Morning sickness during pregnancy and how to manage

27 Jul

Morning sickness during pregnancy and how to manage

Morning sickness in pregnancy is a common complaint by women and is characterized by nausea and vomiting, particularly in the first trimester. The condition affects 70-80% of all pregnant women. The symptoms typically start 2-4 weeks after fertilization and peaks between 9 to 16 weeks of pregnancy. It usually resolves around 22 weeks, but about 10% of women continue to experience morning sickness until the time of delivery.

What causes morning sickness?

While the exact morning sickness cause is unknown, changing hormone levels in the body at the beginning of pregnancy is thought to be a major factor. Some of the changes include:

Increase in the human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels caused by conception.
An increase in progesterone levels helps prepare the womb for pregnancy. Progesterone is thought to affect the firmness of the valve at the lower end of the oesophagus leading to nausea.
Increased estrogen levels in the body in the early stages.

Managing Morning Sickness

Morning sickness treatment at home involves changes to the diet and routines that will shorten the episodes or avoid triggers. These tips can help in general:

Modifications to the diet

Eating small meals several times a day rather than a few large meals is more effective in controlling nausea. The meals should not contain too many fatty or spicy items that could trigger the excess release of stomach acids. Bland foods are less aggravating and better at easing nausea. It is also advisable to consume foods higher in proteins and low in carbohydrates.

Staying physically active

Staying physically active by performing simple chores that can take the mind off the pregnancy morning sickness symptoms can help along with other activities such as solving puzzles and reading books. Activities that keep the mind preoccupied can avoid triggering the symptoms.

Proper fluid intake

It is important to stay well-hydrated throughout the day to stay healthy, especially during pregnancy. Since nausea might make women avoid fluids, dehydration is a possible outcome that could aggravate the condition. Small sips of water through the hours or sucking small ice cubes made from natural fruit juices works effectively.

Ginger and peppermint teas

Ginger is recommended in treating pregnancy morning sickness as it is shown to have an effect on reducing nausea. Drinking mild tea with ginger added to it or adding raw ginger to water can significantly reduce the feeling of nausea. Peppermint tea has also been used to treat morning sickness.

Wearing comfortable clothing

Restrictive clothing can aggravate the symptoms of morning sickness. Conversely, wearing loose-fitting, comfortable clothing can ease nausea.

Avoiding Triggers

There is a range of triggers to morning sicknesses such as certain odours, strong perfumes, travelling in a closed vehicle such as a car or a bus or eye strain caused by long screen time. Learning to recognize and avoid triggers can help reduce episodes of nausea.

Managing acid reflux

Acid reflux is a condition experienced by many women. Antacid medications before bedtime prescribed by a doctor can help reduce morning sickness and vomiting.

Morning sickness affects most women during pregnancy because of the hormonal changes occurring in the body. It can be managed by natural remedies and changes to the diet and routines. Medication for morning sickness should be a last resort and taken under the supervision of a doctor.

When to seek help

Talk with your doctor if you have one or more of the following:

Signs of dehydration, including infrequent urination, dark-colored urine, or dizziness with standing
Vomiting repeatedly throughout the day
Abdominal or pelvic pain or cramping
Unable to keep down any food or drinks for more than 12 hours
Weight loss of more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg)
Fever or diarrhea in addition to nausea and vomiting

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5107351/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37757#what-is-morning-sickness

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vomiting-and-morning-sickness/

https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/dealing-with-morning-sickness

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0701/p121.html

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy-beyond-the-basics?