Why Am I Vomiting Yellow Bile While Pregnant?
When you are pregnant, you know that you will deal with a few waves of nausea and vomiting during the initial stage.
The bitter yellow vomit during pregnancy is nothing but your stomach juices or bile juices.
Bile is a yellow or greenish liquid that’s released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. This liquid or juice breaks down the fats into fatty acids and helps in the digestion of food and fluids consumed.
So, yellow vomit is usually normal, especially during pregnancy and don’t be alarmed about it. But why does this happen?
What does yellow vomit mean?
The yellow vomit is just your stomach’s acid or bile juice that helps break down your food.
If your stomach is empty and you vomit, the bile juice comes out which is commonly called the yellow bitter liquid. Because it is the only thing left in your stomach as there is no food in it.
Why Am I Vomiting Yellow during Pregnancy?
Yellow vomiting or vomiting the bile juice during pregnancy could be due to various factors including:
Morning Sickness: Morning sickness is one of the most common pregnancy symptoms that many pregnant women have, especially during the first trimester.
When you have nausea and feel the urge to vomit when your stomach is empty, the bile juice in the stomach comes out as a yellow color vomit.
Hormonal Changes: Another reason for yellow vomit during pregnancy is the hormonal changes.
Since your body produces a high amount of HCG and progesterone to support the growing fetus, morning sickness increases.
The higher levels of these hormones relaxes the sphincter, which makes the stomach acid flow back to the esophagus, causing vomiting.
This leads to more frequent vomiting resulting in throwing up the bile juice also known as yellow vomit.
Foods: Certain foods including caffeine, sodas, citrus foods and tomato-based foods can trigger bile production in your stomach and aggravate nausea.
Hence it is important to avoid the foods that trigger nausea and morning sickness.
Acid Reflux / Indigestion: Acid reflux also commonly known as indigestion or heartburn is pretty common during pregnancy.
It can be caused due to hormonal changes and when the fetus puts pressure on the stomach.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a condition where vomiting and nausea are beyond control.
It can also cause dehydration, disturbances in the body’s electrolytes and weight loss.
Since vomiting more frequently is the common symptom of hyperemesis gravidarum, the yellow bile or yellow vomit is more common for those with this condition.
Symptoms of yellow vomit during pregnancy
Yellow vomit during pregnancy often indicates bile, especially if you are vomiting on an empty stomach.
The consistency of your yellow vomit can change depending on how often you are throwing up or how much liquid you have consumed.
Here are some common symptoms associated with yellow vomit during pregnancy:
- Dealing with dehydration
- Experiencing stomach cramps
- Tasting a bitter or metallic flavour in your mouth
- Dizziness / feeling nauseous
- Poor appetite
Dos and don’ts after throwing up yellow vomit while pregnant
Have a quick snack
If you vomit yellow liquid or bile when you first wake up in the morning, try eating something plain and light before you get out of bed.
If you wake up feeling hungry during the night, consider having a quick snack.
We recommend eating plain biscuits, plain almonds or cashews, and some apple or banana slices.
Stay hydrated
If you are continuously throwing up, drink water. Instead of drinking a large amount at once, consider taking small amounts.
It’s also helpful to sip water when you wake up at night.
You might also find relief with alternatives like ginger tea, or adding mint leaves, or a few drops of lemon to your water.
Don’t brush your teeth right away
After throwing up yellow bile while pregnant, you might feel a metallic taste in your mouth.
Avoid brushing your teeth right away as it can be harmful to your teeth.
Because vomit is acidic, brushing immediately can spread the acid around your teeth and damage your enamel.
Instead, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash first and wait a bit before brushing.
How do I prevent yellow vomit during pregnancy?
Apart from staying hydrated and not remaining empty on your stomach, we recommend following a few other points to prevent throwing up stomach acid while pregnant:
- Split your meals. Since nausea gets worse when a pregnant woman hasn’t eaten for more than 2 hours, consider eating smaller and more frequent meals. This keeps the stomach from getting too empty or too full. Also, avoid skipping meals.
- Identify foods or smells that trigger nausea or make it worse and avoid them.
- If you throw up yellow vomit often, consider getting immense rest. This helps your body recover by reducing stress and anxiety that can trigger nausea and vomiting.
- Avoid spicy foods that can increase nausea
When to consult a doctor?
If you’re experiencing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that goes beyond the typical uneasiness, it could be a symptom of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum are:
- Feeling nauseous all the time, not just in the morning.
- Throwing up so much that it’s hard to keep anything down, even water.
- Becoming dehydrated because you can’t drink enough fluids to balance.
- Losing a significant amount of weight up to 5% due to your inability to eat properly while throwing up.
- Feeling extremely weak and tired due to constant vomiting and lack of nutrients.
Call your doctor immediately if you experience the following:
- Dark urine or inability to pee
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness or confusion
- Severe pain in your abdomen
- Blood Vomit
- Vision changes
- Vaginal bleeding
- Muscular weakness
- Sudden swelling of extremities
- Stomach Cramps
Conclusion
Throwing up yellow vomit during pregnancy is usually due to morning sickness, especially when your stomach is empty, and there’s only bile left to expel.
If it persists or you have severe symptoms, you should check with your doctor immediately.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Deepthi Jammi if you want expert consultation from the best gynecologist in Chennai. Contact Jammi Scans at 7338771733 for more details.
Chennai Women’s Clinic & Scan Centre is now Jammi Scans
FAQs
1. Is yellow vomit normal in pregnancy?
Yes, throwing up yellow bile while pregnant is normal. Because it’s just the stomach acid that comes out when your stomach is empty and has nothing else to throw up.
2. Is bile bad during pregnancy?
No, it isn’t entirely. However, if a pregnant woman is frequently vomiting bile, it can be a problem.
It could be a symptom of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which is continuous nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that leads to weight loss and dehydration. So, seek medical attention if the symptoms get severe.
3. What should I eat if I throw up yellow bile?
If you throw up yellow bile, try eating bland meals throughout the day. Foods such as biscuits, bananas, and apples can be taken as a quick snack and can be easier on your stomach. Sip ginger tea or lemon water to soothe your stomach.
4. Does bile acid affect babies?
Though bile acid doesn’t directly affect your baby, frequent vomiting and dehydration can take a toll on your health. This can, in turn, affect your baby. So, it’s essential to stay hydrated and get proper nutrition.
In some cases, cholestasis, a reduction in bile secretion, starts in early pregnancy and is highly prevalent in the second and third trimesters.
However, high levels of bile may cause serious issues for your developing fetus. So, it’s best to get immediate attention if things go out of hand.
