worse
Avoid warm places as feeling hot can add to nausea
Being tired makes nausea worse. Focus on getting more sleep, including napping.
Stress
Emotional stress can make nausea worse. And nausea can definitely cause emotional distress!
If your work is stressful, consider taking some time from work, or adjusting your work hours, if you can.
Consider seeing a counselor, especially someone who is familiar with helping women navigate the psychological and emotional challenges of serious nausea, such as Pomegranate’s RCC Tanya Podlozniuk.
Exercise
CO2 buildup in the blood contributes to nausea but can be reduced with cardiovascular activity like walking and swimming.
Exercise in fresh air seems to be especially helpful.
Ginger
Vitamins
Try 25mg of Vitamin B6, up to 6 per day.
The iron in daily vitamins can make nausea worse. Take vitamins with food or just before bed. If this doesn’t help, then decrease or stop taking daily vitamins until your nausea is gone. Vitamins are supposed to fill the nutrient gaps in your diet – if you eat worse because of increased nausea, then they are not helping. Continue to take folic acid alone on a daily basis.
Aromatherapy
Many essential oils are off-limits in pregnancy. However, smelling lavender and/or citrus essential oils may help. Try putting some in a bath.
PROFESSIONAL HELP
Acupuncture
Counseling
Medications
Diclectin is a medication considered safe for treating nausea in pregnancy. It is a combination of Vitamin B6 and an antihistamine. It can have uncomfortable side effects such as dry mouth or sleepiness, so it’s usually only for serious nausea. Ask your midwife for more info and/or a prescription.
There are further medications that may be suitable if Diclectin doesn’t work well enough to control your nausea. Speak to your midwife about these options.
In the end, let your midwife know if these strategies do not help. Your midwife can refer you to a hyperemesis clinic in Royal Columbian Hospital to get fluid IV.
