Overcoming Morning Sickness in Early Pregnancy

Morning sickness or nausea experienced during pregnancy is certainly not a pleasant thing. Nausea and the urge to vomit can come at any time, interfering with daily activities. So that morning sickness does not interfere with your activities, it's a good idea to know how to handle morning sickness properly and correctly.

Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that usually occurs in early pregnancy. Morning sickness does not only occur in the morning, pregnant women can also experience morning sickness at night, during the day, even throughout the day.

Causes of Morning Sickness

Hormonal changes in the first trimester of pregnancy are thought to be one of the causes of morning sickness. Some experts suspect that there is a link between hCG and the occurrence of morning sickness. Human chorionic gonadoptrin (hCG) is a hormone that is formed during pregnancy. This hormone is produced by the placenta. This hormone is what maintains pregnancy and keeps the production of another pregnancy hormone, namely progesterone, stable.

Besides being caused by hormones, morning sickness is also influenced by the ability of a pregnant woman's sense of smell to increase significantly. This makes pregnant women sensitive to odors and this condition can trigger nausea.

How to Overcome Morning Sickness

If the morning sickness you experience is still relatively normal, you can handle it yourself at home. Do not let morning sickness interfere with your daily activities. Some of the following ways can help overcome nausea and vomiting during pregnancy:

• Getting enough rest because fatigue can make morning sickness worse.
• When you wake up in the morning, before getting out of bed, try to immediately eat a little dry bread or biscuits. Do it when you wake up at night.
• Drinking enough water in the morning can help reduce nausea.
• It's best not to eat hot food, because the aroma will be more pronounced than when the food is colder.
• Choose foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates and easy to digest, such as cheese, crackers, milk and yogurt, peanut butter, or apples.
• Avoid foods that are fatty, high in salt, and spicy.
• It is better to eat small portions but often rather than large portions at once. Pregnant women often feel hungry, usually every 1-2 hours.
• Consume ginger or ginger-based products, such as ginger ale or ginger candy, to reduce nausea.
• Avoid foods or smells that can trigger nausea.
• Pregnant women can take a walk outside the house in the morning or evening to get some fresh air. Do not forget to open the windows so that the air circulation in the house is good.
• Pregnant women are prohibited from smoking and are advised to always stay away from cigarette smoke so that they are not easily nauseous.
• Eat foods that contain vitamin B6, such as whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
• Take supplements, such as vitamin B6, as directed by your doctor.
• Don't think too much about morning sickness. Divert your attention to light, enjoyable activities.

Read Too : How to Overcome Morning Sickness Naturally

As the fetus ages, the symptoms of morning sickness will improve. In general, the symptoms will disappear by the time you are 12 weeks pregnant. However, there are also women who experience morning sickness for a longer time, for example for 3 to 4 months, even throughout pregnancy. In some cases, not a few pregnant women experience severe nausea and vomiting, or better known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Pregnant women who experience HG can not enter food and drink, because vomiting is too frequent and prolonged.

In some women who have HG, vomiting can occur more than fifty times a day. In addition, symptoms of morning sickness in patients with HG can continue until delivery. Patients with HG are also at risk for weight loss and dehydration, which is dangerous for the safety of the mother and fetus. Therefore, the condition of HG requires medical treatment.

If the above methods do not relieve the symptoms of morning sickness, you can consult a gynecologist. Especially if you are losing weight, nausea and vomiting continue until the fourth month, vomiting more than three times a day, or vomiting blood.