It has always puzzled me why it is called Morning Sickness….it shows no mercy and will show up anytime during the day. I was sick the entire first trimester!! I tried sea-bands, crackers, lemon candy….I was desparate!!! This is another reason behind our Happy Mornings Sippin’ Tea. So Mama be prepared to battle  nausea and hit it straight on. The good news is that there are ways to help avoid it.

It is quite common for a pregnant woman to live through nausea and vomiting during her first few months of pregnancy, some experience nausea during their entire pregnancy!! It is difficult to predict whether it is going to happen. Some women have no nausea during their first pregnancy, but feel sick with subsequent pregnancies. The severity of the nausea varies from pregnancy to pregnancy. Some will feel a bit queasy during the morning hours, others may vomit just in the mornings. Others will feel bad all day long, and throw up at any time. In my case, I was just nauseated ALL day long. I also was working full time at the hospital and I would constanly be getting whiffs of everyone and everything (the upside is that I think this has helped prepare me for my sons stinky diapers though haha)!!!

“Nausea and vomiting are the commonest symptoms experienced in the first trimester of pregnancy, affecting 70-85% of women”
(British Medical Journal, 2004;328:503 28 February, doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7438.503)

Why do some pregnant women experience nausea?

I wanna know!!! Doctors and scientists are not completely sure. As hormonal changes take place when a woman becomes pregnant it makes sense to suppose that they are the cause. Some say an imbalance in the blood sugar could also be to blame.

It might be no coincidence that hCG, a pregnancy hormone, as well as estrogen rise in levels during the first trimester, and drop at about the same time the nausea starts going away.

Anecdotal reports by doctors, nurses and midwives indicate that women who carry twins/triplets are more likely to experience morning sickness during their first months of pregnancy, compared to mothers who are carrying a single baby.

Should I be worried about nausea during pregnancy?

If your vomiting is such that you are losing too much liquid and essential nutrients and minerals, if you are suffering from dehydration you should tell your doctor. If you suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum - the vomiting is causing fluid and electrolyte disturbance - your doctor may decide to give you fluids through a drip, this usually requires hospitalization. So be careful Mamas to try your best to stay hydrated!!!

You should see your doctor if you are losing weight, vomiting many times during the day for many days, becoming dehydrated, or your vomit has blood or a brownish color, your urine is dark colored and looks concentrated.

In the vast majority of cases the nausea will go away after the 1st trimester without anything to worry about.

How do I know if I am dehydrated?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above notify your doctor immediatly. The simplest way to find out is for your doctor to do a urine test (ketone test).

Tips on Lessening the Severity and Frequency of Nausea

• Don’t get out of bed quickly, take your time.
• Eat a little bit of something before you get out of bed. Some women have found that eating a dry cracker or some dry cereal helps. 
•  Eat a little bit of something just before you go to bed at night.
•  Eat regularly, in small amounts, throughout the day. 
•  Make sure you are having plenty of liquids. 
• Keep away from fatty & greasy foods. 
•  Keep away from spicy foods. This will also contribute to heartburn which can make you even more uncomfortable
•  Avoid caffeine. 
•  Many women say bland, dry foods, such as crackers or toast help. This really helped me out. I kept a box of crackers in my purse, next to my bed and even in the car!!!
•  If you are particularly sensitive to smells, remember that cold foods smell less. Cereal was my FAVORITE!!! Plus when you add (soy, dairy, rice) milk it will help increase your calcium intake.
•  Some women find ginger  helps a lot. Try Happy Mornings Sippin’ Tea. Hot tea is a great way to settle you and your tummy. This tea is great hot or cold. Mmmmm….
•  Make sure you are getting enough physical rest. However, try to avoid having a nap immediately after you have eaten or try to rest sitting up. This will help with heartburn too!
•  There might be smells that make you feel sick - avoid them. 
•  Get some light exercise each day, go for a walk outside. 
•  Fresh air often helps. I would hang my head out of the car window whenever I fely nauseated and it really worked!!
•  Have a small snack next to your bed. If you wake up during the night, eat some of it. Many women find this helps stave off the nausea the following morning. 
•  Eat snacks that are high in protein (March of Dimes).

• Do not take anti-sickness tablets unless your doctor has prescribed them for you.

Many women vary during pregnancy and you will find what works best for you. Hopefully it will dissapear after your first trimeser.

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Tags: first trimester, nausea, ORGANIC, organic pregnancy, pregnancy