How to Treat Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
One of the most common & uncomfortable problem associated with pregnancy is morning sickness which is caused due to the change in hormonal balance and persists in the initial few months of pregnancy lasting up to the 4th month. Morning sickness is sometimes considered to be a minor inconvenience of pregnancy, but it can have a significant, adverse effect on an expectant mother’s day-to-day activities and quality of life. It can often be treated by making dietary changes and taking plenty of rest.
Causes of Morning Sickness
There are several different factors that contribute to this condition –
1) Increased estrogen levels — changes in levels of the female sex hormone estrogen during the early stages of pregnancy may cause short-term nausea and vomiting.
2) Nutritional deficiency — a lack of vitamin B6 in the diet is thought to be another possible cause.
3) Gastric problems — increase in progesterone can affect the tone in the lower oesophagus affecting the valve into the stomach causing nausea.
Tips to Manage Morning Sickness
1) Limit intake of heavy & oily food especially before going to bed.
2) Nausea is sometimes triggered by strong smells. Resist cooking food with strong odor if you are suffering from nausea
3) Although the feeling of Nausea usually makes it difficult to eat anything, in reality it is however recommended to continue eating meals in smaller portions but frequently since missing meals can make the symptoms worse
4) Try ginger tablets, dry ginger ale, peppermint tea or ginger tea
5) Avoid eating any food if the smell makes you sick. Instead, talk to your doctor about other items you can eat to meet your nutritional needs
6) Increase intake of fruits after consultation with your doctor.
7) Ensure that you take plenty of fluids to compensate for the loss of water due to vomiting. Try drinking variety of fluids like water, soups & juice.
8) Please take caution and do not take any over the counter medicines to treat morning sickness without discussing with your doctor first.
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