by Patricia Hughes

 

One of the early signs of pregnancy is morning sickness. It affects more than sixty percent of all pregnant women. This condition is caused by changing hormone levels as the body adjusts to being pregnant. Although it is called morning sickness, you can experience the nausea at any time of the day or night.

In most cases, morning sickness causes no harm to the baby. The nausea is generally gone by the end of the first trimester. For a small number of women, the sickness continues and interferes with proper nutrition. Dehydration can result from prolonged morning sickness. Contact your health care provider if you are vomiting daily, lose weight, feel dizzy, aren’t urinating enough or feel thirsty all the time. These can be symptoms of dehydration and should be brought to the doctor’s attention as soon as possible.

The food you eat can either help relieve morning sickness or make it worse. Some foods are thought to make it worse and should be avoided. These include greasy fried foods, fatty or spicy foods. In addition, you may develop an aversion to certain foods. It may be a food that you never had a problem with before, but now it makes you sick just to smell it. Stay away from any foods that cause you to feel this way.

Choosing the right foods can help ease your symptoms. When you are feeling sick, choose foods that are fairly bland and easy on the stomach. Try crackers, toast, fruit, rice or pasta. Eat some crackers or toast in the morning before you get out of bed. Eat frequent, small meals throughout the day. Your stomach will be full and eating often will prevent a drop in blood sugar, which can make you sick.

Certain lifestyle factors can contribute to morning sickness. Making a few changes could be enough to make you feel better. A lack of sleep and stress can contribute to your symptoms. Be sure you are getting enough rest. Nap whenever possible during the day and get to be a little earlier at night. Try yoga, meditation and exercise for relieving stress.

Natural Remedies to Try:
o Certain herbs, such as ginger are believed to help nausea. This is why you feel better when you sip ginger ale.
o Women prone to motion sickness may have a higher rate of morning sickness, some studies suggest. Try wearing the wrist bands that are sold for motion sickness.
o Smells can trigger nausea; they can also help relieve it. Aromatherapy oils such as peppermint and rosemary essential oil help some women. Put a few drops on a cotton ball near your bed. Lotions are also sold that contain essential oils, or you can make your own. Use a few drops of oil in plain, unscented lotion.

If you’ve tried everything and nothing is working, mention it to your doctor. Most of the time, there is nothing to worry about. However, if you are unable to keep any food down and are losing weight, your doctor may become concerned. There are some prescription medications that are considered to be safe. Your doctor will determine if these are needed.

Tags: morning sickness pregnancy womens health