Pregnant: Nausea as an annoying companion
Pregnancy nausea (sickness = nausea) is so common that it can almost be considered a normal accompanying symptom: Between 50 and 80 percent of all pregnant women feel nauseous, especially in the first trimester. Of these, about one in three also suffers from dizziness, regular dry retching or vomiting (emesis gravidarum).
The term “morning sickness” in the context of pregnancy is outdated, as nausea, bloating or vomiting can occur at any time during the day in expectant mothers.
Most pregnant women feel queasy in the stomach between weeks 6 and 12. After that, the unpleasant accompanying symptoms usually disappear. But some women continue to suffer from morning sickness until the 20th week, and some even beyond that.
As studies show, nausea during pregnancy makes it more likely that a woman is expecting a girl.
Causes of morning sickness
Whatever the causes – nausea during pregnancy is in any case not a disease, but a normal sign of pregnancy. However, nausea and vomiting can in principle also be caused by diseases, such as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, metabolism or nervous system.
Tips for nausea during pregnancy
Just a few changes in your lifestyle can relieve nausea during pregnancy.
- Avoid known triggers of your nausea, such as unpleasant smells like perfumes or cooking scents, highly spicy foods, greasy foods, or certain foods.
- Don’t eat a few large meals, but several small ones throughout the day. The same applies to drinks.
- Eat tasteless, odorless cookies shortly after getting up or before going to bed.
Alternative and complementary healing methods can also help with morning sickness:
- Homeopathic remedies (Nux vomica, Pulsatilla)
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Massages
- Autogenic training
The concept of homeopathy and its specific effectiveness are controversial and not clearly proven by studies. Alternative medical methods also have their limitations. Talk to your doctor about how you can best support the therapy yourself.
Medicines against morning sickness
Nausea: pregnancy in danger?
Pregnancy nausea does not harm the baby and does not lead to premature birth or cesarean delivery. However, if persistent severe vomiting accompanies the nausea, deficiency symptoms may occur, endangering both the mother and the baby.
Go to the doctor only in case of severe vomiting
Especially in the first trimester, women hardly gain weight, some even lose weight. Those who suffer from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and do not gain weight or even lose weight should not worry at first. It only becomes worrying if you have to vomit more than ten times a day and lose more than five percent of your weight. Then you are probably suffering from severe pregnancy vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum). In this case, you should seek medical attention.
