{"id":4996,"date":"2019-07-17T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=4996"},"modified":"2024-02-21T09:20:54","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T14:20:54","slug":"upset-stomach-pregnancy-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/upset-stomach-pregnancy-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"The do’s and don’ts of treating nausea during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most women who have ever been pregnant are familiar with that queasy, lingering nausea that comes with carrying a fetus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNausea during pregnancy is one of the most common and uncomfortable symptoms that impacts about 70% of pregnant women,\u201d says Janelle Luk, MD, medical director and co-founder of <\/span>Generation Next Fertility<\/span><\/a> in New York City.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes nausea during pregnancy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cNausea is linked to the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin [or HCG] hormone), which is released when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining,\u201d Dr. Luk says. It\u2019s also linked to elevated estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

What week of pregnancy does nausea start?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nausea is <\/span>usually most severe during early pregnancy within the first trimester<\/span><\/a> (which includes the first 13 weeks of pregnancy), and may even be associated with vomiting. Luckily, these sickness symptoms should start to disappear in the second trimester after HCG hormone levels have peaked and no longer interfere with your daily life. Unfortunately for some women, pregnancy nausea can last the duration of the pregnancy. You\u2019ve probably heard the term \u201cmorning sickness,\u201d but that\u2019s a misnomer. It should really be called \u201call day sickness,\u201d because the truth is that it can strike at <\/span>any time of the day or night<\/span><\/a>. And it feels awful.<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is, the typical nausea and vomiting related to hormone changes experienced during pregnancy is <\/span>unlikely to harm the fetus<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> If you can\u2019t keep any food or fluids down due to severe nausea and vomiting\u2014a condition known as <\/span>hyperemesis gravidum<\/span><\/i>\u2014you should seek medical attention. If left untreated, it has the potential to be harmful to the developing fetus. More on this in a bit. Aside from this very rare scenario, pregnancy nausea and vomiting is harmless. <\/span>To the fetus.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

For the pregnant woman, it\u2019s a relentless queasiness that makes you want to hide in bed all day (as long as there\u2019s a bathroom nearby). Here are 9 remedies you can try.<\/span><\/p>\n

9 lifestyle changes for nausea during pregnancy\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Outside of pregnancy, feelings of nausea might have you running to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter (OTC) solution; however, <\/span>drug choice<\/span><\/a> requires more thought when you\u2019re pregnant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Often, pregnant people are able to manage their nausea on their own, according to Rebecca Berens, MD, lactation consultant and board-certified family medicine physician at <\/span>Vida Family Medicine<\/span><\/a> in Houston. Here\u2019s a list of natural remedies to try if you experience nausea while pregnant:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Eat small meals or bland foods.<\/b> \u201cHome remedies with small, frequent, bland snacks, such as saltine crackers or dry toast [may be enough],\u201d says Dr. Berens. \u201cHard candies such as peppermints, sour candies, and commercial products such as \u2018<\/span>Preggie Pops<\/span><\/a>\u2019 can also be effective.\u201d Avoid skipping meals and having an empty stomach, which can make nausea worse.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Try ginger products.<\/b> Products containing ginger are known to be helpful, such as <\/span>ginger<\/span><\/a> candies and ginger teas,\u201d Dr. Berens says. For nausea relief, it may help to try products like ginger ale).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Limit acidic or spicy foods.<\/b> During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone causes the esophageal sphincter to relax, increasing the odds of<\/span> heartburn<\/span><\/a>, and acidic foods like citrus fruit or spicy foods like hot peppers can make heartburn worse.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Avoid stuffy rooms or strong odors.<\/b> Family nurse practitioner and owner of <\/span>Staunton Primary Care<\/span><\/a> in Cincinnati, Ciara Staunton says that avoiding nausea triggers like heat, humidity, stuffy rooms and odors (perfume, chemicals, food, and smoke) is important.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Get enough rest and sleep in the correct position. <\/b>Quickly changing positions and not getting enough rest\/sleep may also aggravate symptoms of morning sickness, says Staunton. Don\u2019t forget to get some exercise. It can help with nausea.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Wait to lie down after eating.<\/b> Lying down soon after eating and lying on the left side are additional potentially aggravating factors,\u201d Staunton says. She explains that this could slow down digestion and keep food in your stomach for longer.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Wear anti-nausea wristbands.<\/b> Using acupressure bands like <\/span>Sea-Bands<\/span><\/a> can decrease the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting. You can also try homeopathic remedies like acupressure, but be sure to seek a practitioner who has experience treating pregnant patients.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Change the timing of your prenatal vitamins<\/b><\/a>. <\/b>If your prenatal is making you feel sick, consider taking the vitamin at a different time. For example, if you normally take them in the morning, switch the timing up to the afternoon or evening. Also, don\u2019t take your prenatal on an empty stomach.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Try alternative treatments<\/b>.<\/span><\/a> Although not scientifically proven, some people have reported relief from alternative therapies such as acupuncture, hypnosis, aromatherapy and others.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What can I take for nausea during pregnancy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    OTC treatments<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Our experts say if those interventions fail to ease your nausea, it\u2019s time to talk to your provider. There are OTC and prescription medications that may help. The following treatment options are safe for pregnancy nausea:<\/span><\/p>\n