Nausea pregnancy, How can I avoid nausea?, Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy, What causes nausea during pregnancy?

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Morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy
Reviewed by Dr Philip Owen, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist

In the first half of pregnancy, feeling sick or nauseated is quite common, as is vomiting. The degree of nausea and vomiting differs from woman to woman.

You may just feel a little sick in the morning and throw up once, or your may suffer from constant nausea and frequent vomiting throughout the day.

For most women, the nausea stops after the first three months of pregnancy. For a few, however, it is still a problem after four or five months.

What causes nausea during pregnancy?
The actual causes of nausea and vomiting are still not known. It is probably brought about by the hormonal changes taking place or by an imbalance in blood sugar.

Many midwives and doctors believe that morning sickness is more common in women carrying twins or triplets, but it is not clear whether this is the case.

Symptoms of dehydration
Dizziness.
Thirst.
Passing a smaller amount of urine than usual or none at all.
Passing dark urine.
The presence of ketones in your urine. Your midwife or GP can easily test this.
Is it dangerous?
If you vomit heavily and often when pregnant, you will lose so much liquid (together with nutrition and minerals) that it causes dehydration.

If you are dehydrated and can’t keep liquids down, the condition is called hyperemesis gravidarum and requires medical attention.

This usually involves hospital admission and being given fluids through a drip.

How can I avoid nausea?
In the morning
Take your time getting out of bed.
If you tend to feel really sick in the morning, eat a little as soon as you wake up and before getting out of bed.
Ask your partner to bring the food to you, or prepare a snack the night before and leave it beside your bed.
Throughout the day
Eat little and often, every two or three hours – even if you’re not hungry.
Drink a lot of liquid, preferably 10 to 12 glasses of water, fruit juice or herbal tea each day.
Avoid food containing a lot of fat or spices.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
Eat dry crackers, toasted bread or rusks.
Ginger tea or ginger tablets can help reduce nausea.
Rest several times a day. Lie down with a pillow under your head and legs.
Move slowly and avoid sudden movements.
After eating, sit down so that gravity helps to keep the food in your stomach.
Avoid smells that make you feel sick or throw up.
Don’t brush your teeth immediately after eating because this can cause vomiting.
Get some fresh air and exercise by going for a little walk every day.
Avoid smoking. Not only is it harmful for you and your child, it also diminishes your appetite.
At night
Before going to bed, it may help to eat a snack such as a yoghurt, bread, milk, cereal or a sandwich.
If you wake up during the night, eating a small snack may stop you feeling sick in the morning.
Sleep with the windows open to get some fresh air, if possible.
When should I consult my doctor?
If none of the remedies mentioned above seem to work.
If you vomit more than three or four times a day.
If you lose weight.
If your vomit contains blood or looks like ground coffee.
If you lose more liquid than you can keep down.
If you are dehydrated (see box above).
If you are worried about your condition, or believe that something serious is the matter.
What will the doctor do?
The doctor will examine you for signs of dehydration. A simple urine test (ketone test) is often helpful in deciding the degree of dehydration.

Anti-sickness tablets can be prescribed. Your doctor will be careful to ensure you are prescribed medication that does not harm your baby.

How to Reduce Nausea During Pregnancy
Tips to Help Pregnant Women Ease Nausea

Read more at Suite101: How to Reduce Nausea During Pregnancy: Tips to Help Pregnant Women Ease Nausea http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/how-to-reduce-nausea-during-pregnancy#ixzz0hmkWHQY8

No one is sure exactly what causes nausea during pregnancy, but experts believe that high levels of hormones may contribute to it. It often starts around the sixth week of pregnancy, but some women experience it earlier than that. It usually ends around the end of the first trimester, or at about 12 weeks, but can continue for longer or even throughout the pregnancy.

Nausea and vomiting usually isn’t harmful for the mother or her baby because in most cases, the woman is able to eat something during the day and keep it down. This is enough to provide nutrients to the baby so growth is normal. With severe cases of vomiting, in which the woman is unable to eat for days at a time, she should consult her doctor for treatment to ensure the baby stays healthy and that she’s not dehydrated.

Tips for Reducing Nausea in Pregnancy
Here are a few things women can do to ease nausea when they’re expecting. Here are some tips from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.

Read more at Suite101: How to Reduce Nausea During Pregnancy: Tips to Help Pregnant Women Ease Nausea http://pregnancychildbirth.suite101.com/article.cfm/how-to-reduce-nausea-during-pregnancy#ixzz0hmkSpuHW

•In the morning when you wake up, eat a few crackers and stay in bed for a few more minutes.
•Eat smaller meals and snacks throughout the day so you are never really hungry or very full. This also helps if you’re suffering from heartburn.
•Drink throughout the day in small amounts, and don’t drink too much with meals.
•If odors bother you, open the windows while cooking or, even better, have someone else cook. Also, eating cold food rather than hot can help, since there is less of a smell to cold food.
•Try sniffing ginger or lemons, or eating some salty snacks such as potato chips.
•Get plenty of rest, but don’t sleep right after a meal. Being overtired plays a larger role in nausea than most people realize.
•Try taking prenatal vitamins with food, and if this doesn’t help, at night. That way if they contribute to your nausea, you can usually sleep through the feeling. If this still doesn’t work, simply take folic acid instead of a prenatal multivitamin.
•Consider taking vitamin B6 or ginger capsules. Both have been shown to reduce nausea. If you don’t want to take capsules, consider chewing on crystallized ginger or trying ginger candies.
Although nausea during pregnancy can be annoying, if you have a mild case it doesn’t have to be debilitating. Trying these simple steps and reduce or even eliminate your symptoms, so instead of worrying about what might make you sick, you can focus on nourishing your body and your baby.

Etiketler: How can I avoid nausea?, Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy, What causes nausea during pregnancy?

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