Nausea in Late Pregnancy
You have gotten through the first four months of pregnancy, coped well with the dreaded morning sickness and are going along nicely. Yes, you have had your share of nausea and vomiting, but, by dint of the recommended measures of drinking plenty of liquids, eating small regular meals, getting rest, and taking herbal remedies, you have remained resolute until the symptoms faded away. You are now on the home run, the last few months before your baby is born, and you are feeling pleased with yourself.
Then, suddenly, you start to get bouts of nausea again. You feel them getting more frequent and troublesome, and then you’re vomiting again too. “What is going on? Why am I starting to get nausea and vomiting again late in my pregnancy?”
Well, this nausea probably has a different cause than before. The early Pregnancy nausea is probably due to the hormonal changes that go on as your body prepares for motherhood, and this usually levels out by the fourth month so that nausea reduces or ceases. It is however possible for hormone levels to fluctuate widely throughout pregnancy and this can cause nausea and vomiting to continue.
If however, your nausea and vomiting had ceased but now reappear it is more likely that there is another explanation. This is that the increasing size of your baby as it grows puts pressure on various parts of your body causing problems.
Imagine your baby gradually taking up more and more space inside you. It is inevitable that some of your internal organs will be slightly squashed or displaced. They can withstand this so do not worry, but you may find that pressure on your intestines causes digestive problems. You may get indigestion, wind, or abdominal pains, maybe even diarrhea.
The upwards pressure from the developing foetus can put pressure on the diaphragm causing some shortness of breath. This is also transmitted on to the stomach causing compression resulting in regurgitation of food into the oesophagus. In other words your food may not stay down, and this reflux is acidic so causes considerable irritation and burning sensation in the throat. Repeated reflux like this in itself causes nausea and hence more vomiting.
This situation can get quite exhausting so it’s best to see your doctor if it’s really bad. There is also of course, the possibility that you may have picked up an infection that is causing the vomiting. Your doctor may be able to prescribe an anti-emetic to stop you being constantly sick. There are drugs that are safe to take during late pregnancy.
It is inevitable that as the baby gets larger you will not be able to move around so easily and will need to take more rest. Frequent and longer periods of rest may help with the nausea. You should try to find a resting position that is the most comfortable for you and does not put too much pressure on your stomach.
How much nausea and discomfort you get during the latter part of your pregnancy will depend perhaps on how large your baby gets, but you can console yourself that women always manage these things, and you can too. Your discomfort is only for a limited period of time, and your efforts and forbearance will be amply rewarded by the birth of your child!