If you are pregnant, you have probably noticed an excess of salivation, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. One of the most frequent symptoms of pregnancy is ptialism or excessive salivation, also known as sialorrhea.
Salivation, mainly related to taste sensations or conditioned reflexes, increases in pregnancy and due to different conditions. In pregnant women it usually disappears spontaneously at week 20 or decreases noticeably, although sometimes it remains until the end of pregnancy.
Sialorrhea in pregnancy It has not been very studied, since it puts more interest in another of the digestive manifestations that occur at this stage, nausea and vomiting. Therefore there is not much bibliography in this regard.
It usually disappears during sleep, and there are statistics that indicate its maximum prevalence during the first trimester (about 10% of pregnant women), and decrease around 2% during the puerperium. In pregnant women it is related to gastroesophageal reflux, which together with nausea and vomiting would increase the degree of salivation.
Some tricks that alleviate pialism or excess salivation they are the ingestion of any food that we find appetizing, brushing teeth when the symptom begins, mouthwashes or chewing a mint gum.
Despite being a normal symptom and not serious, extreme cases can occur. If excess saliva is very abundant, prevents a normal life and is accompanied by vomiting several times a day, it is necessary to consult a doctor, because we could suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum or suffer from dehydration and we need treatment to avoid complications.
But in principle ptialism or abundant salivation during pregnancy It will only be an uncomfortable companion that we can spend with patience, handkerchiefs whenever necessary and with abundant visits to the sink. The worst, if it is accompanied by nausea and vomiting, for which we remind you of some tips to keep them at bay.
