The person who coined the term “morning sickness” was either a person who had never been pregnant, or just a very mean spirited person with goals of misleading women about what happens to their bodies during pregnancy.
From vomiting to nausea and all of the “fun” bits in between, morning sickness can start as soon as a pregnant woman wakes up and end only when she goes to sleep. Whether sick all day or literally sick just in the mornings, pregnant women need to know what they can do to combat this sickness so they can resume some sort of a normal daily routine.
What is Morning Sickness
According to WebMD, some studies link morning sickness to the increased level of estrogen and other hormones in the early stages of pregnancy. Morning sickness usually begins the month after the first missed period. Although there is no clear indication of how long each woman will experience the nausea, vomiting, and aches associated with early pregnancy hormones, most sources say symptoms will subside by weeks 12 to 14. Some lucky women, however, experience morning sickness all through their pregnancy.
Remedies for Morning Sickness
Given that 75 to 85 percent of women experience morning sickness, there is a significant amount of information available on how to treat and manage it by changing habits and diet.
Most treatments can be done at home and require no third party intervention like:
- Eating only what you want to eat. Making yourself eat what’s available or what others have just because it’s there can induce vomiting.
- Staying away from foods and smells that make you feel sick.
- Eating fried, greasy, or spicy foods, as they often don’t sit well with pregnant women.
- Drinking fluids between meals and not during meals.
- Getting plenty of rest before feelings of exhaustion set in.
- Eating ginger. (A common misconception is that ginger ale helps. Although it tastes good, it doesn’t contain real ginger. Real ginger is what helps pregnant women battle nausea.)
- Eating saltine crackers before getting out of bed.
In some cases, additional treatment may be necessary, such as the use of over-the-counter vitamins and supplements, like doxylamine with B6. Pregnant women should make sure they speak with their doctor before resorting to this remedy.
It is important that women tell their health care provider about any morning sickness they are experiencing. Though most cases are mild, some women experience severe nausea and vomiting, causing them to become dehydrated and malnourished. Either way, it is always best to consult a doctor as mild symptoms can quickly turn severe.
Erin T. McMillon - Erin T. McMillon is working hard at making a name for herself in the industry. After graduating from The College of Notre Dame of ...
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