Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

A large percentage of women experience morning sickness when pregnant. While it isn't a disease or dangerous, nonetheless, it is very discomforting. Though called morning sickness, it is wave of nausea that may hit you at any time of the day. Most pregnant women experience some amount of nausea, and about one in every three women will also have vomiting. Morning sickness usually begins during the first month of pregnancy and is expected to abate by the third or fourth. For a few unfortunate women, the nausea and vomiting lasts through the entire pregnancy. However, the amount of morning sickness you experience during one pregnancy does not reflect how you will feel during the next.

What Causes Morning Sickness in Pregnancy

The exact cause of morning sickness or nausea during pregnancy is not known, but the plausible causes are:

• There is a rapid increase of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during early pregnancy, which might be one of the contributing factors. While no one knows whether hCG contributes to morning sickness in pregnant women, it is suspected because the nausea seems to be at its worst when hCG levels are at their highest.
• Another suspect is estrogen, a hormone which also rises rapidly in early pregnancy. There is fluctuation amidst the other hormones as well, which may also be a contributing factor.
• Many pregnant women have a heightened sense of smell, which does not cause but contribute to morning sickness in pregnancy. They are also more sensitive towards certain odors, which can consequently trigger the nausea.

How to Deal with Morning Sickness in Early Pregnancy

Staying positive is easier said than done when faced with morning sickness. These suggestions should help you tide through this difficult time:

• Soda crackers are one food that most women with morning sickness are able to tolerate well. One is advised to have some of them or dry toast, as soon as they wake up, even before getting out of bed. Also try to drink plenty of fluids.
• Eating several small meals and snacking often is advised. Try to have a small snack before going to bed at night, and also when you wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
• Ginger is a food that is proven to have nausea fighting abilities, and may help minimize the problem. Try sipping on some ginger tea or ginger ale, or munching on ginger candy, to see if it gives you relief.
• Another recommendation is to take some task out of your morning schedule to free up some time. If you have understanding employer you can even try going in late to work. Whatever you do, make sure you give yourself extra time to get out of bed and get ready for work at a relaxed pace.
• Needless to say, avoid all those odors that trigger nausea. If you need to ban the use of perfumes in the house, then so be it. Do not cook or eat spicy food, and avoid the break room when food is being reheated in the microwave.
• When you do eat, try to consume those foods that are high in protein and complex carbohydrates, such as peanut butter on apple slices; milk and milk products; nuts and crackers. Keep the foods high in fat and salt, but low in nutrition at bay.

Apart from these step, you can also try acupressure to reduce morning sickness during pregnancy. Acupressure wristbands meant specifically for this purpose are available in drug stores. Another suggestion is to keep yourself cool, and always have plenty of air circulation around yourself. If your nausea is severe, and you cannot seem to be able to contain any food, inform your doctor about your condition.