What is morning sickness?
Morning sickness is the term used for nausea or vomiting, or both that happens during pregnancy, usually in the 1st trimester and it is often the first hint that you’re now a Mom2B.
Should I be worried?
Don’t feel alone because morning sickness affects around 70 – 80% of all pregnant women. If your nausea is mild to moderate you don’t have to worry, as in most cases, morning sickness doesn’t carry any risk for you or your unborn baby, in fact it is a sign of a healthy pregnancy.1,2
What causes morning sickness?
The cause of morning sickness isn’t entirely known. Healthcare experts believe it is caused by a mix of physical and hormonal changes in the body like:2
- An increase in pregnancy hormones. The hormone progesterone rises during pregnancy to relax the womb to prevent early childbirth. It may also relax the stomach which can causing excess stomach acid and acid reflux.1,2
- When you’re pregnant you can become more sensitive to smells which could trigger nausea and vomiting.1
- Blood pressure fluctuations may occur when your circulation system expands to accommodate your baby. You might experience a small drop in blood pressure, usually during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.2,3
- Your metabolism increases because your body must adapt to support the needs of your baby.2,4
Symptoms of morning sickness
Despite being called morning sickness, nausea and vomiting or both can happen at any time of the day.1
Symptoms are individual to each woman and each pregnancy. Some women have an increased desire to eat through morning sickness, while others can’t face even the thought or smell of food.
A few tried and tested lifestyle changes can often help:
- If you feel sick in the morning, and it does often seem worse first thing, get up slowly and only after eating a piece of dry toast or a biscuit with a cup of tea.
- Don’t stop eating. Try to eat frequent small meals that are low in fat.
- Savoury food is better than sweet or highly spicy. Toast, crackers, and crispbread are good choices. Cold meals are often better than hot ones because they don’t give off a food smell like hot meals do.
- Ginger helps the body to keep nausea at bay so think of sipping ginger tea. You can also chew a small piece of fresh ginger root at least once a day.
- Keep up liquid levels between meals by sipping small amounts of water or herbal teas often. Avoid very cold, sweet, or fizzy drinks. It is important to stay hydrated, especially when you do throw up.
- Stay away from fats and fatty foods. Even the smell of something fatty can cause nausea. It is a big help if someone else can cook, but if that’s not possible, go for bland, non-greasy foods like baked potatoes or pasta which are simple and easy to prepare.
- Try to get plenty of rest because tiredness can make nausea worse.
- Wear comfortable clothes without tight waistbands.
- Consider taking Mom2B® Pregnancy Shake as a nutritional supplement or a quick snack which can be taken twice a day to make sure that you are getting good nutrition for you and your baby. A Mom2B® Pregnancy Shake in the morning offers a simple tasty alternative to breakfast if you don’t feel like eating.
Morning sickness can make a pregnancy seem uncomfortable. Luckily, most people find that morning sickness subsides once they begin their second trimesters. Changes in your lifestyle and eating habits can offer some relief until the symptoms go away and drinking Mom2B® shake can help you make sure you and your baby are getting needed nourishment.2
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References:
- Novakovic A. What is morning sickness, and how can I treat it? 2023 Apr 24. [Cited 2023 May 17]. Medical News Today. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179633
- Morning Sickness. 2023 Apr 24. [Cited 2023 May 17]. Cleveland Clinic: Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16566-morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy?
- Cherney K. Abnormal Blood Pressure During Pregnancy. 2018 Feb 28. [Cited 2023 May 17]. Healthline.com. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/chronic-hypertension-blood-pressure
- Armistead B, Johnson E, VanderKamp R and Kula-Eversole E. Placental Regulation of Energy Homeostasis During Human Pregnancy. Endocrinology, July 2020, 161(7):1-13
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