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Ask A Childbirth Educator
Questions and Answer

Q. Is it labor itself or the medications that cause nausea and vomitting during labor?

If it is the medications, what do you medications do you recommend that are least likely to cause this?

A. It can be both, but nausea and vomiting is most often seen with medication. Vomiting can also occur if the mother becomes dehydrated. If vomiting occurs in an unmedicated labor, most often it is near the time of full dilation and is usually relieved once the cervix is fully dilated. For some women, vomiting at 7 or 8 centimeters allows their cervix to widen right up to full dilation.

Actually nausea and vomiting is a possible side effect of all the most common medications in labor and delivery. Usually they also administer an anti-emetic if it becomes intolerable. It's also impossible to tell if you will have nausea or vomiting as a side effect beforehand; everyone reacts differently to medications.

Karen Klimsak-Ungar, CCE has been a certified childbirth educator for Birth Works® since 1996. She is currently Managing Editor for the Birth Works newsletter, sits on the Birth Works Board of Directors, and serves on their National Trainee Review Committee. A happily married mother of two, she also continues to teach Birth Works classes as well as private classes.

Karen will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.