The toughest bit of the 1st trimester of pregnancy is morning sickness and any woman who has gone through or is going through it, knows the first signs usually develop during the month following the first missed menstrual period, when hormone levels increase. It may range from mild, occasional nausea to sever, continuous, debilitating nausea with bouts of vomiting. In most cases, symptoms may be worse in morning, albeit they can strike day or night.
Despite all advances in medicine, there is no way of predicting how long your morning sickness will last even if you have suffered it before. Generally, nausea and vomiting last till about 12 - 13 weeks of pregnancy. However, some women continue to feel ill beyond their 22nd week as well.
However, some studies show that mild to moderate sickness is a sign of a good pregnancy, and less risk of miscarriage.
There is no simple treatment. The best course of action is home treatment. The following tips work wonders not only when you wake up feeling nauseous but also work when you get that queasy feeling during the day.
Changing what, when and how much you eat coupled with certain changes to the way foods cooked helps.
During morning or for that matter all day sickness, you may find that eating five or six small meals, rather than the usual three large ones, is easier on the body. Make sure each meal contains some protein and carbohydrate, like whole wheat bread with grated cheese and a slice of tomato, rice or wheat preparation with some easily digestible / light cereals, orange juice and a whole wheat biscuit. Be creative; choose low fat health foods you know will tempt your appetite. Aversions to food because of nausea are perfectly normal and understandable.
Try not to miss meals
Eat small, dry snacks.
Don't jump up out of bed immediately. Lie quietly for a while and ask you husband to bring you a slice of fresh lemon or orange or a dry, bland biscuit.
Avoid large drinks, have frequent small one between meals.
Spicy, fried foods, and fatty foods like very rich sweets, are best avoided.
Avoid excessive consumption of pickles or chutney, which is rich in salt.
Don't spend much time in the kitchen and avoid the strong smell of certain foods when shopping.
Prepare food when feeling least nauseous.
Taking lemon or orange juice in the morning and before meals relieves nausea of early pregnancy.
Suck an ice cube till the nausea passes off.
Sip on cool water.
While nausea during pregnancy is common problem that expectant mothers face. Most pregnant women will experience nausea during the first trimester, but some women have problems with nausea throughout their entire pregnancy. While there are the few lucky women who will have no nausea at all during pregnancy, if you are among the majority who do, here a few ideas that can help dramatically reduce the nausea you feel.
On thing you can do to help control nausea during pregnancy is to not allow your stomach to become empty. It is a much better idea to snack all day long than to eat three large meals. When you are feeling ill, eating will be the last thing on your mind. You may not even want to look at food.
However, if you do not eat regularly, your blood sugar levels can drop and actually increase nausea during pregnancy. You should avoid simple carbohydrates such as sugar and candy. Instead, choose whole grains and proteins as these foods will remain in your stomach longer and help prevent your blood sugar levels from spiking.
Drinking plenty of fluids will help prevent nausea during pregnancy. Making sure your body remains hydrated during pregnancy is essential and can also help reduce the nausea you may feel. Dehydration can actually increase nausea during pregnancy. You should avoid soda, caffeine, fruit juice, and coffee. Instead try plenty of water and decaffeinated beverages.
It's really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of nausea during pregnancy. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.
Expectant mothers have a great deal of anxiety and stress in their lives. Keeping yourself calm and relaxed during can help reduce nausea during pregnancy . Try talking with your spouse and other expectant moms about the stress and worries that you feel. Pregnancy can tend to make you feel isolated from the rest of the world and increase the stress you may be feeling.
If you are feeling anxious and stressed about labor and delivery, reading and educating yourself on the subject and becoming aware of what you can expect during each stage of your pregnancy and delivery can help you feel more comfortable with the changes that are taking place within your body and help you feel less anxious about the labor and delivery process.
Many expectant mothers have found that a prenatal massage from either your partner or a professional helps calm the nerves. Exhaustion can have a negative impact on your body and your mind during pregnancy. A lack of rest can increase nausea during pregnancy. Sleep and rest whenever possible during pregnancy. This will help you feel better in general and help reduce nausea.
Following these simple tips can help relieve some of the discomfort and nausea during pregnancy. Keep in mind that nausea affects the majority of pregnant women at some point during their pregnancy. However, if the nausea you feel becomes unbearable or debilitating, contact your doctor immediately.
If you've picked some pointers about nausea during pregnancy that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.
You must be logged in to post a comment.