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Morning sickness is one of the most common and unpleasant pregnancy symptoms in the first trimester, affecting an estimated 3 out of 4 moms. So if you’ve been trying to conceive (or even if you haven’t!) and feel a bit nauseous after eating, you might be wondering if you could be pregnant. While there’s no way to know for sure that you’re expecting until a pregnancy test comes back positive, there is indeed a chance your nausea could be tied to the start of a surge in pregnancy hormones. Is nausea after eating an early sign of pregnancy?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. Still others may experience all of the above symptoms … or no noticeable signs of pregnancy at all. What does it feel like, exactly?During pregnancy, nausea after eating can feel like car sickness (minus the car) or sea sickness (minus the boat). Or you might liken it to a hangover. In other words, you likely feel like you want to throw up after meals, even if you never actually do (though you might wish you could). Some women feel nauseous every time they eat or even all day long, while others have occasional queasiness. You may feel both queasy and hungry at the same time. You might also vomit a lot or a little, or you may never vomit at all. These variations are likely due to a number of factors, including hormone levels, sensitivity, stress and fatigue. When does it usually start?Although nausea usually begins around week 6 of pregnancy, queasiness (including that after you eat) can start shortly after conception, around week 3 of pregnancy. What causes nausea after you eat when you're pregnant?There’s no official known reason for nausea after eating during pregnancy. But there are a lot of potential factors at play, including:
What can you do to relieve morning sickness after eating?While it might seem counterintuitive, morning sickness often gets worse the longer you go without filling up your tank. That’s because when your tummy is empty, stomach acids churn away at your stomach lining, adding to the queasiness you experience when you do eat. A few tips to relieve morning sickness after eating:
Is there any way to prevent it?Unfortunately for the many women who gag their way through the first trimester, it isn’t possible to totally prevent nausea after eating during pregnancy. However, you may be able to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms by noting anything that consistently makes you nauseated — spicy foods, strong odors, fatigue, sugary/greasy foods — and avoiding these triggers whenever possible. Also try to avoid eating large meals, which often makes nausea worse. When does nausea after eating typically end?Most women find that nausea after eating eases around the end of the first trimester, between weeks 12 and 14 of pregnancy. A few women, however, continue to feel nauseous throughout the second trimester and sometimes beyond. Could nausea after eating be caused by something other than pregnancy?Nausea after eating is often a very normal (if very unpleasant) early sign of pregnancy. If a pregnancy test hasn’t yet come back positive, however, that sick-to-your-stomach feeling could be due to a number of other factors, including medications you’re taking, a stomach bug, food poisoning, overeating, motion sickness or hormonal issues. Sometimes, indigestion after eating can be caused by a problem with the digestive tract, like an ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Much more rarely, persistent nausea and vomiting may be linked to thyroid disease, liver disease, diabetes or gallbladder disease. If you’re concerned, talk to your doctor. When to call the doctorIf nausea after eating continues for more than two weeks without a positive pregnancy test, check in with your doctor. It could be a sign of a more serious problem, especially if you have other unusual symptoms. If you are pregnant and the nausea and vomiting is severe, call your practitioner. You may be experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum, which can result in dehydration and weight loss, and sometimes requires treatment at the hospital. Also check with your health care provider if you experience any of the following symptoms:
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