Signs of Morning Sickness: Pregnancy Nausea Remedies

Pregnancy is the most joyous period of a woman's life, and motherhood, a peak of this joy. But the journey to motherhood is often bumpy. The world's greatest job does not come easy. A lot of physical discomfort is associated with pregnancy. Morning sickness is just one of them. Morning sickness begins about 4 to 6 weeks of conception and subsides by the end of 16th week. In some cases, morning sickness may stay for the entire pregnancy period.

What is Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is the term used to describe the feeling of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Medical terminology defines morning sickness as Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP). Actually, the term 'morning sickness' is pretty misleading. Contrary to what the term suggests, the feeling of nausea and vomiting can surface at any time of the day. Although, the exact cause of morning sickness is yet unknown, its occurrence is greatly attributed to the increased levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This hormone interferes with the metabolism of the body and thus, contributes to morning sickness.

Signs of Morning Sickness
Pregnancy intensifies the olfactory sense of the body. Hence, the body reacts to strong smells in an unusual way. There is often an urge to vomit in response to some smells or foods. There is a constant feeling of nausea, when the morning sickness hits you. Vomiting and nausea are the only symptoms associated with morning sickness. And, these are amongst the first symptoms of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Nausea Remedies
Although, it is pretty difficult to completely alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness, certain measures can help you reduce the severity of symptoms of morning sickness.

General remedies

• Get out of the bed slowly, particularly in the morning.
• Make sure you get enough sleep, often, the major cause of morning sickness is tiredness.
• Take small naps, but avoid sleeping immediately after meals.
• Do not keep the stomach entirely empty or completely full. Both can worsen the symptoms of morning sickness.
• Eating plain crackers or dry cereals before getting out of the bed also reduces morning sickness.
• Listening to soothing music is known to work as a remedy for morning sickness.
• Avoid going to warm places, as warm climate aggravates the symptoms.
• Avoid cooking food in poorly ventilated areas. Always use an exhaust fan or open the doors and windows while cooking
• Cooking in the microwave is less likely to produce pungent smells
• If possible, carry a handkerchief with a few drop of essential lemon oil on it

Diet for Healthy Pregnancy

• Eat small portions of meal, 5 to 6 times a day
• Avoid spicy and greasy foods
• Incorporate ginger in your diet, as ginger is very effective in reducing the symptoms of morning sickness to a great extent.
• Drink small amounts of fluids throughout the day, but never take them along with your meals
• Go for foods that are rich in proteins
• Put a pinch of salt before having your meals.
• Eat foods that are served cold, as they suppress most of the odors, hence are less likely to induce morning sickness. Follow the prescribed diet for healthy pregnancy.

Morning sickness is indeed a lot of discomfort for the pregnant women. But the bright fact associated with it is that, it can be beneficial for your baby. Showing the signs of morning sickness means that your baby is getting the required nutrients. Also, women who experience morning sickness have less chances of miscarriages. Morning sickness is a temporary phase in pregnancy, which eventually subsides. Moreover, knowing the fact that it could help your baby, will allow you to enjoy the golden period of your life.