Morning sickness in pregnancy is a case that happens to any pregnant female associated with nausea and vomiting.
About 70% of pregnant females can be affected by it during the first trimester of pregnancy, and despite its name, it can occur at any time of the day, not only in the morning.
Today we will briefly discuss morning sickness in pregnancy, its causes, symptoms, and how to deal with it.
When does morning sickness start?
Morning sickness in pregnancy starts as early as the sixth week of pregnancy, but the exact timing varies.
Most women experience signs of morning sickness before nine weeks of pregnancy.
Causes of morning sickness in pregnancy
The cause of morning sickness in pregnancy isn’t entirely known, but healthcare providers believe it’s a mix of physical and chemical changes.
It may be caused by:
An increase in pregnancy hormones like human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or estrogen.
Blood pressure fluctuations.
Changes in metabolism.
Fatigue and travelling.
Thyroid and gallbladder diseases.
How morning sickness in pregnancy may be worsened?
Morning sickness in pregnancy may be worsened by the following:
Stress and anxiety.
Being over-tired.
Eating or smelling certain foods.
Motion sickness.
Heat or warm weather.
Symptoms of morning sickness in pregnancy
Symptoms of morning sickness in pregnancy can include:
Nausea.
Loss of appetite.
Psychological effects, such as depression and anxiety.
When morning sickness in pregnancy become severe?
Most women with morning sickness feel nauseous for a short time each day and may vomit once or twice.
In more severe cases of morning sickness in pregnancy, nausea can last several hours each day and vomiting occurs more than four times per day.
This is a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.
Management of morning sickness in pregnancy
Suggestions for coping with morning sickness in pregnancy include:
Don’t take drugs of any kind, unless your doctor knows you are pregnant and has prescribed specific medications.
Eat a few dry crackers or plain sweet biscuits before getting out of bed in the morning.
Don’t eat anything that you suspect will make you nauseous.
In general, high-carbohydrate meals are well tolerated.
Eat small meals regularly, as an empty stomach tends to trigger nausea.
Drink as much as you can manage.
Sometimes sips of flat lemonade, diluted fruit juice, cordial, weak tea, ginger tea, clear soup or beef extract drinks are helpful.
If none of these are bearable, try sucking on ice cubes.
Vitamin B6 supplements can be useful, but doses above 200 mg daily can be harmful. Follow your doctor’s advice.
Consider acupressure or acupuncture on the wrist.
Wear loose clothes that don’t constrict your abdomen.
Moving around may aggravate morning sickness.
Rest whenever possible.
When should you see the doctor?
Always seek medical advice if your Morning sickness in pregnancy is severe, if you have lost a lot of weight quickly, or if you feel depressed or anxious.
Treatment options can include medication that won’t harm your developing baby.
Contact your health care provider if:
You produce no urine or only a little urine that's a dark color
You can't keep liquids down.
You feel dizzy or faint when you stand up.
Your heart races.
Some tests should be done in the case of morning sickness in pregnancy, your provider may do the following tests:
Blood tests including CBC and blood chemistry (chem-20).
Urine tests.
Ultrasound.
Increased morning sickness in pregnancy
The risk for severe morning sickness in pregnancy increases if you:
Are pregnant with twins, triplets, or more.
Have a personal history of severe morning sickness with a previous pregnancy.
And/or have a biological parent or sibling who had a history of severe morning sickness with pregnancy.
Have a history of motion sickness.
Have a history of migraines.
Have overweight (a body mass index, or BMI, greater than 25 and less than 30).
Have a condition called trophoblastic disease, which leads to abnormal cell growth in the uterus.
Are stressed or anxious.
Live in a hot climate.
Are sleep-deprived.
Does morning sickness harm the baby?
Mild to moderate morning sickness in pregnancy usually isn’t harmful to you or the fetus.
However, it can become a problem if you can’t keep food or liquid down, become dehydrated, and lose weight.
Unmanaged severe nausea and vomiting can prevent you from getting the nutrition you need and affect your baby’s weight at birth.
How to treat morning sickness in pregnancy?
Treatment of morning sickness in pregnancy depends on the severity of your symptoms.
Be sure to discuss all your treatment options with your pregnancy care provider.
For very mild cases, possible treatments could include:
Lifestyle changes; these changes might include wearing a pressure-point wristband (acupressure bands) or eating ginger chews and drinking ginger tea for nausea.
Dietary changes; small, frequent meals (every two hours) of bland, dry food can help with nausea and vomiting.
Crackers, toast, white potatoes or rice are good examples.
Avoiding triggers; you may notice certain things make you more nauseated, like specific smells or riding in a car.
Try to avoid activities that make you feel this way.
If your vomiting is excessive and you become dehydrated, you might need to stay in the hospital.
Some of the treatments for moderate to severe hyperemesis gravidarum include:
Several prescription medications can relieve nausea and vomiting.
Your provider will deliver fluids and nutrients to you using an IV in your arm. This could require hospitalization.
You’ll get nutrients from a flexible tube that your provider places in your nose or stomach.
In most cases, you’ll be hospitalized for treatment.
All in all, Morning sickness in pregnancy is a common case that many pregnant females suffer from, but there are many ways to reduce and manage it.
You should always try to keep your body with an appropriate quantity of water and fluids, and have a balanced diet.
Also, before using any medications or doing anything you should take your doctor’s opinion to keep your baby and yourself safe and healthy.
You must be logged in to post a comment.