Everyone’s second go-to question when finding out someone is pregnant after asking, “When is your due date,” is “Have you been experiencing any morning sickness?” Morning sickness… more like morning sickness that turns into afternoon sickness and then turns into nighttime sickness.
Seriously, who gave that pregnancy symptom its name? That unsettling feeling in your stomach that turns every scent and taste into a trip to the bathroom is better-called pregnancy nausea because it can last all day if it wants to.
The first trimester definitely gives you a run for your money with its nausea and how relentless it can be. When your second trimester finally arrives, and the waters seem to be clear, the sun comes back out, and you’re feeling like a human being again, you think you’re out of those days of feeling sick.
Then, late into your third trimester, that unwelcome pregnancy symptom has returned, and has decided to stay for a while. Now what?
We know what you’re thinking: “Will this be as bad as the first go around, and is there relief?” The answer is there is relief for you, mama! Let’s talk about what could be causing nausea to begin with and what are some things you can try to prevent it or lessen its effects.
Causes of Nausea in Late Pregnancy
As you probably know, hormones are working at an all-time high during pregnancy: Two hormones that can be the culprit of nausea and vomiting are HCG and estrogen.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta and usually causes morning sickness in early pregnancy. Estrogen is another nausea-provoking hormone that happens to increase during pregnancy, making nausea a likely symptom in later pregnancy.
A couple of other reasons behind excessive nausea could be low blood sugar, excess stress, lack of sleep, certain foods, and motion sickness. These can contribute to your third-trimester nausea. Being aware of your body and surroundings can help you narrow down if certain things in your environment are causing nausea.
Your body goes through a lot of changes in pregnancy. For one, your organs move and shift to make space for your baby to grow and develop.
As your baby gets bigger, there is a possibility you could feel nauseous from your baby pressing up against your stomach. This can also happen if you have a very active baby who likes to nudge or kick where your stomach is. If this is the cause, there isn’t much you can do. Babies aren’t known for being good listeners, especially when stuck in your belly.
Luckily, there are some remedies and tricks to help reduce annoying symptoms:
Tips & Tricks for Dealing With Nausea During Pregnancy
Knowing there could be reasons within our control that are possibly causing nausea, it’s helpful to keep note of anything that seems to make you feel queasy. Then, you can politely ask your co-worker not to microwave fish in the breakroom anymore.
For instance, if sitting in the passenger seat in a car always makes you nauseous, if possible, opt for being the driver to help prevent it from starting. If your favorite shampoo and conditioner are suddenly making you sick to your stomach, find a new kind that is unscented.
Since we also know there are unavoidable reasons, such as hormones and your baby moving around a lot, we can’t completely get away from it, but we can manage it and try different methods to find relief.
Put Ginger on the Menu
If you didn’t already know from your first trimester, ginger is a natural root famous for its soothing properties when it comes to nausea. You ingest many different forms, including chewing on it raw (though it is very strong), cooked into food or desserts, in candy form (sucking on it), tablets, gummies, and more. You can also raise a glass of ginger tea or even ginger ale while relaxing in the bathtub.
Ginger has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and works to improve digestion and release blood pressure-regulating hormones. If you struggle with motion sickness, try getting the ginger candies to suck on while you’re in the car and see if that makes a difference.
Stay Away From Trigger Foods
If you notice when you eat certain items, like fried, sugary, or spicy foods, you feel not great, take a mental note of what foods those are and try to avoid them.
Fueling your body with healthy, nutrient-dense foods that give you energy and won’t make you nauseous is the best way to avoid unnecessary pregnancy nausea drama.
Be Intentional With Sleep & Relaxation
As mentioned above, being overly stressed and not getting enough sleep can cause nausea. Your body has to work overtime, and you start to feel sick as a result of it.
Being woken up throughout the night during pregnancy can be totally normal as your bladder doesn’t have much room to store urine, with the new tenant occupying so much space. It might help to try to go to bed earlier so that your body has more time to sleep and relax.
If possible, reach out to your inner circle to help take some stressors off your plate. Now’s the time to call in favors. The neighbor who offered to mow your lawn? Yes, please. Your bestie wants to drop off her famous casserole? Come on in!
Keep Something in Your Stomach
Many pregnant women have shared that their nausea would worsen on an empty stomach. Keeping some saltine crackers in your purse is a great way to avoid having an empty stomach, especially when you’re out and about.
When that wave of nausea hits, eat some crackers and sip on some water. If this trick helps, make sure you always have a snack on hand so that you don’t have to endure nausea if you don’t have to.
Remember To Stay Hydrated
Not being well hydrated, especially during pregnancy, can put everything out of whack. Your organs and cells need water to function properly.
Making sure to get the recommended amount and then some more, especially if you’re working out or sweating, is always very important and should be a part of your daily habits.
Take Advantage of Essential Oils
There are some essential oils that work great for easing nausea. Lemon, peppermint, lavender, and chamomile are some popular oils that are safe to apply or sniff throughout the day.
These could work wonders and are great for keeping in your purse or car when going out places. Diffusing them throughout your home is another easy step to take to help prevent it or bring relief when it starts.
Ask About a Vitamin B6 Supplement
Another natural way to reduce nausea is by taking a vitamin B6 supplement. Before adding or changing any part of your prenatal care routine, contact your healthcare provider. It’s possible to take too many vitamins and supplements; not every plan is perfect for every mama-to-be.
Get Outside
Breathing in the fresh air and soaking in natural sunlight is terrific for your body and mind. Sometimes it takes just getting outside and taking big breaths of fresh air to feel more grounded and less queasy.
Take a walk and spend time outside each day to see if that lessens any annoying symptoms. Or, lather on the pregnancy-safe SPF, chill on your porch and people watch.
Getting vitamin D from the sun could potentially help your body regulate a little bit better. And, if not, at least you spent some relaxing time in the shade and are fully updated on the neighborhood gossip.
Say Goodbye to Pregnancy Nausea
We know how frustrating it can be to continually deal with this symptom for what feels like forever. Do not worry, mama. This symptom is not here to stay forever; you just need to get through this last part of pregnancy, and you will be in the clear.
We hope these tips will help you prevent or manage this late pregnancy nausea you may be experiencing. If you’ve tried all of these methods and still have found no relief, we suggest connecting your provider to see what other options there may be available for you.
You’re doing great and deserve it all for what you are going through to bring your sweet babe into the world. Don’t forget to take time for yourself, get some rest, destress, drink lots of water, have those simple snacks and ginger candies on hand, diffuse those oils, take your vitamins, and remember that you are a freaking superstar.
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