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Pregnant! What's This About Morning Sickness?
Congratulations! You're pregnant!
One minute you're overjoyed with your news, the next you're brought back down to earth with a thud.
And with it,the rude awakening that soon after conception, your body begins undergoing a series of major changes to help prepare it for your baby's growth and development.
Mother Nature loves irony. How else to explain taking the happiest time in a
woman's life and causing her to become physically ill and miserable?
And, what's with using the term, "morning
sickness"? Actually, the correct term is
"nausea and vomiting of pregnancy". Which is
closer to the truth since the condition can
and will occur anytime of the day.
Facts about the condition:
1. 50-95% of pregnant women suffer from it
2. dehydration can happen in extreme cases
3. occurs in first month of pregnancy
4. continues until 14th-16th week
5. 50% of women will suffer for another
month
Although nobody will say for sure what the
definite causes are, the theories are:
1. estrogen level increase
2. low blood sugar
3. increased sensitivity to smells where
many odors instantly trigger the gag-
reflex
4. rise in progesterone level . This
hormone helps relax the uterus in order
to prevent early labor but it also
relaxes the stomach and intestines
which cause excess acids in the stomach
and slower waste removal.
5. eating unhealthy foods. Seems the body
has a sure-fire way to make sure you
don't ingest anything not good for you
or baby. Vomiting!
6. and this doozy. an increase in human
chorionic gonadotropin! Now you know
why they prefer to call it (hCG) This
is a peptide hormone produced by the
embryo soon after conception and later
on by the placenta. It's role is to
maintain crucial levels of progesterone
production vital in human pregnancies.
7. excess salivation which nauseates some
women
It's difficult to spend time on the causes when all you want is relief. As with
anything to do with the human body, there's no one-size-fits-all remedy. There will be a period of trial and error as you find what
works for you. Of course it goes without saying, you will be consulting with your doctor/care-provider.
So here are some corrective measures used by many women:
1. eating small, frequent meals. An empty
stomach produces an acid which
aggravates the stomach lining.
2. foods should be high in proteins and
complex carbohydrates. Yogurt, cheese
and eggs for example.
Whole-grain breads and cereals. Don't
make the mistake of thinking of whole-
wheat as being whole-grain. You want
the product label to say " 100% whole-
grain". Big difference and healthy for
mother and baby.
3. drink fluids. Dehydration makes
everything worse. Extreme cases need to
be hospitalized. If you can't stomach
fluids, try eating fruit which has high
water content and low acid like grapes
and watermellon
4. ginger (zingiber officinale) The age-
old remedy for upset stomachs. Either
capsules, tea or ginger-snaps and
candy. Try to get ginger ale made with
real ginger. Usually not supermarket
brands. You may have to try the health-
food section in your grocery or an
actual health-food store.
5. brushing teeth after vomiting will
decrease excess saliva and lessen
stomach turmoil. And, prevents tooth
decay and makes you feel better.
6. get proper rest. Fatigue and stress
will cause morning sickness to worsen.
If able to, nap often.
7. stay away from fatty, spicy, rich,
acidic and ried foods
8. eat crackers before getting out of bed.
Get up slowly.
9. take prenatal vitamins later on in the
day
10. try vitamin B6
11. microwave cooking produces less odors.
Better yet, have someone else do the
cooking while you, lucky girl, stay
away!
12. go smell lemons. Believe it or not,
relief may be found by sprinkling
essential oil of lemon on a
handkerchief and holding it to your
nose.
13. warm places can trigger nausea. Try to
stay cool. If not in air conditioning,
install fans around you. Even a battery-
operated hand-held fan can bring relief.
14. if your stomach agrees, eat what you
want when you want it. Your special
cravings are trying to tell you
something.
It can be downright annoying when well-
meaning friends and family tell you, "This too shall pass". Especially when you feel miserable. Usually after the first trimester, you will again be concentrating on
happy, future events.
And, Congratulations!
(c) 2006 Karen Cook
Reference Sources: Wikipedia and Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
About the Author: Karen Cook works at a Public Library. Her greatest rewards are assisting patrons with self-help information. Visit her weblog at:
http://happilypregnant.blogspot.com
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