You are feeling amazing and great and then suddenly food aversions, nausea and tiredness have set in, even weight loss. For many women first trimester can be tricky and exhausting to navigate.
Here is some information about common discomforts of pregnancy and how you can manage many of these.
How to Manage Symptoms of Early Pregnancy
1. Nausea and Vomiting
Commonly known as “morning sickness” but can occur not just in the morning, but all day! 50-90% of pregnant women experience nausea with or without vomiting. The severity of symptoms varies and usually occurs between weeks 5 and 18 weeks of pregnancy. The symptoms are usually at their worst around nine weeks and are improving by week 16.
What can you do to help your nausea symptoms?
- Choose foods that have a dry quality and taste bland. Avoid spicy foods with strong odors. Try the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast).
- Drink plenty of liquids. Icy poles and jelly are sometimes easier to tolerate.
- Several small frequent meals are easier for digestion– keep something in your stomach at all times (especially with protein if you can muster it!), eating something before you get out of bed can be helpful (a few crackers on your nightstand)
- Drinking ginger teas or adding ginger to drinks can help prevent nausea.
- Nausea may feel worse when you are over-tired, and taking rest or nap breaks frequently throughout the day may help.
- Your doctor may recommend stopping your prenatal multivitamin as some of those can increase nausea. If you are otherwise healthy, you can take only folic acid in first trimester.
Vitamin remedies and other over the counter products that can help:
- Vitamin B6 25mg three times a day.
- If no improvement, then add Doxylamine (Restavit) 1/2 tablet in the morning and 1/2 -1 tablet before bed (usually causes sleepiness).
Your doctor may prescribe drugs for nausea and vomiting if you are not able to manage your symptoms with the above changes. Doctors usually choose drugs that have a good safety data in pregnancy. Generally, neither nausea & vomiting nor modest weight loss will adversely affect the baby.
If the remedies and drugs do not work for you, or you are unable to keep down any solids or liquids over several hours you may be suffering from Hyperemesis.
When morning sickness is severe, it is known as hyperemesis gravidarum. A pregnant woman who experiences severe vomiting for an extended period may need monitoring and treatment in hospital. An intravenous (IV) drip is inserted to replace essential salts and fluids and prevent dehydration. If you are vomiting whenever you eat or drink, consult a health care professional, since early treatment can protect you and your baby from health complications.
2. Vaginal Bleeding
Any amount of vaginal bleeding can be alarming and may increase the risk of miscarriage. Bleeding in early pregnancy is common and often does not harm the pregnancy.
If you experience fresh vaginal bleeding with or without abdominal pain, see your general practitioner or Obstetrician. You will need an ultrasound to check the health of pregnancy. If pregnancy is alive and there is no ongoing bleeding, most likely there is no cause for concern and no treatment is needed.
In some circumstances and if you have had a miscarriage in the past, your doctor may prescribe vaginal progesterone tablets to support your pregnancy against miscarriage. Its important to note that not all miscarriages can be prevented.
If you are experiencing heavy bleeding or severe pain – you should either see your doctor on an urgent basis or present to an emergency department for assessment. This may be a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (if pregnancy has not yet been confirmed by ultrasound to be inside the uterus).
3. Dizziness
Many women experience dizziness and light-headedness in early pregnancies. Fainting is rare but does happen even in some healthy pregnant women. There are many reasons for these symptoms and include: the growth of more blood vessels in early pregnancy, the pressure of the expanding uterus on blood vessels, and the body’s increased need for food.
Follow these tips to feel better:
- Stand up slowly
- When you are feeling lightheaded, lay down on your left side
- Avoid sitting or standing in one position for a long time
- Eat healthy snacks or small meals frequently
- Don’t get overheated
4. Constipation
High pregnancy hormone levels slow down digestion and relax muscles in the bowels, making constipation a common pregnancy discomfort.
Try the following tips to stay more regular:
- Eat fibre rich foods like fresh or dried fruit, raw vegetables, whole grain cereals or breads daily.
- Use a fibre supplement like Metamucil or Benefiber
- Drink eight to ten glasses of water every day.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks.
- Get moving. Mild exercise like walking may help ease constipation.
5. Tiredness
You may feel tired, even if you have had a lot of sleep. Many women find they are particularly tired in the first trimester. This is normal and is your body’s way of telling you that you need more rest.
It feels hard to feel low energy for weeks on end. Make sure your doctor has checked your haemoglobin and iron levels. Be kind to yourself and ask for help if you are struggling. Consider pushing deadlines further – after all you are growing a human!
Watch out for the following:
- very dark urine/small amount or no urine over several hours
- blood in vomit
- extreme fatigue
- dramatic weight loss
- dehydration due to inability to keep fluids down
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Restavit work for morning sickness?
Restavit contains doxylamine, an antihistamine with a sedating effect that also helps calm the nausea signals in the brain. It’s often combined with Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), which further reduces nausea and vomiting.
Taken at night, it’s designed to work while you sleep so symptoms are more manageable when you wake up.
How long can you take Restavit for morning sickness?
Restavit is generally intended for short-term use, and product guidelines typically advise no more than around 7–10 days without medical supervision, as its sedating effect can lessen with continued use.
Since morning sickness often lasts several weeks, your doctor may recommend continuing it for longer under their guidance – always check with them before using it beyond the short term.
How do I manage severe nausea during early pregnancy?
If diet changes and rest aren’t helping, ask your doctor about Vitamin B6 or Doxylamine. If you can’t keep down fluids, this could be hyperemesis gravidarum, which may need hospital treatment, don’t wait to seek help.
Is Tylenol (paracetamol) safe during early pregnancy?
Paracetamol is generally considered the safest OTC option in pregnancy, at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time. Recent autism-link claims in the media aren’t supported by current evidence, and major medical bodies still endorse its appropriate use. Always check with your doctor first.
How do I deal with physical discomfort during early pregnancy?
Small, frequent meals, staying hydrated, resting when needed, and standing up slowly can ease most common discomforts. If symptoms feel severe or don’t improve, check in with your doctor.
Are there foods that help with nausea during pregnancy?
Bland, dry foods like the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) are easier to tolerate. Ginger tea and small, frequent meals also help many women.
How can I make the first trimester easier?
Rest when tired, eat small frequent meals, stay hydrated, and lower your expectations for a few weeks. Ask your doctor to check your iron levels if fatigue feels overwhelming.
What’s the hardest week in the first trimester?
Nausea and other symptoms typically peak around week 9 and start easing by week 16, though this varies from person to person.
Who can I talk to?
The specialists at Create Health are always available for advice regarding a pregnancy. Particularly if you think you might have risk factors for pregnancy or fertility concerns, we are experts in this area and are here to help.
Contact us via our contact form or by ringing 9873 6767
