Pregnancy – Nausea And Vomiting In The Third Trimester
You got through the first trimester of your pregnancy with very little morning sickness. Congratulations! You’ve heard other women’s horror stories of how bad their morning sickness was during the first trimester, so you probably think you’ve dodged a bullet. Well, think again.
That bullet can come back around later in your pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting in the third trimester is entirely possible. Is it likely? Probably not… but don’t rule it out.
Women who get sick in their third trimester usually think something is wrong with their baby. A trip to the doctor will probably confirm it’s just a late case of morning sickness. Foods that didn’t make them sick in the first trimester make them run for the toilet now with the slightest whiff.
Just as with morning sickness that occurs early in the pregnancy, no one is quite sure what causes it. There are theories of increased hormones, what kind of baby you’re having (boy vs girl, twins vs. single birth, etc.), no vomiting when taking birth control pills, and bacteria (helicobacter pylori.)
The baby’s size in the third trimester is large enough where it can cause the uterus to press on the stomach. Consequently, when you eat, this interaction between the two can cause a pregnant mother to become nauseated. Eating smaller meals more often throughout the day should help keep the feelings of nausea down.
These aren’t meant to scare you – they are just theories. Each one of these could apply to you and you still wouldn’t have any morning sickness going into your third trimester.
Even though the cause isn’t known exactly, there are treatments that would still benefit you in your third trimester.
Acupuncture and acupressure are still an option. If you have more moderate nausea and vomiting, then acupuncture would be the way to go. If your symptoms are on the mild side, then acupressure is still a viable approach… and one you can perform on yourself.
Herbal remedies, like ginger, are definite options for keeping the nausea and vomiting at bay.
Not sure about what’s going on with your pregnancy? The nausea and vomiting in the third trimester can be a sign of something more serious.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe morning sickness. The vomiting with this condition can last all day. What makes hyperemesis gravidarum so dangerous is the potential for dehydration. Some women who have been diagnosed with it have to have fluids intravenously administered because they just can’t keep the fluids in their bodies. It isn’t a condition a woman should try to treat herself; if this condition is suspected, a doctor’s care is needed right away.
If you’ve made it through two trimesters of your pregnancy, and nausea and vomiting haven’t really affected you much, you’re lucky. There is always the possibility that it could start in the third trimester, so don’t celebrate just yet. No matter when your morning sickness starts, there are methods of relief. Explore all of your options so you can enjoy every moment of your pregnancy.
