Nausea in pregnancy: when it starts and how to fight it

Pregnancy nausea tends to appear early in pregnancy and end with the onset of the second trimester. While it usually poses no risk to the fetus, it can negatively affect your everyday life, including your ability to work or carry out normal daily activities. Fortunately, there are many remedies that can make you feel better and keep your symptoms from getting worse.

Nausea in pregnancy  (or  pregnancy nausea ) is a very common ailment in pregnancy, which affects over 70% of expectant mothers .

Although it is an extremely common symptom , it can manifest itself in a very variable way in terms of intensity and duration. In some cases, in fact, it presents itself in the form of a slight sense of disgust, while in others it is accompanied by actual retching .

Furthermore, while for some women nausea appears only at certain times, such as in the presence of particular smells or after a prolonged period of fasting , for others it can  last throughout the day , making it difficult to carry on with daily activities.

In general, however, the malaise tends to strike above all in the morning upon awakening: this is why nausea in pregnancy is often called  ”  morning sickness” .

When does pregnancy nausea start?

Typically, nausea begins to appear between the 5th ^and 8th ^week of pregnancy and in most cases resolves by the end of the first trimester .

In the last months of gestation , however, it can recur due to the compression exerted by the uterus on the digestive organs. Fortunately, however, it tends to disappear permanently after childbirth .

Nausea in pregnancy: the causes

The causes of nausea in pregnancy are still not known with certainty. According to experts, it could be the combination of several elements, including changes in hormone levels (and in particular of beta hCG and estrogen) and the consequent increase in sensitivity to smells , as well as a certain genetic predisposition .

This would explain why women are more likely to suffer from this disorder who:

• expecting twins
• have already had this symptom during a previous pregnancy , or
• have had cases of nausea in pregnancy in the family .

Nausea and vomiting can also worsen in situations of emotional stress or  excessive tiredness.

How to fight nausea in pregnancy?

If the nausea is not particularly strong, there are several remedies that can help cope with this pregnancy symptom. In any case, remember that this is a temporary ailment and that you will soon feel better!

1. Avoid going on an empty stomach for long periods

One strategy is to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. In particular, prefer light and easily digestible foods , so as not to weigh down the stomach and intestines.

2. Consume dry snacks

Dry foods ( such as crackers, bread sticks or rice cakes) help relieve nausea when it occurs between meals. If the discomfort appears in the morning, keep them on the nightstand and nibble on some before getting out of bed .

3. Chew slowly

Chewing food well, without rushing , helps the stomach digest better.

4. Drink plenty

Especially in the event of vomiting, it is important to replace lost fluids. In order not to trigger malaise, however, the advice is to drink in small sips and preferably before or after meals, and not during them . If still water causes or makes your nausea worse, you can replace it with sparkling water or add lemon juice to your glass.

If you can’t tolerate fluid intake, try sucking on an ice cube or a homemade fruit popsicle.

5. Avoid strong smells

For this purpose, often ventilate the rooms and prefer the consumption of cold dishes , with a more delicate aroma.

6. Try to get enough rest

Stress and lack of rest can make pregnancy sickness worse. Don’t forget that your body is making an enormous effort to grow a new life inside you and that nausea, as well as other first trimester symptoms, can be considered signals sent by the body, inviting you to slow down and take better care of yourself.

7. Wear anti-nausea bracelets

These are special bracelets that exert a slight pressure on a particular area of ​​the arm (which in Chinese medicine is called P6), located about three fingers from the crease of the wrist , on the inside. They are often used to treat motion sickness in children, but can also be used to relieve pregnancy nausea.

8. See your gynecologist or midwife

Based on the intensity of the symptoms, your trusted professional will be able to advise you on the most suitable remedy or drug. For example, some women find it beneficial to take Vitamin B6 .

Furthermore, for some time now, a specific drug (antiemetic) based on doxylamine and pyridoxine has been available , which the gynecologist can prescribe to counteract nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

In this regard, it is important to remember that before taking any type of medicine during pregnancy it is necessary to consult your doctor . This is because some medicines (including over-the-counter medicines or medicines sold in herbal medicine) can be harmful to the fetus and jeopardize the good progress of the pregnancy.

9. Book acupuncture sessions

Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective procedure in treating nausea and is considered safe in pregnancy , provided it is performed by a certified practitioner .

10. Ginger yes or no?

Scientific evidence on the safety of ginger in pregnancy is very mixed.

For this reason, the Guide to Physiological Pregnancy published by the Ministry of Health and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità states that:

“Ginger is among the effective non-drug treatments for reducing nausea and vomiting, but its safety in pregnancy has not been established.”

Of the same opinion is the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (the US body that is responsible for analyzing the safety and efficacy of integrative and complementary medicine interventions), which recommends consulting  your trusted doctor before taking ginger pregnant  and breastfeeding.

Nausea in pregnancy: when to worry?

The good news is that nausea, when it’s not severe, doesn’t affect your child negatively .

However, when episodes of nausea and vomiting are repeated and frequent, they should be reported to your doctor .

This condition, which takes the name of hyperemesis gravidarum , can in fact cause the onset of dehydration and nutritional deficiencies, and therefore requires specific treatments  and sometimes hospitalisation.

Nausea in pregnancy: male or female

According to a widespread popular belief , if the mother suffers from severe nausea during pregnancy , she would be expecting a baby girl .

Surprisingly, this tradition would seem to have some scientific backing. Indeed, some studies have shown that women with hyperemesis gravidarum are more likely to be pregnant than a female .

Of course, this does not mean that mothers of boys cannot suffer from this disorder. To know the sex of the child, therefore, it is better not to rely on popular myths, but to rely on reliable tests such as morphological ultrasound .

Curiosity: is nausea in pregnancy a good sign?

The answer to this question is yes, at least according to some studies. Indeed, women suffering from nausea and hyperemesis gravidarum appear to have a lower risk of miscarriage .

Of course this  shouldn’t alarm anyone who has a pregnancy without nausea or with very mild symptoms in the first trimester . Not all pregnancies are the same and everyone experiences theirs differently.

In any case, for any doubts or questions, always contact your gynecologist or midwife: you will feel calmer and your serenity will do your little one good too!