Will ANYTHING stay down?
Apr 17 '00
You know that "pregnancy glow" everyone talks about? I think for the average women it is actually the sheen of sweat on their brow from countless hours of praying to the porcelain goddess.
What IS morning sickness?
Morning sickness is pregnancy related nausea, common to the first trimester in roughly eighty percent of expectant mothers. Doctors don't know what EXACTLY causes morning sickness but speculate about the hormonal changes, increase of stomach acids, and other attributes of pregnancy combining to contribute to this rollercoaster of the digestive tract.
Morning sickness is rather inappropriately named. It can strike in the morning of course, but that tidal wave of nausea can also hit at midday or midnight. The tsunami of all morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum - "excessive vomiting in pregnancy". If you're having trouble keeping any food down at all, you are at risk of becoming dehydrated and malnourished. Call your healthcare provider and get treated as soon as possible if you find yourself in this situation!
What can I do to help alleviate the symptoms?
What helps varies widely among women. Your mother may swear by saltines, while your best friend will assure you that your only solution is to suck on a lemon wedge every morning. Experiment - see what works for YOU.
In my first pregnancy, saltines made me queasy, flat 7-UP had me rushing into the bathroom, and high protein snacks gave me the willies. A cold glass of iced ginger tea though, now that was relief. You would find me transformed from the raving, pale-faced woman hanging over the toilet with a cold washrag in one hand into someone who could actually eat (and enjoy) a liverwurst and onion sandwich. At the beginning of this, my second pregnancy, even the SMELL of ginger was enough to have my face turn green. And remember those high protein snacks that didn't work the first time around? This time, chicken breast became my favorite, frequent snack. A nibble an hour kept the nausea away.
Here are some common tips for battling morning sickness:
* Eat small meals frequently. Keep something in your stomach so that your tummy isn't overwhelmed by an abundance of stomach acid.
* Eat what you crave. If it SOUNDS good to you, chances are you'll be able to keep it down. If this means you are subsisting on wheat thins and marshmallow fluff, you might want to make sure you're taking those important prenatal vitamins.
* Speaking of prenatal vitamins... do you suspect THEY might be the culprit behind your nausea? Try taking them right before bed, or cut them in half and take one half in the morning and one half at night.
* Protein snacks can help - a poached egg on toast, skinless broiled chicken breast, etc.
* Try ginger or lemon. Ginger teas, hot or cold, work for some. Lemon wedges, lemonade, or a slice of lemon in a glass of water are equally soothing solutions for others.
*PeptoBismol caplets were heaven sent for me as well. Because they are caplets, they have NO taste, so if I was able to drink a glass of water, I could take one to help my nausea go away. Ask your Doctor's opinion before taking any over-the-counter medications of course.
I hope this helps you understand, and hopefully alleviate, some of your morning sickness.
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