Emetophobia and Labor: You Can Ease Your Fear and Avoid Vomiting

Pregnancy is a particularly trying time for those with Emetophobia. People who suffer from Emetophobia are afraid of vomit and vomiting and it is well known that pregnancy and vomiting go hand in hand.

At times when a woman goes through transition, meaning that her labor is beginning, she will vomit. Women have also been known to vomit on the delivery table and even throughout their entire delivery. This is a great cause for concern for women with Emetophobia.

A woman who has successfully gotten through their pregnancy without being sick can still suffer from this. The thought that you might get sick can make the most exciting day of your life one full of stress and anxiety.

From the time someone who suffers with Emetophobia becomes pregnant they need to make their OB/GYN aware. They need to work with their OB/GYN throughout their pregnancy to see if certain medications can help to ease the fear an emetophobe feels during their pregnancy. Often times having Zofran or Phenargen will be prescribed. To people with Emetophobia often times the simple act of filling the prescription and having it on hand just in case is enough to relieve their fears.

If proper communication has been established with your OB/GYN during your pregnancy he may prescribe one of these drugs for you to have on hand in case you begin to feel nauseous during transition. The doctor may also decide to ad an anti-emetic drip to your IV if you needed prior to active labor.

Other things people with Emetophobia can do to avoid vomiting during labor is to be sure to head the doctors advice on when to stop eating. Once you begin to go into labor you need to only consume clear liquids. You might go more then a day without eating, but without food in your stomach you will be less likely to vomit. Often times the reason for vomiting during transition is that your body needs to clear everything out prior to giving birth.

Vomiting can also occur during labor because of the sheer pain of the experience. If you are sensitive to pain taking pain meds is an option to highly consider. The medication you will be given to combat pain will ensure that you will not reach a point where your body can not handle the pain.

Other options to discuss with your doctor are the use of anxiety medication during labor. They can help to calm you and suppress your fears of vomiting during labor and help you get through your labor with ease.

You don't have to be sick while you are in labor. I have been in labor twice, and have not been sick. I even suffered extreme morning sickness throughout my second pregnancy and survived my second birth without as much as a pang of nausea. Open communication with your doctor is the key, and you will be fine.