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What Causes Unusual Vomiting In Pregnancy?

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Posted on Mon, 30 Jun 2014
Question: I am 16weeks pregnant.

Last night I felt ill and vomited up my dinner. It was a VERY unusual vomiting experience as there wasn't much liquid accompanying what came up. It was VERY thick and painful. Afterwards my throat hurt, it felt as though I still had some stuck in my throat and swallowing became extremely painful.

I wasn't able to get comfortable enough to sleep because every time I would swallow pain would radiate down my throat / esophagus and down under my left side rib cage.

Today I am still experiencing this sharp pain going down under my left rib cage every time I drink or eat anything. Literally with every bite of food.

Should I be concerned or just wait it out and see if it gets better?

Just now I have started to run a slight fever (99.5).

With the pregnancy it's so hard to tell what is causing what.....

Thank you kindly...
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Possible indigestion/food poisoning...

Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,

I am sorry for the situation you are in. I am also happy to know that you are going to be a mother soon.

Now, vomiting you had last night might be related to food poisoning. You might have eaten or drunk anything new (unusual) that triggered vomiting.

Next, getting cold is also causing vomiting. Perhaps, you got cold without noticing which ended up in vomiting. This explains the slight fever you are feeling now.

The pain in throat is because of acidity of the stomach food that passed through your esophagus and throat when vomiting.

I advise to drink a mixture of 1 teaspoon of soda bicarbonate with 1 glass of water (you can add sugar also and lemon juice). This will increase the pH of stomach (which has become very acidic and is giving pain each time you eat or drink something).

You can also take antacids you find as over the counter. They are safely taken during pregnancy until you discuss it further with your gynecologist.

I also advise to keep a good oral hygiene, keep rinsing your mouth/throat with water. Taking 1 teaspoon of honey will also help (keep it in your mouth until totally dissolved for at least 20 minutes).

The symptoms will improve, but, what concerns me is that you are having slightly elevated body temperature. Therefore, I'd advise to get an appointment with your doctor/gynecologist for further evaluation.

Wish fast recovery!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (41 minutes later)
Thanks for the response. My main concern right now is the pain that i feel when i swallow food.....i can feel it go down my throat but also down the center of my chest, then causesing a sharp pain under my rib cage on the left side.

Ive never felt this kind of pain before.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
It's due to increased acidity of stomach fluid...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for following up.

The difficulty in swallowing food is related to increased acidity of the stomach liquid that might have caused erosion of the esophagus (when you vomited).

I'd suggest to get checked by a cardiologist to rule out heart problems, then, discuss with your gynecologist to get treated for heartburn/GERD.

Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 7307 Questions

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What Causes Unusual Vomiting In Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: Possible indigestion/food poisoning... Detailed Answer: Hi my dear, I am sorry for the situation you are in. I am also happy to know that you are going to be a mother soon. Now, vomiting you had last night might be related to food poisoning. You might have eaten or drunk anything new (unusual) that triggered vomiting. Next, getting cold is also causing vomiting. Perhaps, you got cold without noticing which ended up in vomiting. This explains the slight fever you are feeling now. The pain in throat is because of acidity of the stomach food that passed through your esophagus and throat when vomiting. I advise to drink a mixture of 1 teaspoon of soda bicarbonate with 1 glass of water (you can add sugar also and lemon juice). This will increase the pH of stomach (which has become very acidic and is giving pain each time you eat or drink something). You can also take antacids you find as over the counter. They are safely taken during pregnancy until you discuss it further with your gynecologist. I also advise to keep a good oral hygiene, keep rinsing your mouth/throat with water. Taking 1 teaspoon of honey will also help (keep it in your mouth until totally dissolved for at least 20 minutes). The symptoms will improve, but, what concerns me is that you are having slightly elevated body temperature. Therefore, I'd advise to get an appointment with your doctor/gynecologist for further evaluation. Wish fast recovery! Dr.Albana