Nausea is one of the main discomforts during pregnancy. However, there is no exact idea of when nausea really begins in pregnancy since this condition varies from woman to woman, making it difficult to specify a precise time.
We can say that nausea tends to start around the 8th week of pregnancy for some women, but it may occur earlier or later for others. There are some women who are lucky enough not to experience nausea at all during pregnancy, but the total absence of this symptom can also cause concern for the pregnant woman.
Why Nausea Occurs in Pregnancy
Nausea is caused by hormonal changes in the woman’s body and is also a wise provision of nature. The increase in estrogen and progesterone are the main causes of the initial discomfort women feel in pregnancy1. Not only nausea but also drowsiness, fatigue, and all the other well-known pregnancy symptoms in women.
Nausea in pregnancy is actually an effect of hormonal elevation, but also a way to protect the future mother from eating contaminated foods that could harm her body. Another factor that can worsen nausea and sickness during pregnancy is the presence of changes in HCG as well. The exclusive hormone of pregnancy, HCG, like progesterone and estrogen, also tends to increase nausea, and in a way, it is a good sign that everything is going well with hormonal development2.
For most women, nausea begins as soon as there is a significant increase in hormones, between the 6th and 9th week, but for some it can start even before missed periods. The first nausea to appear during pregnancy is morning sickness. Anyone who has never felt this type of discomfort from pregnancy doesn’t know what it’s like to feel truly pregnant! Just like the pregnant women we see in movies and soap operas all the time.
What to Do to Relieve Nausea During Pregnancy
It’s not as easy as it sounds, and for those who experience this phase of nausea, it may seem like they’ll feel this way throughout the whole pregnancy. But in most cases, nausea during pregnancy subsides after the first trimester ends, which is when hormones stabilize. So, during this period of food aversion, it’s best to follow some tips to help ease pregnancy nausea.
Lemon Water: A great tip is to drink lemon water (without sugar), which helps a lot to reduce nausea. You can have it with meals or between meals.
Eat Less, More Often: A valuable tip is to eat smaller portions more frequently, never going more than 2 hours without eating something. That way, you’ll always have something light in your stomach and the nausea won’t persist. The rule is, empty stomach means nausea is on the way!
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated is very effective at preventing unwanted nausea during pregnancy. Natural juices are also a good option, especially those made from citrus fruits, and adding grated or powdered ginger also helps a lot. However, avoid drinking them with your meals, as this may trigger nausea.
Don’t Lie Down Right After Eating: Never, ever lie down immediately after a meal. Gastric acid activity can cause even more nausea and reflux if you are lying down.
Use Anti-Nausea Wristbands: If you can’t stand it anymore or can’t relieve the symptoms any other way, anti-nausea wristbands can help reduce nausea within a few minutes. Based on Eastern medicine, these use acupressure and have been proven very effective, even compared to medication. You can find the FamiBand wristband at the Famivita store here.
Medications for Relief of Nausea During Pregnancy
Some doctors prescribe medications that are safe for nausea during pregnancy. Medications like Dramin B6, Meclin, and Vonau are great allies, but it should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis whether the pregnant woman is suited for anti-nausea medication3. These medications can help but may also cause even more drowsiness in the pregnant woman, and if she needs to work, she may try controlling the nausea just with an appropriate diet for this issue.
A new option for women, which is still little known in the market, are anti-nausea wristbands. In addition to being safe for mother and baby, they do not cause drowsiness as the medications prescribed by obstetricians do.
Weight Loss in the First Trimester
Nausea is the main reason why many women lose weight at the beginning of pregnancy. Despite it being just hormonal swelling, it’s very common for pregnant women to lose weight in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Legend has it that women who feel a lot of nausea during pregnancy are more likely to have a girl! I don’t believe in witches, but they do exist! Coincidentally, this legend proved true for me!
Author’s Note
I used to feel very sick! Funnily enough, it was the two pregnancies with girls that gave me the dreaded nausea. I vomited every day and morning nausea stayed with me all day, only improving at night when I was more willing to eat. I didn’t even take nausea medication in my last pregnancy, since I needed to stay fully alert, and one of the unwanted side effects of this kind of medication is uncontrollable sleepiness!
To fight the nausea I ate lots of citrus fruit, green grapes, kiwi, oranges and even lemons! My mouth watered just thinking of popping a green grape into my mouth! It was a truly healthy (and achievable) dream. In the beginning of Melissa’s pregnancy, I lost over 8kg with my bouts of nausea! I was a bit overweight, and that helped me get into the right weight for pregnancy. In the end, every cloud has a silver lining, because if it hadn’t been for those kilos lost, I don’t know how I would’ve been at the end of pregnancy with the risk of pre-eclampsia. I ate lots of crackers too, and when I felt a bit better, I went for foods that kept me satisfied, like a good plate of rice and beans made by my mom!
A good tip is: eat whatever you feel like in small portions and always report your bouts of nausea to your obstetrician; if necessary, they will recommend the right medication. Although nausea in pregnancy is pretty much inevitable, you need to pay attention to your diet to prevent anemia.
See also: Anemia During Pregnancy – Things Every Expectant Mother Should Know
