Facts. morning sickness

Helen Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:46 pm

Morning Sickness

Pregnancy lasts an average of 40 weeks from the date of the last menstrual period to delivery. In the first trimester (13 weeks), many pregnant women experience nausea. Usually these women report that they feel better during the second trimester.

Morning sickness is the common but often misunderstood nausea that frequently accompanies early pregnancy. It is typically not serious, but can be quite unpleasant. Hyperemesis gravidarum is uncontrollable nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that results in severe dehydration and pH imbalances in the blood, and is entirely different from morning sickness with nausea and vomiting. This condition requires treatment by a healthcare professional and, occasionally, hospitalization. Hyperemesis gravidarum can sometimes result from hyperthyroidism, liver disease, kidney infection, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, or other causes—conditions that will not respond to any natural substances.

Symptoms of morning sickness include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, lightheadedness, and dizziness during the early stages of pregnancy. Women with morning sickness may be particularly sensitive to certain odors and foods, however, eating small amounts of a particular food may relieve their symptoms.

Doctors typically recommend that women with morning sickness drink plenty of fluids and try to eat whatever they can, regardless of its nutritional value. There are no FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of morning sickness. There are however, conventional treatment medications available as well as homeopathic remedies.

Dietary changes may also be helpful, such as eating dry crackers upon waking. Drinking liquids and eating solid foods at separate times may be helpful as well.

In a Harvard University study, women with a high intake of saturated fat (found mainly in meat and dairy) during the year prior to pregnancy had a much higher risk of severe morning sickness than women who ate less saturated fat. An increase in saturated fat intake of 15 grams per day (roughly equal to a four-ounce cheeseburger or three cups of whole milk) was associated with a three times greater risk of developing morning sickness.

Nutritional supplements such as vitamin B6 may be helpful in reducing the severity of morning sickness. Vitamin K and vitamin C, taken together, may also provide relief of symptoms for some women.

Ginger is an herb that is well-known for alleviating nausea and improving digestion. Because ginger contains some compounds that cause chromosomal mutation in the test tube, some doctors are concerned about the safety of using ginger during pregnancy. However, the available clinical research, combined with the fact that ginger is widely used in the diets of many cultures, suggests that prudent use of ginger for morning sickness is probably safe in amounts up to 1 gram per day.