Celina
van Grotel
obstetric - team blue - specialisations - ultrasound technician
If you suffer (often) from heartburn, try adjusting your diet with the tips below:
- Eat smaller portions per day more often, spread your meals a little more throughout the day.
- Avoid spicy or fatty meals.
- Avoid cabbage, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages and smoking.
- Warm milk and vanilla custard, as well as dry oatmeal or a peppermint binds stomach acid and can provide relief.
- Do not drink water with food; this dilutes stomach acid which causes poor digestion. Water can also cause fat and oil in the food to clump together, reducing absorption.
- Ripe bananas are natural acid reducers that can soothe an irritated stomach.
- Make sure you don’t lie too flat at night, but preferably with your head/shoulders a little higher. That way the stomach acid doesn’t flow up into your esophagus as easily.
- If these measures are not enough, get tablets or a drink from pharmacy or drugstore. If you have never suffered from kidney stones, take at Rennies. This is available in tablet form and a liquid form.
Nausea
Most pregnant women experience nausea at the beginning of their pregnancy. Some also vomit. There are also those who have no nausea or only experience salivation. Symptoms usually begin between the 4th and 7th weeks of pregnancy. This can be the first sign that you are pregnant. You may have nausea all day or only in the morning, afternoon or evening. The symptoms often subside on their own.
- Nausea is over in 6 out of 10 cases after 14 weeks of pregnancy.
- In 9 out of 10 cases, nausea is over after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Cause nausea in pregnancy
Nausea is caused by hormones, such as the pregnancy hormone Beta-HCG, thyroid hormone, progesterone and estrogens. If you are pregnant with multiple births, you make more pregnancy hormone and there are often more symptoms.
If you had a lot of nausea or vomiting in a previous pregnancy, you are more likely to get it again.
You may experience more nausea and vomiting if your grandmother, mother or sister had these symptoms during their pregnancy.
Consequences of vomiting
Usually vomiting doesn’t hurt you or the baby. You get enough nutrients if you don’t vomit every time you eat or drink something. If you still vomit after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the baby may not be growing as well. The midwife or obstetrician will keep an eye on this.
Our tips & advice for nausea
- Eat and drink small(er) portions spread throughout the day.
- Before you get up, eat something light such as a cracker or rusk and then get up quietly.
- Watch your rest: fatigue can intensify your symptoms.
- Fatty or spicy foods can make nausea worse. See which foods affect your symptoms and adjust your diet accordingly.
- Eating ginger or drinking ginger tea can reduce symptoms.
- Acupressure (pressure on certain points in the body) can provide relief.
- Consult with one of our midwives about medication for nausea.