Pregnancy Symptoms: Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are two of the unglamorous symptoms of pregnancy. Most women won't feel these symptoms until about seven weeks after conception - and some lucky women don't suffer from nausea and vomiting at all - but the timing is different for each individual. If you happen to suffer from these pregnancy symptoms early on, this may be your cue to take a pregnancy test.

What Causes Nausea and Vomiting?

Currently, no one understands what causes these pregnancy symptoms, but researchers attribute nausea and vomiting to the big changes taking place with your body. To help you understand and cope with these symptoms, take a look at the following facts:

• "Morning sickness" can happen throughout the day - not just during the morning hours. If you do suffer from morning sickness, you may need to change the schedule of your daily activities to give yourself time to feel better.
• Vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy is not detrimental to the health of your baby; however, if these symptoms persist into the later stages of pregnancy, your baby may not be getting enough nutrients. In this case, consult your doctor.
• Vomiting causes dehydration, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay well hydrated. If you become severely dehydrated, you may require intravenous fluids and vitamin supplementation from the hospital.
• Some researchers have found that women are at higher risk for nausea and vomiting if they take birth control pills, suffer from migraines, or frequently experience motion sickness.

Coping with Nausea and Vomiting

Fatigue tends to aggravate nausea, so rest if you're feeling tired. Also consider some of the following tips and foods that might be easier to stomach when you're feeling nauseous:

• Try eating a few salty crackers, chips, or pretzels when you wake up in the morning.
• Try eating smaller meals or snacks so your stomach doesn't become too full or too empty.
• Sniffing lemons or nibbling on ginger can help alleviate an upset stomach.
• Try eating cold foods instead of hot meals (the smell from hot meals may induce nausea).

In severe cases, medication may be prescribed to help diminish the bothersome effects of nausea and vomiting.