Feeling nauseous after eating pregnant second trimester

Summary

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  • Around half to two-thirds of all pregnant women will experience morning sickness.
  • Possible causes include high levels of hormones, blood pressure fluctuations and changes in carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Severe morning sickness, called hyperemesis gravidarum, may require hospitalisation.
  • Symptoms of morning sickness may be relieved by eating a few dry crackers before you get up in the morning, avoiding foods and smells that make you nauseous, drinking plenty of fluids and choosing high-carbohydrate and high-protein foods.

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Feeling nauseous after eating pregnant second trimester

Feeling nauseous after eating pregnant second trimester

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

Feeling nauseous after eating pregnant second trimester

Feeling nauseous after eating pregnant second trimester

  • In Victoria, you can have two types of abortion: surgical and medication. Both types are safe and reliable. You can have a medication abortion up to nine weeks of pregnancy. You can have a surgical abortion from around six weeks of pregnancy onwards.

  • There’s no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. It’s safest to not drink at all during pregnancy, when trying to conceive, and while breastfeeding.

  • Pregnant women with asthma need to continue to take their asthma medication as it is important to the health of both mother and baby that the mother's asthma is well managed.

  • Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period, not from the date of conception.

  • Even if your baby furniture meets every safety standard and recommendation, your child still needs close supervision.

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Answer From Mary Marnach, M.D.

Nausea during early pregnancy, also called morning sickness, might be a good sign. Studies have shown that women with nausea and vomiting during the first trimester have a lower risk of miscarriage than do women without these symptoms.

What's the connection? Nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy might indicate you are experiencing the climb in hormones needed for a healthy pregnancy.

Research suggests that nausea and vomiting during pregnancy might be due to the effects of a hormone produced by the placenta called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Pregnant women begin producing HCG shortly after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. Women with severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) have higher HCG levels than other pregnant women do. Women pregnant with twins or multiples also have higher HCG levels and are more likely to experience morning sickness. Similarly, estrogen, another hormone that increases during pregnancy, is associated with an increase in the severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

However, high pregnancy hormone levels aren't consistently associated with nausea and vomiting.

It's also possible that nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are signs of viable placental tissue.

Keep in mind, however, that a lack of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy isn't cause for concern. Some women with healthy pregnancies never experience morning sickness.

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Oct. 26, 2021

  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018;131:e15.
  2. Smith JA, et al. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: Treatment and outcome. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 1, 2021.
  3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Months 1 and 2. In: Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month to Month. Kindle edition. 7th ed. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2021. Accessed Oct. 1, 2021.
  4. Smith JA, et al. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: Clinical findings and evaluation. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 1, 2021.

See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. 1st trimester pregnancy
  2. Can birth control pills cause birth defects?
  3. Ovulation
  4. Fetal development: The 1st trimester
  5. Implantation bleeding
  6. Pregnancy due date calculator
  7. Prenatal care: 1st trimester
  8. Pregnancy exercises
  9. Pregnancy stretches

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Is nausea common in 2nd trimester?

While many women feel better after the first trimester, some report ongoing nausea or vomiting through the second trimester. You may be able to gain some relief from morning sickness using home treatment, such as changing what, when, and how much you eat.

Is it normal to feel sick after eating when pregnant?

Nausea after eating is a common early sign of pregnancy. But morning sickness isn't always the first (or only) pregnancy symptom women experience early on. Some feel tired, bloated and moody, while others might just notice tender breasts.