Why does pregnancy nausea happen and what to do?

Nausea during pregnancy is a typical complaint made by almost every third woman who is expecting an addition to the family. It is believed that nausea is a sign of toxicosis or autointoxication of the body. The term "toxicosis" itself, translated from Greek, means poisoning (toxikon - poison), so this condition is not normal from a physiological point of view. In addition to nausea, toxicosis affects the central nervous system, causes vascular dysfunction, and disrupts normal metabolism. As a rule, nausea appears in the first trimester and should ideally pass by the 14th week, when the body begins to more adequately perceive its altered state. Nausea during pregnancy usually occurs in the morning, but it is also not uncommon for unpleasant sensations to haunt a woman all day long, both in the early stages of bearing a child and in later trimesters.

In obstetrics and gynecology, toxicosis is divided into early, appearing in the first trimester, and late, which manifests itself in the last two months of gestation. Early manifestations of intoxication of pregnant women are characterized by a feeling of nausea, often vomiting, excessive salivation (ptyalism) and dermatoses may appear. Late symptoms of intoxication are more dangerous for the process of gestation and the health of the woman, they manifest themselves in severe edema, up to dropsy, pathological condition of the kidneys (nephropathy). If you feel sick during pregnancy in the first three months, then the digestive system usually suffers, but later toxicosis can cause serious vascular disorders (eclampsia).

Why do I feel sick during pregnancy?

Nausea during pregnancy - early toxicosis. The symptoms of this phenomenon are very obvious - frequent attacks of nausea, accompanied by vomiting and increased salivation. Appetite decreases, taste and olfactory preferences change dramatically. Early manifestations of toxicosis from a medical point of view are a pathology of the neuroendocrine regulatory function caused by intoxication of the central nervous system. Nausea and vomiting can also be provoked by previously acquired diseases of the gastrointestinal system, which worsen during pregnancy. Exacerbation occurs as a result of swallowing constantly secreted saliva, which contains toxins. The acid-base balance of the stomach is disturbed, nausea occurs, often vomiting, new salivation, and the process is repeated, rotating in a vicious circle. With the help of vomiting, the body tries to cleanse itself of toxins, but along with the rejected masses, proteins, enzymes, and electrolytes - important and necessary substances - also come out. A woman who experiences nausea in the early stages of pregnancy often loses weight. Nausea during pregnancy is also caused by existing diseases of the digestive system, in these cases nausea and vomiting can be more intense, up to uncontrollable vomiting.

The severity of a pregnant woman's condition experiencing nausea is divided into three categories, as are the methods and techniques that help alleviate the symptoms of toxicosis.

Mild intoxication of a pregnant woman in the early stages of gestation. Inpatient care is not required when a woman feels sick during pregnancy in the first trimester. There are no serious changes in the functioning of the nervous system, the activity of the cerebral cortex is slightly reduced and the functions of the autonomic system are disrupted, but blood pressure is usually normal, and the blood composition also does not change. Treatment of nausea and vomiting during this period consists of monitoring the state of the central nervous system, so physiotherapy procedures and some types of herbal teas are effective. Since it is undesirable to use drugs in the first trimester as well as in other periods, correct acupuncture, massage of the cervical collar zone, decoctions of special herbs are an excellent alternative to drug treatment. A special diet is also important, meals should be fractional (every 2.5-3 hours), portions small. Such splitting of food helps to reduce irritation of the gastric receptors. If a woman feels sick during pregnancy more than usual, even to the point of frequent vomiting, the loss of fluid and minerals can be replenished with still mineral water and small portions of salted sea fish (herring). Periodic fasting days are effective, when the diet includes only cottage cheese (500-700 grams) with a small amount of sour cream or 1.5-2 liters of dried fruit compote. Portions should be divided so that food is eaten in equal quantities at least six times. Some experts recommend giving up food altogether if there is severe nausea in the first trimester, but there is no reliable statistical data on the benefits of this method yet.

Drug treatment involves treatment in a hospital setting. This type of therapy is indicated in cases where doctors recognize toxicosis as moderate. Nausea during pregnancy in these situations is quite severe, vomiting can increase up to ten times a day. The prescription of such drugs as droperidol, etaperazine involves monitoring and observation by a doctor. In some cases, a woman is prescribed drug therapy on an outpatient basis, then sedatives and antihistamines in gentle doses are recommended. Antiemetics are also effective - cerucal, vogalen, metoclopramide, but all drugs should be used only on the recommendation of the attending physician.

Severe intoxication in the early stages is characterized by almost uncontrollable vomiting, aversion to any food becomes total, the woman rapidly loses weight, hypotension develops. Toxicosis of this form is treated only in hospital, as there is a risk of developing gestosis - a complex disorder of the functioning of internal organs and the cardiovascular system. This condition can be deadly for both the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child due to acute oxygen starvation of the body. Symptoms of gestosis are clearly manifested, in addition to nausea and vomiting, the woman's blood pressure rises sharply, she experiences constant dry mouth and thirst, and swells greatly. Inpatient treatment is aimed at restoring the body's water balance and introducing the required amount of nutrients using droppers. Medicines that neutralize vomiting and gentle sedative therapy are also prescribed.

When a woman feels sick during late pregnancy, it may be a purely physiological reaction to food intake that has nothing to do with toxicosis. The uterus is growing more and more, and accordingly it lifts nearby internal organs, disrupting their natural position and functioning. However, persistent nausea that is not dependent on food may indicate more serious problems, such as HELLP hypertension. This syndrome is life-threatening for the mother and child, with a mortality rate of about 70%. The earlier HELLP syndrome is diagnosed, the more successful the treatment will be and the more favorable the outcome of labor. The syndrome is characterized by its symptomatic triad, from which it takes its name: Hemolysis (loss of hemoglobin due to the destruction of red blood cells), Elevated Liver enzymes (activation of liver enzymes), Low platelet count (increased bleeding, sometimes uncontrollable). HELLP is characterized by persistent nausea and periodic vomiting in the late stages of pregnancy, as well as abdominal pain on the right side and swelling. The diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory blood tests that examine the composition of the blood, the condition of the liver, and the pancreas. If the dangerous syndrome is not confirmed, then symptomatic therapy is prescribed to reduce the feeling of nausea and a strict diet that excludes fatty, fried, and salty foods. If all medical recommendations are followed, the nausea goes away within two weeks, and when the uterus begins to descend, preparing for childbirth, the unpleasant symptoms disappear altogether.

What to do if you feel sick during pregnancy?

Almost every third woman feels sick during pregnancy, but this does not mean that nausea cannot be “defeated” or minimized. Recommendations for women who suffer from nausea are as follows:

• During the first three months, you should take daily walks; moderate physical activity (but not physical exertion) will help the digestive system adapt to the new state.
• In your daily routine, you need to plan half-hour rest periods every two hours; this will help your body to restore its strength, and in a state of rest, your digestion will work less aggressively.
• Develop a system of fractional nutrition - eating every 2 hours in small portions. The diet should be varied, but exclude spicy, fried, fatty foods. If the desire to eat "forbidden" food is great, and this is a typical "whim" of pregnant women, you can allow yourself a small piece, but do not overeat.
• You should start the day with a light breakfast, preferably in a semi-recumbent position (you can do it in bed), this method helps the stomach to more adaptively accept rejected food.
• It is advisable to give up the habit of drinking solid food. You can drink between meals.
• When you feel like vomiting, a small piece of ice that you suck on carefully helps. You should not overuse this method, so as not to provoke throat diseases.
• An effective method is to take herbal decoctions - mint or lemon balm. You need to drink the decoctions in a course, without waiting for the onset of nausea, that is, daily for two weeks. Brew 2 teaspoons of dry grass in half a liter of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain. You can drink the decoction cooled to room temperature, 2-3 times a day, a quarter of a glass. Valerian root has the same effect, but it should be brewed in a more gentle way - 1 teaspoon per half a liter of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes until weak concentration.

If you feel sick during pregnancy, it is indeed an unpleasant and sometimes painful sensation, however, if nausea is not a symptom that requires medical attention, it goes away sooner or later. In any case, after the birth of the baby, the joy of motherhood overshadows all negative memories.