Morning Sickness
Definition:
Morning sickness is nausea that occurs during pregnancy. The name is a misnomer, however, since morning sickness can strike at any time of the day or night.
Signs & Symptoms:
Morning sickness may include nausea and vomiting, or just nausea without vomiting. It is much more common during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Pregnant women should call their doctor if:
Symptoms of nausea or vomiting are severe
They pass only a small amount of urine
Their urine is a dark color
They cannot keep liquids down
They feel dizzy when they stand up
They faint when they stand up
Their heart races
They vomit blood
Cause:
The exact causes of morning sickness are still not known; however, most agree that hormonal changes probably play a role.
Estrogen levels – experts believe it might be partly due to an increase in the circulating level of estrogen, which can be 100 times higher during pregnancy, compared with levels found in women who are not pregnant. However, there is no evidence to show a difference in estrogen levels between pregnant women with morning sickness and those without.
Progesterone levels – when a woman is pregnant, her levels of progesterone also rise. High levels of progesterone relax the uterus (womb) muscles to prevent early childbirth. However, it may also relax the stomach and intestines, resulting in excess stomach acids and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or acid reflux).
Hypoglycemia – low blood sugar, caused by the placenta draining energy from the mother’s body. However, there are no studies to prove this.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – this hormone is first produced by the developing embryo soon after conception and then later by the placenta. Some experts suggest there may be a link between hCG and morning sickness.
Sense of smell – during pregnancy, there may be an increase in sensitivity to odors, which might overstimulate normal nausea triggers.
Evolutionary survival adaptation – some experts suggest that morning sickness could be an evolutionary adaptation that protects pregnant mothers and their babies from food poisoning. If the woman with morning sickness does not feel like eating foods which may be potentially contaminated, such as poultry, eggs, or meat, and prefers foods with a low contamination risk, such as rice, bread, and crackers, the survival chances for her and her child are improved.
How To Cure:
- Lemon
The natural calming effect of lemon is a great way to reduce nausea.
If you are feeling nauseous, mix one teaspoon each of lemon juice and mint juice with one-half teaspoon of ginger juice and one tablespoon of honey. Have this mixture two to three times a day.
Alternatively, you can mix one teaspoon each of lemon juice and mint with some sugar. Consume it three times a day.
Squeeze a fresh lemon and mix the juice with a glass of water. Drink it every morning to prevent nausea.
Also, you can simply take a bite of fresh-cut lemon or chew lemon-flavored candy. Even smelling fresh lemon peels can ease morning sickness symptoms.
- Ginger
Ginger root contains chemicals called gingerols and shogaols that can give relief from nausea and vomiting.
Add five to six drops of ginger juice in a teaspoon of honey. Consume this mixture slowly when you wake up in the morning.
Alternatively, boil some grated ginger in water until the water is reduced by half. Let it cool and then add some honey. Drink it daily in the morning.
You can make ginger tea by adding one-half teaspoon of powdered ginger to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes and then strain it. Sip the tea slowly. Pregnant women must not drink this tea more than three times daily.
Sucking a small piece of ginger or chewing a ginger candy can also give quick relief from nausea.
- Curry Leaves
Juice extracted from curry leaves, when combined with lime juice and sugar, can be used as an Ayurvedic medicine to treat nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness.
Press 15 to 20 curry leaves on a sieve to extract the juice.
Add two teaspoons of fresh lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey or sugar and mix it well.
Drink this two or three times a day.
