Morning sickness affects approximately 50 percent of pregnant women during the early weeks of pregnancy, and despite the name, can occur at any time of the day. For many women, morning sickness is the first sign of pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, morning sickness is not a risk to you or your baby, but excessive vomiting can indicate a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which can harm your baby if left untreated.
Causes
The cause of morning sickness is not fully understood, but according to BabyCenter.com, a combination of factors, such as an increase in hormones like the human chorionic gonadotropin and estrogen, as well as a heightened sense of smell and odor sensitivity, might be to blame. The site also states that some women might be psychologically predisposed to morning sickness due to an abnormal response to stress.
Gentle Foods
Foods that are light on your stomach might aid in preventing or reducing the frequency of morning sickness. According to Ask Dr. Sears, foods such as applesauce, grapes, oatmeal, frozen yogurt, lemons, rice cakes and puddings are are tummy-friendly during pregnancy.
Eat Frequently
BabyCenter.com suggests that preventing your stomach from being empty by eating frequent small meals throughout the day might help ease morning sickness. In addition, keep crackers on your nightstand to eat if you wake up feeling nauseated to help the sick feeling dissipate.
Avoid Fats
Fatty foods take longer to digest, and spicy and fried foods can cause heartburn and stomach irritation. In fact, the mere odor of high-fat and spicy foods might lead to an upset stomach. Try eating bland foods such as a plain baked potato, broth or chicken soup.
Lollipops
According to the American Pregnancy Association, drug-free, doctor-recommended lollipops are available in ginger, lavender, mint and sour lemon and are known to reduce nausea. These lollipops also might give you a boost of energy and alleviate dry mouth.
Warning
Approximately one in 300 pregnant women are diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition can result in dehydration, malnutrition and extreme weight loss and can endanger your fetus. Mild cases might be effectively treated with dietary changes, but severe cases can require intravenous fluids and nutrients. If you are experiencing excessive or uncontrollable vomiting, consult your physician immediately for an evaluation.
