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.
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, 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
fried 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.
Although 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.
Again, Congratulations! (more…)