Nausea Late in Pregnancy

Morning sickness is often associated with pregnancy since it is part of the early signs of pregnancy or during the first trimester. However, morning sickness can also be experienced late in the pregnancy like during the third trimester.

There are many reasons why some women experience later in the pregnancy. As you know, part of the cause of nausea in the first trimester is due to hormonal changes within the body. This can happen again later in the pregnancy as hormone levels continue to fluctuate. Plus, in the third trimester the baby is larger and encroaching on more space within the body. Nausea after eating is common in the third trimester because of the uterus pressing up on the stomach. This can occur with or without heartburn as well. A good idea to avoid late pregnancy nausea is eating smaller meals and eating them more frequently during the course of the day. There is not as much room to hold a large meal anymore within the stomach.

The most important thing that you can do during your pregnancy is to remain healthy. Get regular checkups from your doctor and make sure to call him or her if you are experiencing severe stomach pain or vomiting. Sometimes a virus or another illness can be the cause of the problem. You also want to make sure that the nausea or vomiting is not interfering with your ability to eat. The baby as well as the mother needs the vital nutrients they receive from a good diet. You also want to make sure that you avoid dehydration which can bring on preterm labor by sipping water continually.

Unfortunately, a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) causes women to experience severe morning sickness right up until the baby is born and even after the birth of the baby in some cases. HG is defined as vomiting that is frequent, persistent and severe. The nausea and vomiting prevent an adequate amount of food and liquids to be absorbed by the body. It is unclear what the causes of HG are but it might be linked to higher then usual levels of hormones and estrogen that some women produce. Women suffering from HG will typically loose 5percent or more of their pre-pregnancy body weight. They will also become dehydrated. They tend to have difficulty with their daily activities, have an altered sense of taste or they might even have hallucinations. The condition might also put the fetus at risk for diabetes or heart disease later on in life or neurobehaviorial issues right from birth due to the malnutrition and dehydration during pregnancy. Because of the risk of dehydration and complications to the pregnancy, women with HG need to be treated as a medical emergency. Antiemetic medications, intravenous re-hydration or nutritional support might be needed.

Fortunately, nausea later in pregnancy is not common to most women. The most common way to find relief from morning sickness is by repositioning themselves while eating to alleviate the pressure on the stomach. If you or someone you know is suffering from extreme nausea during a pregnancy, make sure that the treating doctor is aware of how often the vomiting is happening and the things they have done to treat it on their own. And of course, if any dehydration symptoms are being seen or felt, make sure you seek help right away.