Morning Sickness comprises of nausea and vomiting sensations that most women face during their pregnancy. It is very common during the early stages of pregnancy but it does not affect the child’s health in the womb. Usually, the nausea lasts for 6-7 weeks and occurs during the second month of pregnancy. Earlier, there was a myth that women suffered from nausea only during early hours of the day, that’s why it was called “Morning Sickness”. Later, it was found it also affected them during the odd hours of the day and in some cases these symptoms would last for an entire day!
Occurrence of Morning Sickness
First time mothers may feel a bit inconvenient during this period as morning sickness occurs within the 2-3 months of pregnancy i.e. 10-12th week and lasts for one and a half month or so depending upon the person. Tiredness and sluggishness are the most common symptoms of it, happening to every 8 women out of 10 kept under examination reports National Health Services (nhs.uk).
Causes of Morning Sickness
Doctors and Physicians across the globe are quite puzzled about the primary causes of Morning sickness. But, they suggest that the hormonal changes that take place during this period might be the primary cause.
- A hormone called Human Chronic Gonadotropin (hCG) which is produced excessively during the first three months of pregnancy bolsters the development of egg in the Ovary. Till now it hasn’t been found how hCG contributes to nausea but according to the reports, an individual suffers from nausea with rise in hCG levels.
- However, many physicians also claim that the primary culprit behind morning sickness could also be Stress. But there’s no direct proof which proves the relation between stress and increased nausea in women during pregnancy.
- According to a theory put forward by researchers, the potential cause of morning sickness is deficiency of Vitamin B6 and B12 as they absorb Minerals and other body essentials. This is also just a theory and no evidence has been found about it.
- Some researchers also believe that morning sickness can also happen due to the raised Estrogen levels in the body. During pregnancy the levels of estrogen are more than 100 times higher as compared to the normal times. Though this has not also been proven yet!
Morning Sickness: Good news or a Bad news?
Many of the first time mothers do have a general common query whether morning sickness is a sign of healthy pregnancy or not? Well the answer to it is, Yes and No! This is because having nausea or vomiting during pregnancy is definitely a sign healthy pregnancy while, although not having any of the above mentioned symptoms does not mean a bad sign either! In some cases the symptoms are a little severe when the woman is expecting twins or triplets. According to a report by Mail Online, Morning sickness means that the mother might be bearing healthy and intelligent baby. Also, women suffering from morning sickness are less prone to miscarriages.
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Complications related to Morning Sickness
According a report released by Mayo Clinic, women who are underweight and are facing problems in gaining weight during morning sickness due to excess vomiting, there is a chance that the child will be underweight which is not a healthy sign. Hence, mothers must stay above the line of underweight before pregnancy to avoid such situations.
According to recent study conducted by Kidspot, off every 8 women out of 10 who suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy a small portion of them (one or less) have chances to suffer from a more severe form of it called the “Hyperemesis Gravidarum” which if gone untreated can be life threatening for both mother and child. Its symptoms mostly include, more than 5% loss in pre-pregnancy weight, rapid increase in heart beats, decreased amount of urine due to excessive dehydration, headaches, confusions etc. Such issues must be brought to the family physician, as not treating it on time can lead to malnutrition, Jaundice and Gastric Ulcers.
Natural Home remedies for Morning Sickness
So, the natural remedies for Morning sickness go as follows:
- Vitamin B
Magnesium is an essential ingredient in every pregnant woman’s diet as its severe deficiency can lead to miscarriages, poor fetal growth etc. Hence to keep up the magnesium levels in the body the Vitamin B (especially, B6 and B12) intake must be increased as they can absorb and hold minerals like, Magnesium, Zinc etc. Take at least 75 mg of Vitamin B6 or B12 daily for better results. The natural sources of Vitamin B6 and B12 include eggs, milk, whole cereals and fish.
- Rest and Water intake
Getting plenty of rest is essential for all pregnant women. Restlessness can lead to severe nausea or morning sickness. All probable mothers must sleep for at least 8 hours per day. Resting keeps the mind calm and helps in regulating the heart beat rate thus keeping the blood pressure under check. It is also very essential to keep the body hydrated as the person may lose a lot of water during vomiting and dehydration. Water brings down the body temperature and keeps in the essential minerals in check.
- Acupressure
Acupressure is a great remedy for morning sickness as it helps in reducing the muscle tensions in the body, removing the energy blockages and enhances the blood circulation. The nausea, pain and headaches during morning sickness are directly linked to blood circulation throughout the body. Though it should be done under expert’s guidance as doing it wrong may exacerbate the situation.
- Lemon
University of Medical Sciences, Iran has found a significant decrease in vomiting and nausea after the people under examination started inhaling lemon either raw or in the form of tea. Lemon therapy effectively works and reduces the dehydration and morning sickness to a greater extent.
- Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds also known as Saunf in Indian subcontinent, helps in reducing the symptoms of morning sickness to a great extent. Not only this, fennel seeds also help in enhancing the digestion process in the body thus reducing the vomiting sensations to a large extent.
- Proper diet
Avoid having empty stomach during this period as it enhances the nausea and tiredness feeling. Thus it is essential to keep the tummy full is order to avoid such situations. Also keep away from junk foods or oily/fried foods as they lead to obesity during pregnancy which is not a advisable thing during pregnancy.
