How to Deal With Third Trimester Nausea and Morning Sickness in Late Pregnancy

Surprise! You’re not done with nausea yet. Some women talk about how bad the nausea is in the first trimester, and yes it is bad, but you can also get third trimester nausea – and it is somehow worse.

In your first trimester, you’re just coming to terms with being pregnant. You see someone or something that reminds you of your condition and feel the familiar queasiness in your stomach. In the beginning you worry about being sick at work or having to run to the bathroom in public, but as time goes on you get used to it. Your morning sickness becomes an occasional thing, though it's always there waiting for you when you least expect it.

But in your third trimester, there is a different kind of morning sickness waiting for you each day—the kind that hits when you are driving along on what feels like a normal day.

Not only do you have to deal with the other aches and pains that come with the third trimester, but nausea too? Yeah, we know, it sucks! Don’t get too stressed out though, we found and tested the best ways to deal with nausea in the third trimester and came up with a list of the best techniques to try.

What Causes Third Trimester Nausea?

So, what exactly causes third trimester nausea? There is a long list of reasons you could be having nausea in your third trimester including:

• Acid Reflux
• Change in Metabolism
• Increasing Hormone Levels
• Low Blood Pressure
• Pre-Eclampsia

According to Dr. Laura Riley from Parents magazine, “nausea can result when the uterus compresses the stomach or when the normal contractions of the stomach slow down.” So, should you be worried? According to Dr. Farrell, Medical Director and gynaecologist at Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, about “20% of women can have [nausea] into the second trimester and some can have it throughout.”

For some women the problem can be caused by the pressure of the uterus on the stomach combined with food becoming difficult to digest. For other women, the problem can be as serious as pre-eclampsia. You should always talk to your doctor about any problems that are happening during your pregnancy, and third trimester nausea is nothing to sneeze at.

Tips to Prevent Nausea in Late Pregnancy

There are ways you can deal with your third trimester nausea, but if nothing you do is helping to relieve the nausea, you should speak with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

The best way you can deal with nausea is by preventing it from coming on in the first place. If you begin to realize that you are dealing with third trimester nausea, there are preventative measures you can take to deal with it.

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Avoiding Certain Foods

Some women have aversions to certain smells during pregnancy, most likely due to the heightened sensitivity of their sense of smell.

While an aversion to a smell you normally enjoy might be annoying, it can be more than just an inconvenience—some women have experienced queasiness while walking by the food counter at the supermarket.

The smells that are most commonly reported as triggers are those with overly strong odors (such as fish, eggs, and pickles), but some other foods and smells can also cause an adverse reaction in some women. Be aware of what you eat and what you are exposed to during your pregnancy. If a certain smell will make you feel ill, try to refrain from coming in close contact with it as much as possible.

The most common culprits behind food aversions are morning sickness and headaches. Morning sickness is caused by hormonal changes which take place when the placenta forms in early pregnancy. Although some women don't experience morning sickness at all, nausea and vomiting can last until the end of the first trimester and sometimes beyond.

Rest

During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes and the growing fetus puts a lot of stress on it. As a result, it's not uncommon to feel more tired than usual and have trouble sleeping. The exhaustion can be especially draining because the extra weight makes it harder to move around comfortably. One of the best ways to handle this is to get plenty of sleep and rest early in pregnancy. Although there is no medical evidence that rest can stop nausea, some women find that when they are well rested, they feel less nauseous.

This is important during pregnancy because it gives your body time to relax and reset so that it can function properly. The more you rest now, the less likely you will be to become ill or fatigued later on in pregnancy. Resting now also helps ensure that your body will be healthy when your baby arrives. A healthy mom means a healthy baby, which is great news for both of you!

Eat Small Meals And Often

An easy way to overwhelm your digestive system is by eating 3 large meals a day.

If you've never experienced nausea or vomiting in your life before becoming pregnant, it might be a surprise when you start to feel queasy. But, it's not just in your head: your body is preparing itself for the changes associated with pregnancy, and your digestive system will work differently than it did before you became pregnant.

When you're pregnant, your stomach doesn't empty as quickly as it did before you were expecting. What this means is that if you eat a large meal at dinner time, your body has to work harder to digest it. So, if you're like most people and have three square meals a day, this can make it more difficult for your stomach to digest the food and that can make you nauseous. When we eat too much food at one time or too many heavy foods in one day, our bodies have trouble processing the foods correctly which can lead to indigestion and other uncomfortable symptoms.

By eating five or six meals a day, instead of three large ones, you are giving your body the chance to digest food at a more gradual pace, which will help prevent nausea. Eating smaller portions also helps keep you energized throughout the day, so you can get more done without feeling sluggish.

Transitioning from three meals and two snacks to five or six meals a day can take some time, though, so don't feel like you have to make the switch overnight. Start out by making a commitment to having two snacks instead of one and work your way up from there—it might take some time for your body to adjust, but before long, you'll be able to keep nausea at bay (and get your energy back) without even thinking about it!

Stay Hydrated

One of the best ways to stay healthy throughout your pregnancy is by staying hydrated. But getting enough water can be a challenge when you're busy or short on time. Having a water bottle with you helps ensure that you're getting your daily intake of water. Water is necessary for our bodies to function properly and when your body is growing a baby, it needs even more than normal. A key symptom of dehydration is nausea – so make sure you are constantly sipping water throughout the day.

How to Deal with Morning Sickness in Third Trimester

If you are already experiencing nausea there are a few ways you can help your body deal with it. There are plenty of ways for you to combat the queasiness and get your body back to feeling better.

Drink Water

Like I said earlier, if you are feeling nauseous, it could possibly be that your body is a little dehydrated. Make sure to take small sips of water over the course of the day.

Ginger

One of the most common side effects of pregnancy is nausea. The feeling of nausea can decrease after a few months, but you may still experience it, especially in the morning and during stressful situations. Ginger is known for its ability to decrease nausea and vomiting. If you are looking to take a more proactive approach you can drink some ginger tea, ginger ale, or even eat some ginger candies.

Ventilate Your Space

Heat can be a contributing factor to your pregnancy nausea, so make sure to have a fan or even some ice packs nearby to cool you off. It's important to stay cool during your pregnancy because it can help to decrease nausea and vomiting. If you're feeling hot, try removing layers of clothing, lying down in the coolest place in your house, standing in front of a fan or misting yourself with cool water. These are all great ways to stay cool without having to put on extra clothes that could add to your discomfort.

Can I take Medication for Third Trimester Nausea?

For some women, nausea is something that they have to deal with throughout their whole pregnancy. If none of the preventative measures, or home remedies are working for you, try talking to your doctor about a prescription medication for nausea. Your doctor will be able to take your personal medical history and pregnancy challenges into consideration and prescribe you a medication that can work.

When Should You See a Doctor if You Are Experiencing Nausea During Late Pregnancy

While nausea in the third trimester can be nothing to worry about, there are some cases where it can indicate a much bigger problem. If you experience nausea as well as extreme vomiting, a fever, dizziness, weight loss, loss of appetite, or your baby stops moving as often – contact your doctor immediately. These can be indicators that something more is going on.

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Key Takeaways

Third trimester nausea is annoying and awful, but it can be prevented or dealt with in some cases. For other women, third trimester nausea is an indication of something bigger that is happening. Talk to your doctor if your condition worsens.

After you give birth you may still experience nausea due to your body’s sudden adjustment. If this does happen, you can always continue to try the home remedies listed above. They are great suggestions to treat nausea no matter if you are pregnant or not. You want to get back to feeling better faster and being your best self for your new family addition.

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