Talk to someone like friends and family about pregnancy and they will talk about how common morning sickness is during pregnancy. This is especially more common during the first trimester, and it often makes waking up in the morning a less desirable thing. What you may not know is that nausea in third trimester is not so uncommon, and it can make your pregnancy a lot more difficult. Keep reading to find out if third trimester nausea is normal and why it happens.
Third Trimester Nausea: Is It Normal?
The baby grows quite rapidly during the third trimester and uses minerals and vitamins in your body. This may sometimes make you feel nauseous. Just keep in mind that while occasional nausea is normal, you should go to see your doctor if it occurs too often and it is accompanies by frequent vomiting. There can be different causes of nausea in the third trimester, so you should not take it lightly. Your obstetrician will check to ensure your pregnancy is progressing normally. They may even give you some advice on how to deal with unpleasant aspect of pregnancy and nausea.
You're Not Alone
"I'm now 35 weeks pregnant but for the last few days I have been dealing with severe nausea. I believe that's because of my little angel is pushing against whatever stomach-space she has available. It was still new because I didn't have m/s at all. I just feel like I'm starving, but everything I eat makes me Heartburn and queasy. I am going to ask my midwife about it, but was wondering if other women also experience the same in their third trimester."
"I had m/s almost every day for the last 20 weeks or so, but I don't know if feeling nauseous at this time is normal or not. I also have the heartburn, and my midwife says that all this could be a symptom of pre-clampsia. They say I should have my urine tested regularly for protein to ensure it's not something related to a kidney/liver disease."
"I had m/s during the first trimester, but I felt extremely nauseous during 33 and 36 weeks of my pregnancy. My doctor suggested that it's quite normal, but they still check my urine for protein count and found nothing."
What Causes Third Trimester Nausea?
As mentioned, there can be a number of causes behind third trimester nausea. Here are some of them:
1. Heartburn
You experience third trimester nausea mostly due to heartburn, which is sometimes referred to as acid reflux. You have a valve at the bottom of your esophagus that relaxes when you eat something, but it sometimes opens up and allow your stomach acids to move up your esophagus. This causes a burning sensation along with stomach upset. Heartburn is common in the third trimester because this is the time when changing hormones relaxes your muscles in your digestive tract. Feeling nauseous due to heartburn is not a cause of concern, but it can be quite painful. Eat smaller meals more often and avoid spicy foods to correct this issue. Also, reduce your caffeine intake and don't lay down at least for an hour after eating.
2. PreEclampsia
This complication may develop after you're 20 weeks pregnant. You will have protein in your urine and your Blood Pressure will increase as well. The condition affects up to 8% of pregnant women and can cause liver failure, Strokes, kidney damage, seizures, Fluid In The Lungs and Blood Clots. Preeclampsia can be a life-threatening condition for both the baby and the mother. You may have developed this condition if you experience third trimester nausea with symptoms such as abdominal pain, facial swelling, severe Headaches and visual disturbances.
3. Labor
Nausea in third trimester may sometimes be a sign that labor is imminent. You may also experience some other symptoms such as backache, cramps, Diarrhea, pelvic pressure and increase in vaginal discharge if your nausea is due to labor.
4. Hormone Changes
Hormone fluctuations may well be the reason why you experience nausea during the first trimester and the third. Just like the initial stage of pregnancy, the final stage of pregnancy will cause serious fluctuations in your hormones. This imbalance will lead to severe nausea during your third trimester.
5. Growing Baby
The size of uterus grows quickly during the third trimester of pregnancy that can cause nausea. The baby is almost ready to leave the womb in the third trimester, so it will be at its largest and compress other abdominal organs such as your bowel and stomach. This will lead to severe nausea and heartburn.
6. Heavy Meals
Eating too much during third trimester may also lead to third trimester nausea. As mentioned, the growing uterus will compress on your stomach, leaving less space for food, so eating too much will lead to nausea. Eat nutritious food in smaller quantities more often throughout the day to avoid feeling nauseous.
How to Relieve Third Trimester Nausea
If you're experiencing third trimester nausea, you may be wondering if there is a way to relieve it. Here are some simple tips that will help make your nausea more manageable.
- Eating smaller meals frequently will help relive nausea.
- Don't eat right before bedtime.
- Avoid spicy food and caffeine to relieve nausea.
- Be active and exercise regularly to improve your condition. And make sure to talk to your doctor before engaging in any exercise.
- Take more rest and keep your feet up for at least an hour in the middle of the day.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated due to nausea and vomiting.
- Use certain herbs such as peppermint, ginger, slippery elm lozenges and lemon tea to relieve nausea.
- Distract yourself from thinking about nausea and take vitamin B6 to manage your nausea.
- Try acupuncture and acupressure to help relieve nausea during your third trimester. And the video below tells you how to do it to relieve the nausea feeling.
