So why are you all of a sudden nauseous, having food aversions and throwing up all the time? Although everyone calls it morning sickness, this horrible feeling can sneak up on you in the morning, daytime, nighttime or all the time.
What is Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is a combination of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It affects anywhere from 50-80% of pregnant women!
Cause of Morning Sickness?
Nobody is exactly sure what causes morning sickness but it seems that the cause is related to the changes your body is going through… rapidly increasing estrogen and progesterone levels, an enhanced sense of smell and excess stomach acids.
One theory is that morning sickness is caused by progesterone. Progesterone has a "softening" effect on the muscles in the body, including your stomach and intestines. Progesterone relaxes your entire, making the elimination of bodily wastes slower and slowing the emptying of your stomach which leads to excess stomach acids.
Another theory is that morning sickness is caused by the buildup of hCG - which continues to increase until your 12th week of pregnancy. After that the hCG levels begin to decrease, which is when many of the morning sickness symptoms begin to decrease as well.
Morning Sickness Tips:
- Avoid greasy, fried or spicy foods.
- Follow your cravings.
- Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
- Eat salty foods.
- Drink non-caffeinated teas like peppermint or ginger.
- Drink small amounts of fluids at a time.
- Do not skip meals.
- Take naps throughout the day.
- Eat crackers in bed before getting up in the morning.
- Avoid warm places.
- Avoid strong odors – especially while cooking. Various smells can affect nausea.
- Take your prenatal vitamins with dinner or before bed.
- Do not lie down right after eating.
- Wear wrist bands for motion sickness.
- Suck on hard candies.
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