Oh...that queasy feeling! Everything seems to bring it on, especially in the morning—ÂÂsmells, the sight of breakfast, even the thought of food. You may wonder: If this is what pregnancy is going to be like, who needs it? And why does such an exciting life event have to be accompanied by this constant nausea? Is something wrong?
Morning Sickness: What's in a Name
Prevention Strategies
Coping With Nausea
Taking the Long View
Morning Sickness: What's in a Name
Nausea , sometimes accompanied by vomiting, is a common symptom of early pregnancy. About 50 to 70 percent of pregnant women experience it in the first trimester. Not only is nausea normal, it's usually a sign that your pregnancy is healthy.
The condition is called "morning sickness" because that's often the time when the symptoms are the worst. However, you can feel queasy and throw up any time of day when you're pregnant. It's believed that the symptoms are caused by the pregnancy hormone hCG, which is produced by the developing placenta and which helps to maintain the pregnancy. But other factors such as low blood sugar, increased stomach acid, stress, and fatigue can also contribute.
Prevention Strategies
Prevention is the best way to deal with morning sickness. Keep some plain crackers, rice cakes, or even a piece of chocolate at your bedside and eat something the moment you awaken, to raise your blood sugar before you get up. Instead of eating three large meals a day, eat five to six small meals to avoid an empty stomach and keep your blood sugar stable. Be sure your diet includes sufficient amounts of protein (meats, fish, eggs, cheese) and complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, grains) to meet the requirements of your developing baby.
Some nutrition experts recommend taking 75 to 100 milligrams of a vitamin B6 supplement to prevent nausea. Take your regular prenatal vitamin as well. Stay away from spicy or greasy foods, avoid becoming overheated and sweaty, and get adequate rest.
Coping With Nausea
When you're feeling nauseous, try the following:
Taking the Long View
The good news is that for most women morning sickness ends by the fourth month of pregnancy, when hormone levels begin to decrease a bit. If your symptoms of nausea and vomiting are persistent (occurring more that once or twice each day), prevent you from eating or drinking altogether, or continue past your first trimester, report this to your health care provider. You might have a more serious problem called hyperemesis gravidarum, which requires treatment with oral or intravenous medication.
