Vomiting During the Third Trimester. Is it Normal?

The third trimester of pregnancy is a strange time.

You’ve made your way through that rocky first trimester, when all you wanted to do was lay down and sleep, and you’ve enjoyed the second trimester, having the pregnancy glow and all that energy coming your way.

Now you’re in the midst of the third trimester, and for some unknown reason, you’ve suddenly started vomiting again. It’s almost like you’ve gone back in time to the first trimester.

If this is happening to you, don’t worry.

Vomiting during the third trimester is not very common, affecting approximately 7% of women, and there are several reasons as to why this could be happening to you.

Most of them aren’t at all worrisome, and should pass relatively quickly, and certainly settle after you give birth.

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Why Do Some Women Vomit During The Third Trimester?

The most common reason for vomiting during the third pregnancy is all down to your stomach being compressed by your growing baby.

All of the organs in this region get pressed together much more than they are used to, and all that squishing upsets the usual harmony of everything running smoothly.

There is also the possibility that you might develop heartburn (more good news), and that is down to the baby pushing upwards on your stomach and gastric area. The heartburn in itself can lead to vomiting.

That is one possible reason for you developing vomiting out nowhere in your third trimester.

You might not even have had any vomiting during your first trimester, which makes it all the more strange.

It has nothing to do with how badly you suffered with ‘morning sickness’ during the first phase, and it isn’t at all related. Vomiting during the later stages of your pregnancy is usually down to the growth of your bump.

You’ll probably also be aware that during your pregnancy, you might become more sensitive to smells and foods, especially spicy ones, or food which have a strong smell.

This in itself can make you vomit, a little like smells can trigger vomiting in the first trimester too. If you eat spicy foods, this can also affect your bowels more in this stage of pregnancy, so again, you might notice diarrhea as a result.

Hormone fluctuations can also cause vomiting, and we’re talking about high levels of pregnancy hormones here. There is often no rhyme or reason to why the female body reacts the way it does to certain levels of hormones, so vomiting is often chalked up to that.

It Could Just be a Stomach Upset…

There is the possibility that you have picked up a stomach upset.

During pregnancy, you are not immune to infections and bugs, and during the third trimester, you might be even more susceptible, because your body is working so hard to look after you and your baby, your immune system may be a little low.

For that reason, you may have just picked up a stomach bug perhaps from picking up your child from school, or from another family member.

If you do think you may have picked up a bug, rest, drink plenty of water, and if it goes on for too long, ring your doctor for advice. It’s really important to stay hydrated at all times.

Another reason for vomiting in pregnancy is gallbladder problems and is more common after meals.

Are You Sure You’re Not Going Into Labor?

If you are at the end of your pregnancy there is a chance that vomiting could be the early start of labor. The same can be said for diarrhea.

In this case, you should contact your doctor or midwife if the vomiting is associated with any other signs of the onset of labor, such as contractions or your water breaking.

Before you start to panic, not every woman experiences vomiting with the start of labor. It’s worth mentioning it, however, and if you do notice cramping which starts to increase, then you should be thinking about calling for help – your little one could be on the way.

Just Another Symptom?

Pregnancy has some very strange effects on a woman’s body, no matter what trimester she is in.

Yes, the first trimester gets all the news, but the third trimester’s arrival doesn’t mean that all the symptoms are gone and you’re just waiting for labor to come – quite the opposite.

The third trimester is a time of being quite uncomfortable and it makes sense when you consider the size of your baby by this point.

For that reason, it’s quite normal to experience vomiting in the third trimester. If it’s something you are suffering from the key points to remember are hydration and rest.