|
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.
|
