Morning sickness is one of the less desirable things that comes along with being newly pregnant. It is estimated that nearly 50-80% of all pregnant women suffer with some amount of morning sickness; presenting itself as a very common part of pregnancy. We want to take some time and explore what is normal, when it happens and what can help to combat it.
What is it?
Morning sickness is a condition that causes nausea during pregnancy. 50% of women report that their nausea becomes severe enough to either result in dry heaving or vomiting. Some women may also experience other symptoms that come with morning sickness including weight loss, changes in taste, and smell or taste aversions. The reason behind the name is that it's beleived that most of the nausea that occurs in women is exacerbated due to an empty stomach; which generally occurs upon waking in the morning. What is normally thought to be a morning only occurrence is contradicted by the fact that 98% of women state that they suffer from symptoms at different times of the day.
When does it happen?
Often, the first signs of pregnancy come with morning sickness and occur around the 6-8 week mark. Most women see that their symptoms will begin to subside around the end of the first trimester, while for some the nausea can unfortunately last into the second and even third trimester. Around 10% of women suffer from nausea beyond their 22nd week of pregnancy. If a woman has not previously suffered from nausea in pregnancy and begins to experience it in her second or third trimester, it is important to contact a physician; this could be a sign that other complications may be present.
How can it be dealt with?
There are a number of things that can help new mothers struggling with morning sickness. The discomfort for some is inevitable, but there are ways to help ease it while it lasts. The following is a list of ideas to help deal with symptoms.
1- Taking a prenatal vitamin
Making sure that mom is taking her prenatal vitamins from the moment she finds out she is pregnant (or earlier if she is trying to conceive) is the most important thing she can do for her baby and herself. Making sure to get all the proper vitamins and nutrients needed may ease the symptoms of morning sickness, and can also help to replenish anything from the mother’s diet that may be lost due to vomiting or food aversions.
2- Changing your diet
It is important that a pregnant mother chooses the proper diet choices for her and her growing baby. By doing this, it will also help give her body what it needs. Eating small amounts of food every few hours rather than large meals can help with the nausea and eliminating spicy and fatty foods can also help. If a mother still struggles with nausea, it might be wise to choose the “BRAT” diet while dealing with it. This consists of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Choosing a dry, bland diet that is high in protein will help ward off nausea and allow the mother to be able to get some much needed food into her body.
Staying hydrated is another key component. Drinking enough water daily will help with nausea as well as other symptoms of dehydration. Many women can quickly become dehydrated and not even know it.
3- Natural Treatments
Sometimes mothers may wish to avoid pharmacologic treatments and try different natural methods to relieve some of the symptoms that come with early pregnancy. These include but are not limited to:
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Nerve stimulation
- Reflexology
- Aromatherapy
- Motion sickness bands
- Ginger, Peppermint, Lemon drops
4- Medications
Doctors will often suggest different methods to combat morning sickness before offering medications. If no natural remedies help, a doctor may recommend medications specifically for nausea to make sure that the mother is able to function daily and allow herself to be able to eat and get the daily nutrients she needs to provide for her child. Please speak to your Obstetrician about the different options if nothing else is working; options that are safe to use while pregnant.
Wrap Up
While morning sickness is an unpleasant part of pregnancy, many studies suggest that is a good thing. These studies show that there are actually lower miscarriage rates with those who suffer from morning sickness. That said, many women who have healthy uncomplicated pregnancies, suffer from no morning sickness. If you find that you are suffering with morning sickness symptoms and need more guidance, please contact our staff to help you navigate through this season of your pregnancy and beyond. You can reach us at www.plchealthclinic.org or 419-238-9177.
* Sources available upon request
