Nausea and vomiting in the first month of pregnancy

For most pregnant women, nausea and vomiting are most likely to develop in the first month or two of pregnancy and start tapering off by the end of the first trimester-by week 18 at the outside. But as many as 20 percent of women may find that their symptoms of pregnancy nausea lasting into the third trimester, and 5 percent experience nausea and vomiting right up to delivery.

For some women, morning sickness stops after a few weeks at the start of their pregnancy, only to return again around week 27 or after. Still other women have no nausea at all in early stages, and are quite surprised to find it developing in the last three months.

Of course, at any time, a sudden onset of nausea and vomiting can be due to a virus or other illness. Especially if it is accompanied by diarrhea, it could be the flu or food poisoning. If such symptoms are severe at any time during pregnancy, it’s important to be wary of dehydration and make sure to replenish the fluids being lost.

Starting around week 27, hormone activity tends to pick up again, after having leveled off somewhat for most women during the mid-stages of pregnancy. Women who maintain high levels of the hCG hormone are particularly likely to find that their NVP also continues throughout pregnancy.

Another instigator of nausea and vomiting the later stages of pregnancy is simply the size of the growing fetus. At this time it’s most common for nausea to strike immediately after a meal, often accompanied by heartburn. As the baby gets bigger, the uterus exerts more pressure on the stomach causing heartburn and nausea when the stomach is filled. At this point, stomach capacity is even smaller, and it’s even more important to stick to smaller meals to reduce this stress.

So nausea in the third trimester isn’t necessarily unusual or worrisome. However, there are a couple of serious late-pregnancy liver diseases that can also lead to nausea and vomiting, including acute fatty liver of pregnancy and HELLP syndrome. Though both of these ailments are truly rare, they are also life-threatening if untreated. For this reason, doctors now recommend that any woman experiencing nausea and vomiting accompanied by upper abdominal pain and “malaise” in the third trimester of pregnancy have her liver enzymes and renal function evaluated, along with a complete blood count.

Also, any woman who is experiencing nausea and vomiting in combination with severe headaches, facial swelling, sudden swelling, abdominal pain, and visual disturbances (e.g., seeing spots) should call her physician immediately. These are signs of preeclampsia, an illness that can develop quite rapidly anytime after the 20th week of pregnancy and that affects as many as 8 percent of pregnancies. Preeclampsia can cause strokes and kidney damage, liver failure, blot clots, fluid in the lungs, seizures, and even death of both the child and the mother.

There is one final factor that can lead to nausea in late pregnancy-though in this instance it is a bit easier to diagnose. If nausea, vomiting and diarrhea coincide with cramps, backache, pelvic pressure, and contractions occurring less than 10 minutes apart, labor has begun.

While not uncommon, then, nausea late in any pregnancy merits a consultation with your care provider. In most cases there are ordinary and harmless reasons for it, but there is an outside chance that is a symptom of one of these several serious illnesses that occasionally arise during the late weeks of pregnancy.

Once you have survived the rigors of the first trimester you should hopefully, be feeling a lot a better

Once you have survived the rigors of the first trimester you should hopefully, be feeling a lot a better. Although, it does not seem that way, keeping consistent with your exercise routines during the first 13 weeks of your pregnancy will help you greatly as you enter the second trimester. As with any exercise routine always listen to your body and become aware of how it responds to the exercises. The key aim is the health of you and your unborn child.

During the second trimester you should continue with your exercise workouts. If you feel up to it, you can consider increasing the duration of your routines but, monitor yourself closely. Here are a few helpful tips to get the most out of your exercise routines during the second trimester:

* Certain parts of your body will be increasing in size and weight especially the breasts. If you do not already have a supply, buy a few sports bras to support the extra weight. It is advisable to invest in a few different sizes as you will be surprised at the speed you can out grow them.

* As the belly expands in size and weight it will have an effect on the balance of the body. Activities such as tennis, hiking or cycling that require good balance are best avoided. If you are currently doing these types of exercises then replace them with activities that require less balance and support such as swimming or stationery cycle machines.

* If you were doing any contact or physical sports such as volleyball during the first trimester it is advisable to stop these during the second trimester as this is a vulnerable period for your unborn child. At this stage it is best to slow down and avoid situations were you could injure your abdomen. Walking outdoors is a great way to maintain your physical and emotional well-being however, avoid the fume filled city streets and take to the fresh air of the countryside or local park.

* After 16 weeks it is advisable that you refrain from lying on your back for too long. This is to avoid the weight of the uterus compressing against the main artery in your abdomen that carries blood to the heart. If you do experience faintness or dizziness, roll gently onto your side and breathe and exhale deeply in a relaxed manner to get the blood flowing again.

* Yoga is a very popular exercise during pregnancy however, during the second trimester certain poses are best avoided. These include any shoulder stands, back bends or any poses that require you to lay flat on your stomach such as the half locust and cobra.

* Towards the middle and end of the second trimester it is advisable to reduce the intensity of any exercise routines that you commenced in the first trimester. As you approach child birth your body releases hormones and chemicals that help to relax the body in preparation for child birth, this means your joints will be less sensitive to being overstretched. As this is a vulnerable stage the best advise is to slow down and take it easy.

If you wish to continue exercising during your pregnancy

If you wish to continue exercising during your pregnancy then, you will need to change your exercise routine. The most important priority is you and your babies health and well being. Therefore, the changes you make must reflect this by ensuring your exercise routines are safe.

The key thing with any exercise routine especially when your pregnant is listening to your body. If you are over exerting yourself or pushing yourself too hard your body will tell you. These signals are an initial warning to either slow down, modify your routines or stop altogether.

The best thing to do when exercising during pregnancy is to start as early as possible to ensure your body can adapt to the changes. During the first 13 weeks of the first trimester, it is fine to continue with your usual exercise routine. If you are beginning for the first time it is advisable that you start off gradually. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or exercising for the first time consider the following suggestions to help you during the first trimester:

* Exercise is preferably done when you are physically and emotionally up to it however, if your experiencing the early
signs of pregnancy such as morning sickness, sensitive breasts or having little energy then, reduce your routines and do not feel guilty about it.

* The 10 weeks of the first trimester is the best opportunity to work on your stomach, abdominal muscles and pelvic area. After 10 weeks it is advisable to reduce or omit any sit up or curl up exercises although, it is still fine to continue with your pelvic floor exercises.

* This is not compulsory however, it is important to feel as comfortable as possible when you exercise particularly, when pregnant. If you exercised regularly before becoming pregnant you probably have plenty of track suits, leggings and support bras. One of the effects of being pregnant is certain parts of the body seem to take on a life of their own. You will begin to see this happening as your breasts become bigger and heavier. Therefore, it is a good idea to buy yourself two pairs of sport bras to support the extra weight while exercising. The extra pair should be a size larger, as you will be surprised how large your breasts grow between the first and second trimester.

* While you are doing your exercise routines get into the habit of breathing correctly. This means inhale and exhale deeply in a relaxed and controlled manner. By combining your breathing in unison with your movements you will feel more relaxed. The breathing also helps with increasing oxygen in the blood to improve circulation.