Morning sickness is the nausea or vomiting associated with pregnancy. This condition is usually more severe in the first trimester & settles by the second trimester. Despite the name, nausea & vomiting can occur at any time of the day. Not every woman has the same pattern of morning sickness. In a few women, it may last until the last month of pregnancy. Few women experience nausea for a short span of time whereas few have the symptoms lasting for several hours a day. This exaggerated form of morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum.
Though the exact cause of morning sickness is not yet clear, probable mechanisms inducing the same include high levels of hormones, fluctuations in blood pressure, altered metabolism of carbohydrates the enormous physical and chemical changes that pregnancy triggers.
Though, morning sickness is usually harmless, warning signs of morning sickness include the following:
- weight loss of 2 pounds or more
- fever
- infrequent urination with small quantities of dark-colored urine
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- blood in the vomit
- frequent headaches
- abdominal pain
- spotting, or bleeding
A woman is expected to be in a calorie surplus during pregnancy. Morning sickness can be a big hurdle in completing the calorie requirements. It can also leave the women weak & exhausted due to the dehydration & electrolyte loss. This weakness can come in their way of physical activity. In such cases calorie dense food like nuts, cheese can help in covering the calorie requirements.
There are several ways to tackle morning sickness, few of which include the following:
- Hydration.
- Taking small naps.
- Proper ventilation to eliminate scents that produce nausea.
- Avoiding spicy foods.
- Sips of flat lemonade, diluted fruit juice, ginger tea, clear soup may relieve.
- Eating small meals.
- Avoiding fatty foods.
- Wearing loose clothes that don’t constrict the abdomen
- Taking vitamins at night.
- Avoiding cigarette smoke.
If a severe case of morning sickness is left untreated, it can lead to a couple of complications like electrolyte imbalances, extreme depression and anxiety, malnourishment of the fetus, excessive strain on vital organs, including the liver, heart, kidneys and brain.
At times women may need medical interventions if the nausea & vomiting does not settle with home remedies. Such cases require intravenous fluid therapy to maintain the blood volume, antiemetics to control the vomiting, antacids to control the acid secretion in the stomach. Alternate medicine like acupressure & acupuncture may also relieve the symptoms.
Women should log their food items & keep a note of which food aggravates their nausea & retching. It is better to avoid these food items in the diet.
References:
- Morning Sickness: When It Starts, Symptoms, Remedies (no date). Available at: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/morning-sickness/ (Accessed: 10 April 2022).
- Pregnancy - morning sickness - Better Health Channel (no date). Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/pregnancy-morning-sickness (Accessed: 10 April 2022).
- Vomiting and morning sickness - NHS (no date). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vomiting-and-morning-sickness/ (Accessed: 10 April 2022).
