Mar 24, 2008
Written By: Jezebelle's dad
Morning sickness is said to occur in about 70% of all pregnant women and typically improves after the first trimester.
Below are the causes and the treatments for morning sickness.
Causes:
An increase in the circulating level of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen levels may increase by up to a hundredfold during pregnancy.
Low blood sugar during pregnancy.
An increase in progesterone relaxes the muscles in the uterus, which prevents early childbirth, but may also relax the stomach and intestines, leading to excess stomach acids.
An increase in human chorionic gonadotropin.
An increase in sensitivity to odors, which overstimulates normal nausea triggers.
An increase in bowel movement.
Treatments
Avoiding an empty stomach.
Eating five or six small meals per day, rather than three large ones.
Ginger, in capsules, tea, ginger ale, or ginger snaps.
Vitamin B6 (either pyridoxine or pyridoxamine), often taken in combination with the antihistamine doxylamine (Diclectin).
Lemons, particularly the smelling of freshly cut lemons.
Accommodating food cravings and aversions.
Eating dry/soda crackers in the morning.
Trying the BRATT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and tea.
Drinking liquids 30 to 45 minutes after eating solid food.
Drink small amounts of fluids during the day to avoid dehydration
Avoid foods and smells that increase nausea
Ask someone else to cook for you and open the windows or turn on fans if the odor bothers you
Get plenty of rest and nap during the day
Avoid warm places (feeling hot adds to nausea)
Sniff lemons or ginger, drink lemonade, or eat watermelon to relieve nausea
Eat salty potato chips (they have been found to settle stomachs enough to eat a meal)
Drink 100-Plus or Gatorade
Drink water with a lime twist
Exercise
Source:
Wikipedia
American Pregnancy Association
