Morning Sickness
What Is Morning Sickness?
Pregnancy sickness can take many different forms. It can be a feeling of nausea without actually being sick, or it can be vomiting. It can happen at any time of day but is most likely first thing in the morning when you haven’t eaten for a while and your blood pressure is low. It won’t affect your baby who will still get all the nutrients that he needs and it tends to pass by around week fourteen.
Research in America indicates that morning sickness could be a healthy thing. During pregnancy the body’s immune system is suppressed. Morning sickness could be natures way of avoiding harmful food that could carry infection, including meat, fish and eggs.
What Remedies Are Available?
- eat a plain biscuit or cracker as soon as you wake up in the morning. This can make the difference between throwing up and not although you may still feel slightly unwell.
- avoid hot and spicy foods and try to stick to bland food and carbohydrates which release energy slowly and eat little and often
- fresh ginger has been shown to reduce pregnancy sickness. Try ginger beer, ginger biscuits and ginger tea. This can be made with a teaspoon of grated fresh ginger steeped in hot water with lemon or honey to taste.
- Rest. Being overtired exacerbates sickness.
- drink plenty of water. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and sickness. Try to drink eight glasses of still, plain water each day. If drinking huge quantities is difficult sucking on ice-lollies and ice cubes may help. A glass of water before eating will aid digestion and ginger or mint tea are alternatives to this
- drink milk and fizzy drinks
- alternative therapies including homeopathy, aromatherapy and reflexology have all been shown to reduce sickness. Contact the Complementary Medical Association to find a qualified practitioner
- if you are feeling really sick, consider taking a couple of days off work. Pregnancy can be exhausting and over work can exacerbate sickness
- sniff lemons. The scent and taste of citrus fruits have been shown to help feelings of nausea cease. Try lem or grapefruit juice, sorbets and lemon slices. Citrus flavoured bath soaps and shower gels can also help.
Should I See My GP?
If you’re feeling really unwell and are vomiting several times a day, are losing weight and your urine is not clear in colour then it’s time to see your GP. They can prescribe anti-emetics (anti- nausea tablets)
It is believed that around two per cent of pregnant women suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum. Sufferers become dehydrated, lose weight and are unable to keep any food or drink down. They pass very small amounts of urine and their skin becomes very dry. In these severe cases the sufferers are taken into hospital and given anti-emetics and intravenous fluids.
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