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 by Dr. Rita Louise
If you are in the early stages of pregnancy and are experiencing nausea and vomiting, you may have a case of morning sickness. More than half of all women who are pregnant experience some degree of morning sickness. This condition is very common in the early stages of pregnancy, beginning around the fourth through sixth week after conception. For most, it will resolve itself by the fourth month or second trimester.
Morning sickness is not always associated with vomiting, but the nausea that is commonly experienced as part of this condition is thought to be the result of increasing hormone levels in the body. For some, the symptoms can appear at any time of the day; but for most, they tend to be worse in the morning and will ease up over the course of the day.
For a small group of women, an exaggerated form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum may be indicated when excessive vomiting and an inability to keep down food persists for an extended period of time. While morning sickness cannot harm your baby, hyperemesis gravidarum can be harmful if it is severe and left unchecked.
While no one knows the exact cause of morning sickness, it is believed that the increasing levels of the hormone progesterone in the body slows down the digestive process and causes feelings of nausea. Others believe it is the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) that is the culprit, since the nausea tends to peak as the body begins to produce increasing levels of this hormone.
Whatever the cause, there are a number of natural remedies and alternative health care practices that can help you get through and past the symptoms experienced with morning sickness.
Recommendations For Wellness
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Eat frequent snacks or a number of small meals throughout the day to keep your stomach from being fully empty. Avoid drinking fluids with your meals.
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Get plenty of rest throughout the day.
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In the mornings, eat a few soda crackers or other simple snacks about 15 – 20 minutes before getting out of bed.
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If you feel queasy during the day, try eating a few salty potato chips. Potato chips have been reported to help settle the stomach enough to eat a balanced meal.
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Avoid fatty foods or foods that are hard to digest. You may also want to stay away from fried, rich or spicy foods that may also irritate your digestive system.
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Stretch or get in some gentle exercise daily. Yoga is an excellent form of exercise for pregnant women.
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Reduce your stress. For some women, stress can increase the amount of nausea and vomiting experienced.
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If you have a problem eating a well balanced diet, make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need. Talk to your health care provider about prenatal vitamins.
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If you are vomiting a lot, consume beverages such as sports drinks that contain glucose, salt and potassium, to replace electrolytes that may have been lost. This will help reduce the risk of dehydration.
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The oil of peppermint has also been shown to help a queasy stomach. Put some in an aromatherapy diffuser or put a few drops into a bowl of hot water next to your bed.
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Ginger, like the kind found in real ginger ale, has historically been used to help quell nausea and reduce queasiness. In addition, ginger can be purchased in a capsule form, candied, or you can go to your local supermarket and purchase some fresh ginger root, which can be grated or sliced and added to some boiling water to make ginger tea.
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Catnip also has a calming effect on the nervous system and stomach.
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If you are upset or nervous, try drinking a cup of chamomile tea.
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Red raspberry is commonly used during and after pregnancy and is known to ease the nausea caused by morning sickness.
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To help soothe the digestive tract, slippery elm is always a good, safe, and effective choice.
This information is provided for educational purposes only.
The descriptions of nurtritional supplements are based on the historical usage of the various ingredients. They are not intended to promote any direct or implied health claims, and actual results of usage can vary.
The statements on this Web site have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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