Nausea During the Third Trimester: Causes, Precautions & Remedies

NauseaOne of the easiest ways to discover that a woman is pregnant is if she has a persistent urge to throw. However, this uneasy sensation of nausea is expected to subside or end after the first few months of pregnancy.

However, on some occasions, nausea may continue throughout the pregnancy or become highly re-occurring during the third trimester.

Now if you are experiencing this, there is no cause for alarm, never forget every woman has her own unique way of experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy.

This article points towards nausea during the third trimester, causes, precautions, and remedies.

One of the things I did when I discovered I was pregnant was to sign up for various online courses on what to expect when pregnancy, by mid second trimester I was aware of most pregnancy complications.

When I started experiencing nausea in my third trimester I sort of knew what to do, it’s okay if you don’t, I am here to guide you rightly.

According to the US national institute of health (NIH), over to third of women experience preeclampsia and nausea in the final trimester of pregnancy.

Generally, it’s usually no cause for alarm, unless associated with unusual pain. Women with severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy may suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), an entity distinct from NVP, which if left untreated may lead to significant maternal and fetal morbidity.

Causes of Nausea

  • The growing baby; of course, when the fetus gets bigger, its increasing size places pressure on the stomach, the resultant is the upward movement of the contents of the stomach. This is also known as acid reflux. This is one major cause of nausea during pregnancy.
  • The change in hormones; another one major cause of nausea is the high levels of HCG in the body. Don’t worry, with time these high hormone levels may normalize. These hormone levels will normalize with time.
  • Medical complications; most often, pregnancy comes with complications such as preeclampsia. These conditions often pose a threat to the health of both mother and child. Late trimester Nausea is often associated with such underlying medical conditions. It is best to seek medical consultations in such cases.
  • Labour; yes you heard that right. You may start experiencing nausea toward the final days of your pregnancy. This is usually accompanied by contractions, pelvic pressure, and backache. Most times, it is an indication that you are approaching Labour, so brace yourself.

Precautions

No one loves to have the uncomfortable feeling of vomiting whether pregnant or not. It is not only annoying, but it is also discomforting.

To prevent nausea during pregnancy especially in the third trimester, take these precautionary measures below:

  • Get the rest you need; as a pregnant mom-to-be, It is essential that you rest and sleep well because if you don’t. You may feel nauseous and giddy.
  • Avoid Caffeine; caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee tend to heighten your symptoms and thus as much as possible you should stay away from such beverages or limit their intake.
  • Stay on a healthy diet; asides are eating healthy, you should cut the gaps in between your meals; plan on eating five to six smaller meals as compared to three big meals to keep nausea at bay.
  • Drink Adequate Water; regular hydration is highly essential during pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting may drain you out and may make you dehydrated.
  • Exercise; I don’t know why most pregnant women are lazy to exercise. Exercising is not only useful in keeping you healthy in pregnancy, but a healthy body may be able to combat various ailments like nausea, in a better way.
  • Stay off food right before bedtime; here’s the thing, eating late at night or just before bedtime is the primary cause of heartburn, and may lead to nausea. Try and finish your dinner approximately 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
  • Stay off from Food-Triggers; certain food items are known to be the possible triggers of nausea during pregnancy, foods that are overly spicy, oily or sugary. Reduce the intake of such food items during pregnancy.

Remedies

Below are some natural solutions to help deal with nausea during the third trimester.

  • Herbal teas; intake of herbal teas have been proven to douse the uncomfortable feeling of nausea during pregnancy.
  • Mint leaves; the aromatic properties of mint leaves, inhibit the feeling of nausea. Hence pregnant women are always advised to chew on the leaves.
  • Lemons; it is one of nature’s most potent remedies for curing nausea during pregnancy. Also, the high vitamin content helps in the overall health of mother and child.
  • Ginger; the rhizomes when sipped as tea or added to soup contains properties aimed at preventing nausea especially during pregnancy.
  • Gooseberry; Indians call it (Aamla). If you ever come across this tangy flavored fruit at the mall, don’t hesitate to purchase, it might be the answer to stop those annoying nauseous feeling.

In conclusion, nausea in the third trimester usually not a big deal, but if you sense any unusual changes, please consult your doctor.
Photo: Pixabay

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