NAUSEA AND VOMITING OF PREGNANCY AND MY 4PM QUEASIES
My first pregnancy I had the â4pm queasiesâ – every day at 4pm, no matter what i had eaten, not eaten, exercised or not, I was on the couch like a cat, lying there curled up to try to feel better. Water, sips of ginger ale, Cheerios – nothing helped. But by 7pm I was better and ready for dinner.Â
My second pregnancy was better and I just felt a general sense of queasiness all day every day for a few weeks. My best friend from college told me âyouâre used to hangovers so you should be able to get through thisâ. But let me tell you, by that point I hadnât had a proper hangover in a decade!
It starts around 6 weeks, peaks between 7 to 12 weeks, and resolves by 18 weeks for most women. Most literature says the peak is closer to 9 to 11 weeks for most women.Â
However, it continues into the 3rd trimester for 15% of women, and in an unlucky 5% it will continue until delivery. The severest form of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, Hyperemesis gravidarum, affects less than 3%.
Remember when my friend Kate Middleton was in the news everywhere because she had Hyperem? I was even interviewed for an NBC article about it! (LINK HERE). Like so much else with the royal family, the invasion of their personal space and lives can actually be beneficial for the public.Â
There are a few theories behind why women get these symptoms:Â
2) evolutionary adaptation – it may have helped women avoid potentially dangerous food.Â
3) psychologic predisposition – This theory stinks of patriarchy. It puts the blame on women and may hinder progress toward treatment options. I write it here to acknowledge it exists and refute it strongly.
There are some risk factors that increase the chances of developing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. You canât do anything about these, but may help explain why youâre suffering and your co-worker didnât:
Next week weâll talk about ways to feel better – both little lifestyle adjustments and medications.Â
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