Vomiting during labor ?

preggoandglowing

Wondering, is this fairly common? I really dislike 'it' and I've been lucky enough to make it through this pregnancy without once getting sick but now I'm reading about this happening to some women and am starting to freak out just a little. 

STMs, did this happen to you? And is the the Epidural that causes it? If so, I'd rather bear through the pain!

Mcrain83

It happened to me with my first. Not caused by the epidural but by the pain of labor, after I got the epidural it didn't happen again. Hope this helps.

ACarter0914

It didn't happen to me my first but im terrified it will this time around. I've thrown up once this whole pregnancy and I don't want to do it again.

*edited for clarification

breezypip

Oh god, I'm with you on this concern. It may seem trivial to some, but I have a pretty bad phobia of vomiting, and I've gotten through pregnancy so far Scott-free ::phew::

I have heard it happens, and it happened to my friend. I'm hoping since I'm not prone to "it".., haven't since I was 15, that I'll be ok. I'm also wondering if nausea hits it would be ok to take some anti-emetics during delivery, or If they can put them in your epidural like they do sometimes for surgeries under anesthesia.

BostonBaby1

I'm not in medicine, but I would imagine if they're going to give you antiemetics, they would push them through your IV and not your epidural.

babybluu

Lurking from j16
I have emetophobia, which is the fear of vomiting. I haven't thrown up in years, even at the start of this pregnancy when I couldn't function due to the nausea because I couldn't let myself throw up. I held it down, making myself feel worse for hours rather than getting it over with. When I feel like I'm going to be sick my hands sweat, my heart races, and I hyperventilate. I'm that scared of vomiting.

anyways, I was with my friend when she had her baby, and she DID throw up from the labor pain. Not the epidural. She said she felt better after she threw up the contents of her stomach. I get nauseous with period cramps, so I can't imagine what it will be like during labor pain. This thread kind of helps me feel better in knowing its normal!

babybluu

Also, sometimes they do give an antiemetic through the iv for you. I will definitely see if that's a possibility for me during labor.

tewinkle27

Didn't happen to me with my first thank gosh! But I think I'd rather throw up then poop. Which did happen to me lol

preggoandglowing

babybluu said:

Lurking from j16 I have emetophobia, which is the fear of vomiting. I haven't thrown up in years, even at the start of this pregnancy when I couldn't function due to the nausea because I couldn't let myself throw up. I held it down, making myself feel worse for hours rather than getting it over with. When I feel like I'm going to be sick my hands sweat, my heart races, and I hyperventilate. I'm that scared of vomiting. anyways, I was with my friend when she had her baby, and she DID throw up from the labor pain. Not the epidural. She said she felt better after she threw up the contents of her stomach. I get nauseous with period cramps, so I can't imagine what it will be like during labor pain. This thread kind of helps me feel better in knowing its normal!

I'm glad that I'm not the only emetophobe on here lol! I've been suffering with this since I was very young. Wondering how I'll be able to care for my baby when she gets sick as a child. 

Addy1227

I threw up twice with my son and that was after the epidural. The epidural didn't make me sick, it happened right before I had to push, kind of letting my body know it's go time and when I was pushing. I personally don't mind vomiting but there is so many emotions going on in that time that hopefully it won't phase you as much as it normally does (if it does happen anyway)!

redfallon

No throwing up here.

kimb311

I did. It isn't the epidural. It is the transition into "active labor" that makes you throw up.  it was one wave of it, done and over.  Trust me, not the worst part of the day. LOL

VesperLove

Maybe I'm the odd one out but I love throwing up.

That sounds weird.

I guess I should clarify and say that if I'm ever nauseous my first thought is, "I really want to throw up so I can feel better." 

So, if I am nauseous or feel the need to get sick during pregnancy I'm all for it if it's going to make me feel even the slightest bit better.

However, I had a phobia of it for years so I totally understand where you all are coming from! If it helps, my sister has four kids and I don't think she got sick with a single one of them during labor.

breezypip

BostonBaby1 said:

I'm not in medicine, but I would imagine if they're going to give you antiemetics, they would push them through your IV and not your epidural.

Duh, yes! I'm obviously not in medicine either.

laurabwalker

I've thrown up so many times this pregnancy I've become a pro at it unfortunately. I have seen women throw up in labour from pain, and also from pushing (just physiologically pressure on the stomach). They usually only give the anti emetic if they give you morphine, as it can cause vomiting. Usually the epidural causes headaches if anything

NJPita22

I threw up with my first about 45 minutes before I delivered, after my water broke, and from labor pains, I hadn't had an epidural yet. I kept telling them I was going to and the nurse said everyone gets nauseous I said no but I'm going to puke and I pushed my husband and vomited and then she had a teeny tiny little pan to catch it and shoved it in my face prob trying to catch all of it but it was full and smelled and just Made me vomit more. It was terrible.

kanda0820

I threw up after first arriving at the hospital. Never saw my husband move as fast as he did in his life. Once I had an epidural though, I was fine. I actually had diarrhea the day my son was born and so afraid I'd poop on the doctor but no issues. Some women's bodies will begin to clear itself out a few days before going into labor. I'm one of the lucky ones.

grkgdss00

I've read many birth stories, and I will say a good percentage of them say they throw up! Not sure if from epidural or labor itself, but don't be afraid of it. Your body will do what it needs to do progress! and you'll probably feel a whole lot better from it...

keiragann

My sister threw up once she went into hard active labor but only once.

Not There Yet

Yep. I vomited a couple times while I was in the triage room waiting to get admitted. Only afterwards, we discovered that there is a biowaste bag dispenser on the wall of hospital rooms just for that purpose...I didn't get an epidural, so it was likely caused by the contractions. I don't recommend eating peanut M&Ms in the days leading up to labor...

mac-n-cheesy

I'm a FTM and never even considered this would occur from the pain of labor. I'm with a few of the PP's who said they'd rather vomit than have a bowel movement spontaneously.
I've had HG this pregnancy and severe migraines all through my second trimester so I've probably thrown up a few hundred times in the last 25 weeks.
I sincerely hope all those who have a real phobia of vomiting don't have to go through that as I imagine that day will be stressful enough for us all.

Magnolia+Mama

I did not vomit in labor with DD. I don't even think I was nauseous.

armywife8289

I vomited like crazy!!! It was aweful. I knew I was going into labor, because of timed contractions, and I had a house to clean, and a paper to finish! So I did all of that then I began and left for the hospital! The contractions for me were hardly painful. I was in so much pain from my stomach jumping into my rib cage and tossing stomach acid I told the nurse I didn't know what to do, I needed to stop throwing up because I knew there was nothing left in me, and it was not stopping and it was uncontrollable and there was no way I could give birth doubling over in horrific pain. So at 8 cm I got an epidural because the nurses were idiots and didn't think of giving me some nausea meds!!!!!!!!!!! I told them my pain was not bad at all!!! I was about a 4 on 1-10. 10 being aweful pain. I was lucky that way!! I had no idea about sickness like that during labor!!! Good luck

ramfam2507

I threw up once they strapped me down on the table for a c section. It was horrible.

kimb311

Not There Yet said:

Yep. I vomited a couple times while I was in the triage room waiting to get admitted. Only afterwards, we discovered that there is a biowaste bag dispenser on the wall of hospital rooms just for that purpose...I didn't get an epidural, so it was likely caused by the contractions. I don't recommend eating peanut M&Ms in the days leading up to labor...

The peanut m&m made me laugh! I was induced and not allowed to eat all day. I was starving and my husband was munching on peanut m&ms. I convinced him to hand them over. Right before I threw up the nurse asked to make sure I hadn't eaten anything. Up came the m&ms! She looked at them at me and at my husband who was still eating them. So busted!

minceys4

I didn't with my first but I did with my second... I didn't have an epidural at that point so it must have been the contractions.

kmkaull2

It is very common during transition. I did not have an epidural, but did get nauseous. No vomiting, but close!

celainev

Okay I'm not doubting phobias, because I have fears as well. But seriously?
I hate throwing up. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. It's awful. But I still end up doing it multiple times a day since I was 7 weeks pregnant, and now I'm 21. I can't help but roll my eyes a little bit when I hear someone expressing fears for something so far away when a good number of the moms on this forum have been suffering from vomiting all the time.
I am trying hard not to come off as a drama starter... But I can't just sit back and read this.
When you are in labour, you may throw up. That is petrifying, as petrifying as it is for me to step onto an airplane. But after it is finished you have a BABY. Focus on that.

preggoandglowing

chaelainev said:

Okay I'm not doubting phobias, because I have fears as well. But seriously?
I hate throwing up. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. It's awful. But I still end up doing it multiple times a day since I was 7 weeks pregnant, and now I'm 21. I can't help but roll my eyes a little bit when I hear someone expressing fears for something so far away when a good number of the moms on this forum have been suffering from vomiting all the time.
I am trying hard not to come off as a drama starter... But I can't just sit back and read this.
When you are in labour, you may throw up. That is petrifying, as petrifying as it is for me to step onto an airplane. But after it is finished you have a BABY. Focus on that.

Well I can't help but roll my eyes at someone who clearly has no idea what emetophobia is yet still decides to comment on it. But yes, I'll try and focus on baby instead.

babybluu

chaelainev said:

Okay I'm not doubting phobias, because I have fears as well. But seriously?
I hate throwing up. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. It's awful. But I still end up doing it multiple times a day since I was 7 weeks pregnant, and now I'm 21. I can't help but roll my eyes a little bit when I hear someone expressing fears for something so far away when a good number of the moms on this forum have been suffering from vomiting all the time.
I am trying hard not to come off as a drama starter... But I can't just sit back and read this.
When you are in labour, you may throw up. That is petrifying, as petrifying as it is for me to step onto an airplane. But after it is finished you have a BABY. Focus on that.

Trust me, I'm prepared to throw up if it means I meet my sweet baby in the end. No one said they didn't want to have their baby because they were afraid of throwing up. We all know you get rewarded with a baby in the end. Which is why, if I do throw up, it's so worth it.
Pretty sure OP feels the same way.
Just because I'm not going to give birth for another 19 weeks doesn't mean I'm not worried about throwing up. And just because other moms have been throwing up their whole pregnancy doesn't mean im not allowed to be scared. If I could let myself throw up, I would have done it probably a hundred times by now since the start of the pregnancy. I don't have a phobia of planes, however I don't like flying, so I don't judge you or roll my eyes at you. You don't have a phobia of vomiting, even though you hate it, so I feel like you shouldn't judge either.

Edit: I wish I was like others who could just get it over with when they feel like puking. I freak out so bad when I feel it coming and i start to panic. Trust me, I hate being this way.

breezypip

chaelainev said:

Okay I'm not doubting phobias, because I have fears as well. But seriously?
I hate throwing up. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. It's awful. But I still end up doing it multiple times a day since I was 7 weeks pregnant, and now I'm 21. I can't help but roll my eyes a little bit when I hear someone expressing fears for something so far away when a good number of the moms on this forum have been suffering from vomiting all the time.
I am trying hard not to come off as a drama starter... But I can't just sit back and read this.
When you are in labour, you may throw up. That is petrifying, as petrifying as it is for me to step onto an airplane. But after it is finished you have a BABY. Focus on that.

That's the whole thing about phobias -- they're irrational -- and very very real. Do you roll your eyes at someone who suffers from depression or anxiety? I'm sure you don't. It's similarly uncontrollable and gripping. I totally get that it's difficult for you to be sympathetic in your situation and that's fine, but no need to be rude. And congrats, you're living one of my biggest fears, so I'm very sympathetic towards YOU.

I know people with a gripping fear of needles that leads to anxiety attacks. It seems like no big deal to me since I had to go through IVF and had needles multiple times daily, but then again, needles aren't my fear -- puking is. I KNOW it's stupid, and I know logically if it happens I'll be fine and there are much worse things, but it still doesn't stop my body from reacting to the feeling of nausea with what I would describe as a full on panic attack. It actually really sucks to fear a natural bodily function that is generally unavoidable, and that most of my family rolls their eyes at.

babybluu

breezypip said:

chaelainev said:

Okay I'm not doubting phobias, because I have fears as well. But seriously?
I hate throwing up. It's one of the worst feelings in the world. It's awful. But I still end up doing it multiple times a day since I was 7 weeks pregnant, and now I'm 21. I can't help but roll my eyes a little bit when I hear someone expressing fears for something so far away when a good number of the moms on this forum have been suffering from vomiting all the time.
I am trying hard not to come off as a drama starter... But I can't just sit back and read this.
When you are in labour, you may throw up. That is petrifying, as petrifying as it is for me to step onto an airplane. But after it is finished you have a BABY. Focus on that.

That's the whole thing about phobias -- they're irrational -- and very very real. Do you roll your eyes at someone who suffers from depression or anxiety? I'm sure you don't. It's similarly uncontrollable and gripping. I totally get that it's difficult for you to be sympathetic in your situation and that's fine, but no need to be rude. And congrats, your living one of my biggest fears, so I'm very sympathetic towards YOU.

I know people with a gripping fear of needles that leads to anxiety attacks. It seems like no big deal to me since I had to go through IVF and had needles multiple times daily, but then again, needles aren't my fear -- puking is. I KNOW it's stupid, and I know logically if it happens I'll be fine and there are much worse things, but it still doesn't stop my body from reacting to the feeling of nausea with what I would describe as a full on panic attack. It actually really sucks to fear a natural bodily function that is generally unavoidable, and that most of my family rolls their eyes at.</blockquote


This. Everything about this. I hate telling people about it because they think I'm crazy and ask why I don't just get it over with. I don't know! I have no idea why I'm so scared. Maybe it's the feeling of not being able to breathe, maybe it's because I'm afraid I'll never stop. Who knows honestly. And like you said, it's such a normal bodily function too, which makes it even worse. I avoid any food that I even remotely think might make me sick. I don't drink milk the day it expires or after, I don't eat leftovers past 1 day. I feel like such a freak

stephaniechen82

Vomited during emergency c section when all the pressure and tugging sensations where happening from pulling baby out. I thought I was going to choke because I had no abdominal control. Totally terrifying.

herewegrow

I threw up while pushing, which was fun since no one was paying attention or prepared. It's really hard to change a gown while IV'd, hooked to an epidural, and actively trying to push out a baby.

I would rather vomit ten times than poop, however. And I hate throwing up. Hate.

skcaulder

I used to be terrified of getting sick but after working in a nursing home and getting norovirus from there and having to clean residents up, it doesn't bug me that much anymore. I just get scared of either people watching/hearing me get sick or being trapped in a small place like a car and not being able to get somewhere that it's okay to get sick and not make a mess. I feel like getting sick during labor opposed to the pushing and transition will feel like nothing. You may not even remember it. Praying for your sake you don't! Just remind yourself as hard as it is, its natural for your body to vomit and there's usually a reason why your body triggers that response. Just relax and let it come if it has to!

GodIsFaithful93

I didn't. I felt nauseous & they have me some alcohol wipes to smell or something that took it away. I'm sure they can give anti-nausea medicine to you through your IV if you really don't want to either.

celainev

I want to clarify that I never said "get over it." I understand the irrational side of phobias as I said, I do have my own. I was trying to offer some advise about focusing on the prize, and said it a bit grumpy after a hard day yesterday. I apologize for that.

I get it all the time about my fear of flying from my DH, who is a pilot. I am diagnosed with social anxiety and depression so yes, I do believe the irrational attacks that come with that as well. I'm actually crying right now because I am afraid that everyone here hates me because of the stupid wording i used in my previous post. I'm used to people not believing in my fears. I did not mean to come off as not believing in yours.

JenniferKate315

STM here, I did throw up the first time while I was in triage before I got admitted. It was from the pain...and because I insisted on finishing my pepperoni pizza before I went to the hospital lol. But hey, the nurse said it got me from a 3 to 5 centimeters and I got admitted and an epidural!

ToneGirl

babybluu said:

Lurking from j16 I have emetophobia, which is the fear of vomiting. I haven't thrown up in years, even at the start of this pregnancy when I couldn't function due to the nausea because I couldn't let myself throw up. I held it down, making myself feel worse for hours rather than getting it over with. When I feel like I'm going to be sick my hands sweat, my heart races, and I hyperventilate. I'm that scared of vomiting. anyways, I was with my friend when she had her baby, and she DID throw up from the labor pain. Not the epidural. She said she felt better after she threw up the contents of her stomach. I get nauseous with period cramps, so I can't imagine what it will be like during labor pain. This thread kind of helps me feel better in knowing its normal!

Yup, I have emetohphia as well.  It's absolutely the worst.  I get severe panic attacks about vomit and FREAK out when my kids get sick.  I wipe everything down (including my kids) all flu season long.  I'm already getting anxiety about stomach flu season approaching.  Luckily I had no MS with either pregnancy and did not throw up while in labor.  Most people with our phobia do not throw up much at all since we hold it in as much as possible.   

jenEP

I am a psychologist and have worked with several people with extreme fear of throwing up. I have seen how hard it can be and have a lot of empathy for what you are going through. Anxiety is a hard emotion to manage at times! I have my own phobia of needles, which has thankfully gotten much better with pregnancy due to the frequent blood draws. I am obviously biased given my profession, but it wouldn't hurt to talk with a therapist who specializes in anxiety and phobias. You may not throw up during labor, but it might be nice to work with someone to reduce your fears just in case and to prepare you for having a kiddo that will be sick and throwing up a lot.

babybluu

ToneGirl said:

babybluu said:

Lurking from j16
I have emetophobia, which is the fear of vomiting. I haven't thrown up in years, even at the start of this pregnancy when I couldn't function due to the nausea because I couldn't let myself throw up. I held it down, making myself feel worse for hours rather than getting it over with. When I feel like I'm going to be sick my hands sweat, my heart races, and I hyperventilate. I'm that scared of vomiting.

anyways, I was with my friend when she had her baby, and she DID throw up from the labor pain. Not the epidural. She said she felt better after she threw up the contents of her stomach. I get nauseous with period cramps, so I can't imagine what it will be like during labor pain. This thread kind of helps me feel better in knowing its normal!

Yup, I have emetohphia as well.  It's absolutely the worst.  I get severe panic attacks about vomit and FREAK out when my kids get sick.  I wipe everything down (including my kids) all flu season long.  I'm already getting anxiety about stomach flu season approaching.  Luckily I had no MS with either pregnancy and did not throw up while in labor.  Most people with our phobia do not throw up much at all since we hold it in as much as possible.   




Oh yeah I can't handle anyone else vomiting either. My little brother unexpectedly puked all over me one day and I literally screamed out loud and thrusted him towards my mom (not baby puke, real puke with food). It was awful, I felt so bad because he was sick and crying, but instantly my stomach turned and I thought I was gonna puke. And I was at my friends house the other day and she was drinking and then she ran to the bathroom to puke. I had to cover my ears so I couldn't hear it. I'm so scared I won't be able to support my sick kids out of fear. But people say when it's your own child it's different. So I hope that's true in my case!
My mom will just reach her hands out and catch the vomit lol