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Is Excessive Vomiting Normal In Pregnancy?

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Posted on Fri, 6 Jun 2014
Question: My daughter is pregnant but has been vomiting so much since the beginning of pregnancy. She is aprox 4 months along. I have never known anyone to be that ill during pregnancy. Is this considered normal?

doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Soumen Patra (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
DETAILS ARE GIVEN BELOW.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Morning sickness or Vomiting is a quite COMMON problem during early weeks of pregnancy and it occurs due to high level of beta-hCG hormone and stress.

In this state, following measures will be useful to reduce nausea/ vomiting:

a) Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day so her stomach is never empty. Protein foods are mostly preferable instead of large carbohydrate.

b) Avoid lying down soon after eating (especially on your left side), as this can slow her digestion.

c) Keep simple snacks, such as crackers, by her bed. When she first wakes up, nibble a few crackers and then rest for 20 to 30 minutes before getting up.

Snacking on crackers may also help her feel better if she wakes up nauseated in the middle of the night.

d) Try to avoid foods and smells that trigger nausea. If that seems like almost everything, it's okay to eat the few things that do appeal to her for this part of her pregnancy, even if they don't add up to a perfectly balanced diet.

e) Try to eat food cold or at room temperature, because food tends to have a stronger aroma when it's hot.

f) Avoid fatty foods which take longer time to digest. Also steer clear of spicy, acidic, and fried foods, which can irritate her digestive system. It might help to stick to bland foods.

g) Brushing teeth properly and rinse out mouth after each eating. Try drinking fluids mostly between meals. She can take fruit juice or carbonated drink.

h) Drink plenty of water through out the day (2.5-3 lit daily). If she has been vomiting a lot, try a sports drink that contains glucose, salt, and potassium to replace lost electrolytes.

i) Watch for non-food triggers, too. A warm or stuffy room, the smell of heavy perfume, a car ride, or even certain visual stimuli, like flickering lights, might trigger her nausea. So might changing positions too quickly. Avoidance of triggers can become an important part of her treatment.

j) She must take or go for fresh air. In addition, she must take Doxylamine and Pyridoxine combined medicine (like DOXINATE - 2 tabs at bed time) along with other prenatal vitamins/ Folic acid supplement.

Hope, it helps for your information. Kindly, close the discussion if you don't have any other query.

Wish her good health and successful motherhood.

Regards,
Dr Soumen

For future query, you can directly approach me through

http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=63326
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Soumen Patra (23 hours later)
regarding the beta-hCG hormone levels.....I was reading about it --high levels can indicate problems such as molar pregnancy, downs syndrome, cancer etc.
How can the Dr. tell if there is a problem? Should she be concerned. I am.
Concerned that she is not getting enough nutrition for the baby and for herself.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Soumen Patra (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
FOLLOW THE ADVICE.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for follow up query.

1) She needs to undergo blood beta-hCG level and one ultrasound scan initially. After that, QUADRUPLE test around 15 to 20 weeks and FETAL ANOMALY SCAN around 18 to 23 weeks will be worthwhile to rule out abnormality. Kindly, consult with her Obstetrician regarding this.

2) Follow previous advice so that she can avoid nauseous/ vomiting tendency and take healthy nutritious diet in small part 6 to 8 times. Drink more water or fruit juice to stay hydrated.

Hope, it helps for you. Kindly, close the discussion.

All the best and good luck.

Regards,
Dr Soumen
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Soumen Patra

OB & GYN Specialist

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 4058 Questions

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Is Excessive Vomiting Normal In Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: DETAILS ARE GIVEN BELOW. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us. Morning sickness or Vomiting is a quite COMMON problem during early weeks of pregnancy and it occurs due to high level of beta-hCG hormone and stress. In this state, following measures will be useful to reduce nausea/ vomiting: a) Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day so her stomach is never empty. Protein foods are mostly preferable instead of large carbohydrate. b) Avoid lying down soon after eating (especially on your left side), as this can slow her digestion. c) Keep simple snacks, such as crackers, by her bed. When she first wakes up, nibble a few crackers and then rest for 20 to 30 minutes before getting up. Snacking on crackers may also help her feel better if she wakes up nauseated in the middle of the night. d) Try to avoid foods and smells that trigger nausea. If that seems like almost everything, it's okay to eat the few things that do appeal to her for this part of her pregnancy, even if they don't add up to a perfectly balanced diet. e) Try to eat food cold or at room temperature, because food tends to have a stronger aroma when it's hot. f) Avoid fatty foods which take longer time to digest. Also steer clear of spicy, acidic, and fried foods, which can irritate her digestive system. It might help to stick to bland foods. g) Brushing teeth properly and rinse out mouth after each eating. Try drinking fluids mostly between meals. She can take fruit juice or carbonated drink. h) Drink plenty of water through out the day (2.5-3 lit daily). If she has been vomiting a lot, try a sports drink that contains glucose, salt, and potassium to replace lost electrolytes. i) Watch for non-food triggers, too. A warm or stuffy room, the smell of heavy perfume, a car ride, or even certain visual stimuli, like flickering lights, might trigger her nausea. So might changing positions too quickly. Avoidance of triggers can become an important part of her treatment. j) She must take or go for fresh air. In addition, she must take Doxylamine and Pyridoxine combined medicine (like DOXINATE - 2 tabs at bed time) along with other prenatal vitamins/ Folic acid supplement. Hope, it helps for your information. Kindly, close the discussion if you don't have any other query. Wish her good health and successful motherhood. Regards, Dr Soumen For future query, you can directly approach me through http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=63326