The Imperfect Community

honeybee · Queen of Imperfection Joined: 20 Dec 2002 Posts: 3163

I've been experiencing this really awful thing -- when I cough (having some allergy issues at the moment, and had a cold a month ago) my stomach suddenly starts going flip-floppy and then I start heaving and throw up. Ughhh. I do not feel nauseated at all though.

Has anyone had this experience? I am so afraid this horrible thing is going to continue. I can't even clear my throat without my stomach lurching. Neutral

DietCokeHead · Queen of Imperfection Joined: 29 Apr 2002 Posts: 3805

I'm thinking it's probably your gag reflex that can be more sensitive during pregnancy? I don't know about you but I can barely brush and floss my teeth without gagging these days! I hope it goes away!

Petulant Pixie · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:38 am Post subject:

Actually, you lose smooth muscle control during pregnancy--which is part of why you can get UTI's more easily, the smooth muscle doesn't contract to push the bacteria out. Same thing with the esophagus, you aren't controlling it as well, so things from your stomach just kind of moving up whenever they're forced, like by coughing. Does that make sense? I guess the thing to do is to just eat real small meals for a while, so that your stomach doesn't have a lot in it? Ask your doctor Laughing

becky2005 · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

HB, the same thing happens to me too. If I start coughing (which thankfully doesn't happen often) I start heaving and gagging right afterwards. PP's idea about our muscles being relaxed makes a lot of sense.

And DCH, my gag reflex is awful too. It's bad anyway--I have trouble getting x-rays on my teeth when I'm not pregnant!--but it's so bad right now that my back teeth are really getting neglected. I bought a small toddler toothbrush to use on my back teeth with my last pregnancy and it helped a little.