Morning sickness is a common problem of early pregnancy and usually seen during first 3 months or first trimester of it. It usually begins around the 6th week of pregnancy. Nausea or vomiting is triggered by the sudden increase of pregnancy hormones in your body, and many physicians believe it to be a good sign indicating that the placenta is developing well. It is not harmful to you or your baby. But if you experience excessive vomiting and cannot keep your food down, then you may have hyperemesis gravidarum. The condition is characterised by severe nausea, weight loss and electrolyte imbalance and can be harmful to your baby. Contrary to this, nausea could strike at any time during the day and not just in the morning. Though there is no proper treatment for morning sickness, still you can manage it by adopting some measures:-
* Wake up relaxed in the Morning: Sit up slowly with the support to your back. Jumping out of bed with sudden movements might increase the nervousness or anxiety. Avoid cooking early in the morning as it may aggravate the nausea.
* Eat Small and Frequent Meals Don't eat too much, but also make sure not to remain on an empty stomach for too long as it can aggravate the symptoms. Increase the intake of protein and carbohydrates in the diet.
* Avoid Iron Supplements unless you are Anemic Iron supplements can be hard on your digestive system. Include intake of fresh fruits and vegetables along with yogurt as it contains Vitamin B. Take advice from your gynecologist for the iron tablets.
* Avoid Spicy and Fried Foods Limit the intake of spicy and oily foods like pickles, chaat, paani puri, etc. especially in the hot summer months. It can exacerbate the symptoms.
* Use Citrus Fruits and Chew Fresh Mint or Peppermint Flavored Candies Some women have reported that smelling or sucking on citrus fruits like lemons and oranges can provide much relief from the symptoms. Ginger tea could also help as ginger is known to provide relief to the stomach and helps you treat you with nausea.
* Acupressure Bands Could Help It has been designed to deal with the morning sickness and have also helped many pregnant women. You can find them at any chemist store and health food shops.
* Include Veggies: Eat more fresh fruits and salads and have bananas for breakfast as they are rich in potassium and are known to help quell nausea.
* Wear Comfortable and Loose Clothes Try wearing loose and comfortable clothes. Tight clothes that are restricted around the waist may make you feel worse in pregnancy.
* Breathe fresh air Spend more time outside, and keep your home well-ventilated rooms that prevent the odor that often causes nausea. Morning sickness should not be something that pregnant women should be scared of. It is just a small episode in pregnancy through which every woman passes by and gradually the symptoms subside. Do not let a little bit of discomfort ruin your beautiful journey. Just be strong and try to prevent it as you are not alone in this phase.