Combat morning sickness

Try these morning sickness busters...

Ever wondered why one of the first signs of pregnancy can leave you feeling so sick and tired? Well, your body makes sure your developing baby receives everything she needs to grow – even if it is at your own expense. As crazy as it may seem, some evidence shows that moms with morning sickness are unlikely to miscarry and usually go on to give birth to very healthy babies. Many women are afflicted with this well-known (and misnamed) side effect of pregnancy – not only in the mornings, but all day. In fact, only about 20 percent of women who experience nausea or vomiting say it occurs only in the morning. Although experts aren’t entirely sure what causes morning sickness, most agree it’s due to the high levels of the pregnancy hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin). This hormone stops the breaking down of the lining of the uterus – as would happen during a normal, not pregnant cycle. HCG levels rise rapidly during the first six weeks, peak at eight to 10 weeks, and begin to fall at 11 to 13 weeks. Additionally, foetal organ development is usually completed by week 14 of pregnancy. This may explain why nausea is usually an early sign of pregnancy and why in most women it tapers off after three to four months. Recent studies suggest that this may the embryo’s attempt to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Another theory is that morning sickness forces an expectant mother to vary what she eats. This suggests it may have come about because it has multiple benefits: making energy more available, promoting a varied, balanced way of eating, and protecting the developing baby against toxins.

TIPS TO EASE THE QUEASE

Don’t get up from bed on an empty stomach. Keep a few bland biscuits next to your bed and eat them before rising. Try starting your day drinking a glass of warm water instead of tea or coffee. Ginger is a very effective natural method to combat morning sickness. Make a pot of ginger tea by boiling a ginger root in water, strain through a sieve and add honey to sweeten, or try a teaspoon of cider vinegar in a cup of warm water. You could also mix a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger, the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of honey in a mug, then pour in boiling water. Drink this first thing in the morning. Ginger ale may also help. Make sure you don’t go for long periods without eating. Drops in blood sugar makes nausea worse, so eat frequent small meals. Try some reflexology with a practitioner who’s experienced with pregnancy. Deep breathing and stillness, which calms the mind, also calms the body. Stress will make nausea worse. Drink plenty of water to help reduce the acidity in your stomach. Sip slowly! Keep ginger biscuits handy to snack on. Try sniffing a cut lemon or add a few drops of lemon, orange or grapefruit essential oil to a piece of cotton wool and inhale. Smelling a lemon or drinking lemonade helps to relieve nausea. Some women sniff lemons, others suck lemon wedges plain or with salt. Try to eat a balanced diet with protein and carbohydrates. Sucking on ice chips may help or suck on flavoured ice lollies. There are a number of homeopathic remedies available – 10 drops of Magen taken when necessary on the tongue will combat most pregnancy nausea. Many pregnant women can’t stomach their prenatal vitamins. To increase the chances of keeping your vitamins down, try taking them in the middle of a meal rather than on an empty stomach. Research has shown that if women eat the foods that they crave, it can actually stop their nausea and vomiting. They would then usually start eating foods that were healthy for their babies and themselves. Eating a healthy diet is very important, but if a few handfuls of potato crisps help decrease a woman’s nausea in order for her to feel up to eating anything else – then so be it! Liquids may be difficult to consume, but water intake is crucial in preventing dehydration, so sip at something slowly throughout the day. Alternating food with liquid may bring comfort to a pregnant woman. Eating fruits with high water content, such as watermelon, are a great way of getting fluids down. If you can’t keep fluids down, it’s imperative that you seek medical attention. Cool, bland foods have also been recommended, although some women feel better eating hot, spicy food in small amounts. The best advice in any food is to trust your nose, and remember that there’s no one right food for everyone. Some remedies suggested may work like a dream for a particular woman and a combination of other remedies will work for others. Do what works for you in order to get you through your days and to keep you well hydrated and healthy.