Are There Safe Solutions for My Third Trimester Nausea?

Those with morning sickness undoubtedly look forward to the day when it subsides (usually around the end of the first trimester). However, there are a few who face this challenge throughout their pregnancy, even well into the third trimester.

If you’re one of them, we know you must be desperate for relief!

But what are the best solutions for third trimester nausea? We know you need something that is both safe and effective, and our healthcare team is ready to help you regain your quality of life.

“Unfortunately, social media is not your friend when it comes to third trimester nausea–or even pregnancy advice in general. There are so many sources of unreliable advice out there, and we know it can be confusing. That’s why we’re going to offer our evidence-based solutions. As always, if you’re having trouble battling your nausea during pregnancy, we want you to schedule an appointment with us. We’re always here to listen.”

5 Solutions for Third Trimester Nausea

1. Eat Small, More Frequent Meals

While it may be tempting to skip meals when you’re going through third trimester nausea, it’s important to keep your stomach from getting too empty. This sets the stage for making your morning sickness worse.

When your stomach is too empty, it sets the stage for making your morning sickness worse. Some dry toast in the morning can help. We suggest keeping some crackers by your bed.

We recommended having several small meals a day–just make sure they’re nutritious. Bland foods are the best choice, such as bananas, applesauce, or even a baked potato without toppings. If you’re wondering about the best meal choices for yourself and your baby, we can help! Just ask us.

2. Avoid “Trigger” Foods

There are some foods that just aren’t good when you’re experiencing morning sickness. These include spicy foods or those high in fat.

3. Stay Hydrated

This means drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeine. You should already be carefully monitoring your caffeine intake during your pregnancy. Not sure how much caffeine is too much? Just speak to us.

Remember: Water is always the best choice. Many sports drinks have hidden sugars and often have more caffeine than you may realize.

4. Try Natural Remedies

Ginger and peppermint can help soothe 3rd trimester nausea, just be sure to take it in moderate dosages to ensure safety. Acupressure may also provide relief.

5. Medication

First, even if you’re taking over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, we want you to speak with us first. Some medicines have special precautions to take when you’re pregnant. You also need to be sure that these OTC medicines don’t interfere with any other prescription medicines you’re taking.

If these methods aren’t providing the relief you need, we encourage you to schedule an appointment. We know that there is a lot of information available concerning nausea and pregnancy–but not all of it is reliable. Every pregnancy is different, whether this is your first child or your third. We understand and respect this individuality and want to empower you to have the tools you need for a healthy pregnancy. We know it can be challenging, and we have the solutions you need.

Should You Worry About Third Trimester Nausea?

We want women to know there’s an entire scope of home and medical treatments available for nausea in the third trimester that are both safe and effective. We have had success in using these research-based methods.

But is there a time when third-trimester nausea is something to worry about?

If you are vomiting severely several times a day and you’re unable to keep food down, you could have a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition could lead to dehydration and unhealthy weight loss. In extreme cases, it may even cause a lower birth weight.

The good news is that hyperemesis gravidarum is relatively uncommon. However, we urge you to carefully watch for its signs and symptoms. In extreme cases, you may need to be given IV fluids.

Why Am I Having Third Trimester Morning Sickness?

It can be difficult to pinpoint why some women have more trouble with morning sickness. It’s a mix of several factors involving everything from your blood sugar to fluctuations in blood pressure.

However, it’s most often caused by hormonal changes, specifically, an increase in pregnancy hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or estrogen.

Your digestive system is also changing as your baby develops inside you, and the physical pressure from your growing uterus doesn’t help matters.

Morning Sickness That Never Seems to End? At Chapel Hill OBGYN, We Have Solutions

Pregnancy has enough challenges, and these are even more difficult when you’re struggling with morning sickness—particularly if it’s lingered into the third trimester. However, by modifying your diet, staying hydrated and even embracing some non-traditional therapies, you can find relief. When these are unsuccessful, we can provide a list of safe OTC remedies and even prescriptions to help you.

But most importantly, we want you to know that you have a complete healthcare team on your side. From our doctors and midwives to our nurse practitioners, we all work together to ensure you have the education and care you need to have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

Is morning sickness making you miserable? If so, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us. See why we’ve been named the best OBGYN practice in Orange and Durham counties by Indy magazine.