Tips To Prevent Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
By Jyoti Pachisia
Morning sickness is the sickish feeling typically endured during around the 6th week of gestation. It can occur at any time of the day, and for most women, it seems to stop after the 12th week of gestation. Morning sickness isn't dangerous to mothers or baby, but if you witness inordinate vomiting and problem managing your food down, you may have hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomiting during pregnancy) and lack in essential nutrients and electrolytes.
When To Consult A Doctor For Morning Sickness?
Pregnancy does come with a share of its discomfort, but do not ignore unusual symptoms. Consult your doctor as soon as you witness these symptoms:
1. Abdominal Pain
2. Dark Urine or Difficulty in Urinating
3. Vomiting Blood
4. Weight Loss
Is Morning Sickness Harmful For Baby?
Morning sickness might be unpleasant to you, but this has noting to do with your baby. According to a research, morning sickness does not cause any harm to your baby. Morning sickness is actually short-lived. Symptoms typically end in the second trimester or sooner. However, both you and baby require greater amount of nutrients. Seeking an advice from a registered dietitian would be useful for morning sickness and during the entire pregnancy as well.
It is essential to prevent dehydration, so if you are vomiting often and not able keep up with the fluids, consult your doctor immediately.
Approximately more than 50% of pregnant women experiences morning sickness. To know how to prevent morning sickness during pregnancy, follow these tips:
• Keep a box of dried fruits, multigrain crackers or biscuits, fox nuts, and other nuts on your bedside table. Take a bite of any of these foods and get up from the bed after about 10-15 minutes.
• Pay attention to foods that set off nausea. Spicy, oily, fatty, and heavy foods are common culprits while bland foods are easier on stomach.
• Focus on protein-rich foods. Protein-rich foods offer longer-lasting relief from nausea than foods that are high in carbohydrates or fats, so always one must keep high-protein snacks handy. The picks are yogurt, cottage cheese, milk, nuts, and seeds.
• Eat more citrus fruits like, lemon, lime, or orange. These are high in citric or ascorbic acid, that helps with digestion and ease nausea.
• Keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, throughout the day.
• Avoid odours, flickering lights, other situations that triggers nausea.
• Include ginger tea in your diet routine
• Lie down and get some rest even if it's just a few hours during the day. You will feel relieved and energized.
What Foods To Eat For Morning Sickness During Pregnancy?
Try these foods to relive morning sickness during pregnancy:
1. Yogurt
Including yogurt in your diet would relieve you from nausea. Add fruits or any vegetables in the yogurt to make it healthier and delicious. Yogurt cools and relaxes your body while providing Vitamin B12, which is needed for healthy growth of the baby.
2. Herbal tea
Drink ginger and lemon herbal tea to ease nausea. Include other herbal teas like chamomile tea, raspberry leaf tea to prevent insomnia and shorten labor respectively.
3. Banana
Eat a banana in the morning when fighting morning sickness. The nausea-reducing fruit also provides nutrients and potassium to refuel the pregnant body.
4. Broth/Clear Soup
Drink soups to fight morning sickness as it contains electrolytes to prevent dehydration—a common side effect of throwing up.
5. Folic acid, or Vitamin B9
It is the most important nutrient to eat during first trimester of pregnancy. Vitamin B9 is usually recommended as a prenatal vitamin. Folic acid can also be included in the diet through food such as dark, leafy vegetables like spinach, beans, and eggs.
6. Mint leaves
Chewing some fresh mint leaves can help get rid of the nauseous feeling. The flavor of peppermint is quite refreshing and cooling. Make sure it’s not vulnerable to heartburn as peppermint can worsen the case. You can also drink peppermint teas either during the day or before going to bed. It would be super-helpful!
7. Coconut Water
Rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre, coconut water and its many health benefits come in handy to tackle morning sickness. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to a cup of coconut water and take a sip every fifteen minutes helps to settle your stomach.
These foods are to be taken in moderation during pregnancy. It’s advisable to speak with a dietitian and nutritionist before following any type of diet.
Is It Okay To Have No Morning Sickness During Pregnancy?
If you are among those who have little or no morning sickness at all, consider yourself as lucky! But remember, while morning sickness may be temporary, nausea and vomiting can kick in anytime during second or third month of pregnancy.
Take Care of yourself and do not hesitate in consulting your doctor or dietitian whenever you feel uneasy during pregnancy.
