Throwing up, seasick stomach, and the overall “ick” feeling is well known to most pregnant women. It is almost a rite of passage. In fact, according to American Pregnancy Association (APA), more than half of all women suffer from morning sickness.
The APA website states that “nausua and vomiting can be one of the first signs of pregnancy and usually begins around the 6th week of pregnancy. It can occur at any time of the day, and for most women it seems to stop around the 12th week of pregnancy.“
Though it only tends to occur for six weeks, which seems short in a logical sense, for women dealing with this unpleasant side effect of the miracle of having a baby, it may seem like forever.
The APA gives some very useful do’s and don’ts for women dealing with morning sickness.
Do:
• Eat small meals often
• Drink fluids ½ hour before or after a meal, but not with meals
• Drink small amounts of fluids during the day to avoid dehydration
• Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning
• 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
• Eat salty potato chips
• Exercise
Don’t:
• Do not lie down after eating
• Don’t skip meals
• Don’t cook or eat spicy foods
Though morning sickness is usually something women can deal with, there are times when the nausea and vomiting become so severe that it puts both the mother and baby’s health in jeapordy.
According to HealthDay News on Yahoo.com, there are several warning signs that a woman with morning sickness should be seen by a physician:
• Having nausea that is so persistent that you cannot eat or drink anything
• Vomiting to the point where food doesn't stay in the stomach
• Vomiting blood
• Fainting, feeling dizzy or losing weight
• Urinating less frequently and having frequent headaches
• Having a rapid heartbeat
• Feeling extremely confused or fatigued
• Noticing a bad, fruity odor to the breath or body
Women experiencing these severe symptoms should contact their doctor immediately to seek help.
Source:
Health Day News Yahoo.com. "Health tip: If you have severe morning sickness". Web. 5, October, 2011. http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/hsn/healthtipifyouhaveseveremorningsickness
American Pregnancy.org. "Pregnancy Health: Morning Sickness". Web. 5, October, 2011.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/morningsickness.html
Reviewed October 6, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith