Morning Sickness Means Your Pregnancy Is Healthy; But Meet A Doctor If It Is Severe

Morning sickness is a common problem for expecting mothers with 80 per cent of them facing it at some time or the other. But, it can happen during non-pregnancy time as well.

Also called nausea gravidarum, women feel nauseous and sometimes also vomit and get exhausted. Those who take hormonal contraception treatment are also susceptible to morning sickness.

Though the name says morning sickness, it can happen at any time of the day. There are a number of home remedies that can help one get rid of the discomfort that is caused by the sickness.

To add to it, even men, especially husbands of expecting women, can have morning sickness issues (something called to be sympathetic pregnancy).

Causes Of Morning Sickness:

Though the exact cause of morning sickness is not known, there are a number of factors that are considered as possible reasons like:

1. Oestrogen Level: An increase in the circulating level of oestrogen, a sex hormone in women, might cause morning sickness. The oestrogen level can go 100 times higher during pregnancy.

2. Hypoglycaemia: The low blood sugar level is caused in the expecting mother's body because of draining of energy.

3. Progesterone Level: The level of this hormone in women also goes high during pregnancy. It may relax the stomach and intestines, resulting in stomach acids and acid influx.

4. Smell: A higher sensitivity to smell can lead to normal nausea during pregnancy.

For expecting women, morning sickness actually signals a healthy pregnancy; and it is most common during the first trimester. Generally, the situation improves after the 12th week of pregnancy; while at other times, it might persist throughout the pregnancy.

Causes For Morning Sickness In Women Who Are Not Pregnant:

1. Indigestion causing acid reflux

2. Anxiety and depression

3. Low blood sugar caused by starving overnight, since the body lacks energy

4. Slowed-down metabolism

5. Taking medicines on an empty stomach, early in the morning

Morning Sickness Can Have Serious Symptoms:

Though morning sickness has typical symptoms like nausea and vomiting, there could also be severe ones, which means the woman is suffering from dehydration, weight loss, hypokalaemia (low blood potassium), etc.

Some Of The Serious Symptoms:

1. The nausea doesn't go away (generally it stays for 14-16 weeks)

2. Inability to keep any food in stomach because of constant vomiting

3. Severe vomiting (several times a day) while normally a person has occasional vomiting

4. Significant weight loss of over five per cent

5. Weakness, dizziness, etc, become regular, apart from nausea and vomiting

6. Vomiting causes severe dehydration, which is not the case generally

Treatment For Morning Sickness:

Seeing a doctor is generally not required to cure morning sickness, as it is a natural ailment (but of course you need to see a doctor if the symptoms are severe). Here are some ideas to alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness:

1. Take plenty of rest when you have morning sickness. Don't over-stress yourself even if you have the most urgent work to do.

2. Drink fluids regularly in a small quantity. This will take care of the problem of vomiting.

3. Avoid having an empty stomach. Have plain biscuits after getting up from sleep.

4. Take high-carbohydrate meals in smaller quantities. Take dry food more than sweet and spicy items. Also, prefer cold foods over hot ones.

5. Ginger: It deserves a special mention, as it helps in giving relief from nausea and vomiting. Take lozenges, candies, raw ginger (three teaspoons at the most) or ginger tea. Consult a doctor if you have a disliking for the smell of ginger.