Morning Sickness
Ask
pregnant women about what trouble them the most during pregnancy and chances
are they will all have the same answer: morning sickness. Morning sickness, or
nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, is experienced by up to three quarters of
pregnant women. And do not be fooled by its name; morning sickness can make its
presence felt any time of the day. Many experience morning sickness during the
first trimester of pregnancy and it gets better from there. However, there are
cases when morning sickness can linger throughout pregnancy. The good news is
that there are ways to relieve the discomfort and limit the occurrence of
morning sickness. Read on and find out how to get rid of morning sickness.
What Causes Morning Sickness?
 |
| David Castillo Dominici, via freedigitalphotos.net |
The
exact cause of morning sickness has yet to be fully understood, but many
experts believe that the extreme fluctuation of hormone levels is to blame. In
particular, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen levels rise rapidly
during the early stages of pregnancy and are linked to the symptoms of morning
sickness such as dizziness, low blood sugar and upset stomach. Pregnant women
are also more sensitive to certain odors which may trigger the gag reflex and
induce vomiting.
How to Get Rid of Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
1. Eat small, frequent meals.
The
first thing to keep in mind when dealing with morning sickness is to make sure
your stomach is never empty. Instead of eating the usual three large meals a
day, spread your meals into six, smaller meals. This helps with digestion and
reduces the burden on your stomach. Choose foods that are easy to digest and
those that are high in protein.
2. Try ginger.
One home remedy for
morning sickness that a lot of pregnant women swear by is ginger. Ginger has
been known as a natural cure for an upset stomach. Be careful though as a lot
of ginger ales you find in the supermarket are only artificial. You can also
try steeping the ginger root in hot water to make a tea.
3. Use anti-nausea medications.
If
morning sickness causes too much trouble, ask your doctor whether or not you
can take anti-nausea medications. Your doctor will likely suggest vitamin B6
supplements to help get rid of morning sickness quickly. Just make sure that you talk
with your doctor first before taking any medications and follow the recommended
dosages very strictly.
4. Grab some crackers.
It
is often suggested to pregnant women that they keep simple snacks such as
crackers and dry cereal in arms reach. When you wake up in the morning, grab
some crackers and nibble a little before jumping out of bed. You can also snack
on crackers when you wake up in the middle of the night and feel queasy. This
reduces the chances of you suffering from morning sickness when you wake up.
5. Avoid triggers.
An
empty stomach isn’t the only thing that triggers morning sickness. Other common
triggers include strong odors, fatty and spicy foods, and flickering lights.
The triggers vary from person to person so it is best to determine which ones
cause your morning sickness. Knowing these triggers may just be all you need to
get rid of morning sickness.
6. Stay hydrated.
Vomiting
causes you to lose much needed electrolytes. If your morning sickness comes
with a lot of vomiting, drink a lot of water or sports drinks containing
glucose and potassium. This helps replace the lost electrolytes. Also make sure
that you drink plenty of fluid throughout the day. Do not drink too much at one
time, especially before meals as this causes you to feel full and consequently
eat less.
7. Be careful with prenatal vitamins.
For some pregnant
women, morning sickness may be triggered by prenatal vitamins. In such a case,
you may try to take your prenatal vitamins before bed or after a snack. If that
doesn’t help, talk to your doctor and ask whether there are alternative
vitamins you can take with a lower dose of iron, as it may be causing troubles
in your digestive system.
0 comments:
Post a Comment