Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that happens during pregnancy. More than half of pregnant women have nausea and vomiting, especially during the first trimester. Studies have shown that women with nausea and vomiting during the first trimester have a lower risk of miscarriage than do women without these symptoms because nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy might indicate you are experiencing the climb in hormones needed for a healthy pregnancy.
Despite its name, you can have morning sickness at any time of day. It doesn’t mean your baby is sick, and it doesn’t hurt the baby. Pregnancy nausea is probably caused by the sudden increase of hormones in your body. It occurs in about 70% of pregnancies and usually starts around 6 weeks of pregnancy and lasts for weeks or months. Some women never feel nauseated during their pregnancy.
Symptoms –
Typical symptoms of morning sickness include:
• A nauseous, queasy feeling in the first trimester of pregnancy that many pregnant women liken to seasickness or car sickness
• Queasiness that often comes in the morning but can surface at any time of the day or night
• Strong aversions to certain smells and foods that are so powerful they can make you sick to your stomach
• A seasick feeling that’s often either accompanied or immediately followed by hunger pangs
• A nausea that strikes after eating
• A nausea that’s so strong it can lead to vomiting
Morning sickness itself doesn’t harm your baby. However you should see your doctor if you can’t keep foods or liquids down and are starting to lose weight.
Causes –
• Increased levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG, which peaks around the time morning sickness is worst
• Rising levels of estrogen and progesterone, which relax the muscles of the digestive tract and make digestion less efficient
• The metallic taste that many women experience during pregnancy
• A sharper sense of smell due to pregnancy hormones
• Heartburn or gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), which are more common during pregnancy
• Excess saliva, which can increase feelings of queasiness
Not all pregnant women experience morning sickness — and not in the same way. Some have only occasionally queasy moments. Others feel nauseous around the clock but rarely or never throw up.
Risk Factors –
You may be more at risk of morning sickness if –
• you’re having twins or more
• you had severe sickness and vomiting in a previous pregnancy
• you tend to get motion sickness (for example, car sick)
• you have a history of migraine headaches
• morning sickness runs in the family
• you used to feel sick when taking contraceptives containing oestrogen
• it’s your first pregnancy
• you’re obese (your BMI is 30 or more)
• you’re experiencing stress
Complications –
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a rare, severe form of morning sickness. Most cases resolve by the 20th week of pregnancy, but a person may have it until the delivery.
The symptoms may include:
• an inability to keep fluids down, due to severe vomiting
• dehydration and weight loss
• alkalosis, which is a dangerous drop in the acidity of the blood
• hypokalemia, which is low potassium levels in the blood
Anyone with severe symptoms should receive medical care immediately. For some people, hospitalization and treatment with IV fluids are necessary.
Diagnosis –
If a person is pregnant and experiencing nausea and vomiting without another underlying cause, the diagnosis of morning sickness is typically straightforward.
Treatment –
A person may not need medical treatment for their morning sickness — self-care strategies can effectively alleviate the symptoms for some people.
• Rest
Fatigue is common during pregnancy, and it can make nausea worse. It is important to rest and get enough sleep whenever possible.
• Liquids
During pregnancy, it can be beneficial to drink smaller amounts of fluids more regularly. This may help reduce vomiting.
• Food
Having smaller meals more frequently may help manage morning sickness. And certain types of food, such as dry, savory foods, may be less likely to cause nausea and vomiting than spicy foods.
• Avoiding triggers
Certain odors, tastes, or both may trigger morning sickness. Understanding and avoiding known triggers can help a person reduce the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting.
• Antinausea medication
If morning sickness symptoms are still severe despite these home care techniques, a doctor may recommend a short course of an antinausea medication, also called an antiemetic, that is safe to use during pregnancy.
• B6 and doxylamine
The over-the-counter version of this combination of medications is called Unisom SleepTabs. It may help treat morning sickness during the first trimester. Trials have found the combination to be effective at reducing nausea and vomiting in up to 70% of participants.
• Practice Yoga
Practicing right yoga postures during pregnancy offers immense help with stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and low back pain. And it might help ease morning sickness too. Asanas such as balasana (child’s pose), ardha chandrasana (half moon pose) and prasarita padottanasana (wide-legged forward bend) can be particularly helpful. However, getting the postures correct is very important as a wrong practice would definitely increase the difficulties.
Ayurvedic Formulations
• Eladi vati
• Eladi churna
• Dadimadyavleha
• Pravala Bhasma
Home Remedies –
• Ginger
A teaspoon of ginger juice may help reduce uneasiness due to morning sickness. Ginger juice has stimulating properties that can soothe your tummy. You can also have ginger infused tea or ginger candies instead.
• Mint
Chewing on some fresh mint leaves can help you get rid of the nauseous feeling. The pungent peppermint flavour is quite refreshing and cooling. Make sure you are not vulnerable to a heartburn as peppermint can only worsen the case.
• Lemon Juice
Fresh lime juice with a little salt and sugar is an effective remedy for morning sickness. The sourness of lemons helps with the nausea. You can also use ginger and lemon water to feel better in case of morning sickness.
• Coconut Water
Rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre, coconut water and its many health benefits can come in handy to tackle morning sickness. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to a cup of coconut water and take a sip every fifteen minutes to settle your stomach.
• Rosewater & milk
Put a drop of rose water in a cupful of milk, boil the milk and then drink it warm. This will help eliminate the feeling of nausea.
For more informative articles about pregnancy problems and other health related issues, please visit our website www.santripty.com and also feel free to consult.
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