Morning Sickness

Morning sickness refers to the nausea and vomiting that some women experience when they are pregnant. Despite its name, morning sickness can strike at anytime of the day or night, sometimes lasting the entire day.

The nausea can start as early as four weeks into the pregnancy and usually tapers off around 13 weeks as the second trimester begins, although some queasiness can linger throughout the pregnancy.

Morning sickness may also be referred to as nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), and it impacts between 50-80 percent of all pregnant women. Since everyone’s body is different, morning sickness can vary, and there is no exact known cause.

The most widely accepted theory is that morning sickness is caused by the buildup of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in a woman’s body. The hCG is produced after implantation takes place and continues to increase until the 12th week of pregnancy, at which point the levels begin to decrease.

Others believe that morning sickness is caused by progesterone, the dominant hormone during pregnancy. This hormone relaxes the muscles of the stomach, slowing down digestive processes and the emptying of the stomach, which often leads to increased stomach acid.

Is Morning Sickness Harmful?

While morning sickness can be unpleasant, it generally does not cause problems for the unborn child. For most women morning sickness will subside.

However, women who cannot keep any foods or fluids down and begin to lose weight should inform their physician as special treatment may be necessary.

Another, rarer form of morning sickness is called “hyperemesis gravidarum” which occurs in only a small percentage of women. This disorder causes symptoms of severe nausea, dehydration, maternal weight loss, and rapid heartbeat.

Doctors may treat severe cases with medications and close supervision to assure the safety of both mother and unborn baby.

Treating the Symptoms

There are remedies, some old and some new, to help with morning sickness. For most women, one or more of these remedies will help.

It is a trial and error scenario so try these tips and see which ones work:

• Crackers, crackers, crackers! Place some by your bedside to munch in the middle of the night and first thing in the morning before getting out of bed.
• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day so that the stomach is never empty and to neutralize stomach acid.
• Avoid fatty foods that take a long time to digest. Also, steer away from rich, spicy, fried, and acidic foods that can irritate the digestive system.
• Avoid foods or smells that trigger nausea.
• Eat more carbohydrates like plain, baked potatoes, white rice, and toast. The BRAT diet may be stomach calming--Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast (BRAT).
• The iron in prenatal vitamins can bother some women. Ask your doctor for advice or before making changes. It is best to take vitamins with food for optimal absorption.
• Try gelatin desserts, frozen ice pops, ginger ale, decaffeinated sodas, and pretzels. These are not the healthiest of foods but they may help relieve morning sickness symptoms. Foods or beverages with lemon or ginger also may help.
• Sip on water and fluids throughout the day or chew ice chips to prevent dehydration.
• Give yourself time for naps and to relax.

Morning Sickness in the Workplace

It can be difficult if you feel sick during work time, especially when providing care to children. While it is important to take care of yourself, in the childcare setting, the children’s needs come first and that can be hard to accomplish if you are not feeling well

One thing to consider is how you will be able to drive if nauseated or dizzy, whether it is driving to work, picking up children, or taking children to events. For safety reasons, consider not driving if the morning sickness is particularly troublesome. If you are on medication for nausea, driving is not advisable.

If you must drive, have these items tucked in the car: plastic garbage bags, crackers, and cool water bottles. Driving with the cool breeze of the air conditioning or outside air may help. Make sure you have a cell phone available.

Throughout the work day, have comfort food available. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Freshen up with a cool washcloth and brush your teeth often.

Try deep breathing exercises. Take advantage of the children’s nap time, and try to relax. A quiet time of even a few minutes may revitalize you.

These simple actions can help you feel better throughout the day. Remember, for most women, morning sickness will pass in a short period leaving plenty of time to enjoy the pregnancy.

Tania K. Cowling
Early childhood teacher resource books author, freelance writer and former teacher

Resources

American Academy of Family Physicians, PO Box 11210, Shawnee Mission, KS 66207-1210; 800-274-2237; familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/basics/154.html

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 409 12th St., S.W., PO Box 96920, Washington, D.C. 20090-6920; 202-638-5577; www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp126.cfm

Internet Resources

About.Com, pregnancy.about.com/cs/morningsickness/a/aanvp.htm

American Pregnancy Association, www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/morningsickness.html

Baby Center, www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/pregnancyatwork/490.html

Medline, www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003119.htm

Pregnancy Guide, www.mypregnancyguide.com/pregnancy/morning-sickness.html