About this topic
When you are pregnant, changes take place in your body. Some of these changes may make you feel sick to your stomach. You may also throw up. This stomach sickness may happen between the 5th to 18th weeks of your pregnancy. Your nausea often gets better by the time you reach the 4th or 5th month. Some women say they have morning sickness because they feel worse in the morning. Morning sickness may happen at other times during the day as well. You may also have loss of appetite, sweating, feel dizzy, or belly pain. ‚
Treatment may be needed if your nausea or vomiting becomes very bad. Too much throwing up can cause many other health problems. Severe nausea may also affect your baby. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what you need to do.
- Make sure to take all the drugs ordered by your doctor.
- If your doctor used an IV line to get nutrients into your body, keep your IV site clean and dry. Wash your hands before touching your bandage.
- Your doctor may give you a mouth rinse. Rinse your mouth after each time you throw up.
- Use a warm compress over your neck or chest to help with the pain after throwing up.
- Stay in bed for a couple of days. Give your body time to rest.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep your visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Control vomiting
- Stop dizziness
- Help with pain
- Soothe a sore throat
- Balance the minerals inside your body
- Control the acid in your belly
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to limit your activity for a while. Ask your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Stay away from foods that can bother your throat like popcorn, dry cereals, salty chips, and chocolate cake.
- Stay away from spicy and sour foods. Spicy foods may make an upset stomach worse.
- Eat small meals more often. Instead of eating 3 big meals, eat 5 to 6 small meals in a day.
- Eat when you feel hungry. Hunger can sometimes cause nausea and vomiting.
- Soft foods like soups, pureed fruits and vegetables may help with throat pain.
- Eat bland foods that are easy on your stomach like oatmeal, applesauce, rice, and bananas. Your doctor may give you a list of foods.
- Have a light snack before going to bed. Eat crackers or a sandwich before bedtime. Sit upright for 20 to 30 minutes before lying down to avoid heartburn.
What problems could happen?
- Too much fluid loss
- Belly pain
- Throat bleeding
- Problems with your baby
- Malnutrition from too much nausea and vomiting
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Stay away from places where your triggers might be. If the smell of fish makes you feel sick, avoid going to lakes, beaches, and places that serve fish and seafood. If the smell of perfume makes you sick, ask the people around you to wear less perfume.
- Take drugs to help with motion sickness before you travel. Ask your doctor what drugs you should take.
- Try to move about slowly. Avoid sudden movements that can make you dizzy and feel sick.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of fluid loss such as dark-colored urine or no urine for more than 8 hours, dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, sunken eyes, lack of energy, feeling faint, or passing out.
- Throwing up for longer than 24 hours
- Not able to keep fluids down for more than 12 hours
- Blood in vomit
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
- Know what triggers your nausea and vomiting. Try to stay away from these triggers. Stay away from smells that makes you feel sick to your stomach.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day if you can to replace what you lose when you vomit. Sip on a glass of water from time to time.
- If you vomit while eating, wait for 20 minutes before your next bite.
- Suck on a hard menthol candy or mints. The candy or mints may also help with the taste after vomiting.
- Suck on ice chips or popsicles to relieve throat pain.
- Take your time when getting out of bed. Sit up for a few minutes before standing to get out of bed.
- Open the windows in your room or house to let fresh air in. Turn the exhaust fan on when working inside the kitchen.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet or other tips to help keep me from throwing up.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have trouble keeping fluids down.
Where can I learn more?
March of Dimes ‚
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/yourbody_nausea.html ‚
National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ‚
http://www.nasog.org.au/women/having-a-baby/just-pregnant/nausea-and-vomiting-during-pregnancy ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚