Morning Sickness is a condition causing nauseous feeling and Vomiting experienced by pregnant women at around the 6th-12th week of Pregnancy, usually caused by the sudden increase in Hormone levels during Pregnancy.
• Its the First signs of Pregnancy. Its controlled with dietary measures, rest, and antacids.
• Common Names: nausea gravidarum, nausea/vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), emesis gravidarum, pregnancy sickness,
• During the First 12-14 weeks of Pregnancy, when most women experience sickness, the progesterone Hormones are primarily produced in the corpus luteum in the ovaries. After this time, Hormone production shifts to the placenta, which may help explain why the sickness stops at around the same time (12-14 weeks).
• Sickness may also be related to low blood pressure and high progesterone levels may interfere with adequate circulation of blood to the brain, especially upon rising.
• Getting up slowly will help to relieve this.
Probable Causes of Morning Sickness
• Most people agree that hormonal changes probably play a role, but the exact causes of Morning Sickness are still unknown.
• Increase in the circulating Estrogen levels.
• High levels of Progesterone levels.
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) caused by the placenta draining Energy from the mother’s body.
• Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, a Hormone First produced by the developing embryo soon after conception and then later by the placenta).
• Increased sensitivity to odours (sense of smell).
Morning Sickness Facts
• More than 50% of pregnant women experience Morning Sickness.
• It may be a sign of a healthy Pregnancy. Many doctors think Morning Sickness is a good sign because it means the placenta is developing well.
• It can occur at any time of the day or night.
• Morning Sickness is not harmful, but hyperemesis gravidarum (a condition characterized by severe Nausea, Vomiting, weight loss, and sometimes electrolyte disturbance) is and often require a stay in the hospital so the mother can receive Fluid and nutrition through an intravenous line.
Things to Avoid for Morning Sickness
• Do not lie down after eating.
• Do not skip meals.
• Do not let this condition go untreated.
• Do not cook or eat spicy food.
Helpful Things to Do for Morning Sickness Relief
• Eat small meals often.
• Drink Fluids 1/2 hour before or after a meal, but not with meals.
• Drink small amounts of Fluids during the day to avoid Dehydration.
• Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning.
• Eat whatever you feel like eating, whenever you feel you can.
• Ask someone else to cook for you; open the windows, or turn on fans if the odor bothers you.
• Get plenty of rest and nap during the day.
• Avoid warm places; feeling hot adds to Nausea.
• Sniff Lemons or Ginger, drink Lemonade or eat Watermelon to relieve Nausea.
• Eat salty Potato chips; they have been found to settle stomachs enough to eat a meal.
• Exercise.
Simple Tips for Morning Sickness
• Take a balanced diet (include Protein and Carbohydrate rich food, Whole Grain food, brown bread).
• Drink plenty of fluid, Water, fresh fruit juice, etc. to keep the body temperature in control and reduces the Nausea or Vomiting tendency.
• Keep your room fresh and clean.
• Take sufficient sunlight and do not stay too much in dark, as this will cause Nervousness and will result in Vomiting.
• Use a good fragrance room freshener (like Lavender, Mint) that sooths your nerves and make you feel comfortable.
• Do not eat spicy foods that are difficult to digest as they not only cause Morning Sickness but also increase the heat of the body. This could endanger the very life of the fetus and lead to a spontaneous abortion.
• Include salads, Wheat, Vegetables, Bananas, sea food, chicken, etc. in your diet as they contain B-complex Vitamin As deficiency in B-complex Vitamins may lead to Morning Sickness.
• Take proper rest as the more you take rest, the less you feel Nausea or Vomiting.
• Do not Stress yourself.
• Its advisable to keep some food items that suit your taste near the bed as women going through the Morning Sickness syndrome often wake up at night due to uneasiness or Vomiting tendency. Keeping some food items near the bed will give relief.
• Morning walk, mild walk after dinner, a little exercise makes body and mind healthy, while meditation and yoga help in keeping nerves in control.
• Do not eat food in hurry, but chew food slowly, completely, and properly.
• Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after taking food.
• Completely restrict your habit of drinking and Smoking to prevent Morning Sickness and keep the child safe and healthy.
• Do not starve yourself, take freshly prepared fruit juice, some low fat snacks, etc., in place of heavy meals.
Prescription for Morning Sickness
Prescription for Morning Sickness
• Ginger (1 part)
• Wild Yam (1 part)
• Black Horehound (1 part)
Dosage: – 2.5 ml of tincture at night and in the morning, building upto 5 ml if needed
Supplemental Infusion for Morning Sickness
• Peppermint (1 part)
• German Chamomile (1 part)
Dosage: – Infuse 1 teaspoon of dried herb mixture in 1 cup of boiling Water. Drink often during the day.
Safe Anti-Emetics to use in Early Pregnancy
There are no general rules for treating Morning Sickness, as the causes vary from one woman to another, but treatment should aim at what appears to be the underlying cause.
Anti-emetics are important, as they will calm the Vomit reflex, no matter what the cause of Morning Sickness.
• Black Horehound
• Meadowsweet
• Gentian
• Rosemary
Safe Herbs to use in Pregnancy that Aid Digestion
• Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum aromaticum)
• Wild Yam
• Fennel seed
• Hops
• Lavender
• German Chamomile
• Lemon balm
• Peppermint
• Raspberry Leaf
• Clove
• Ginger root
Food Remedies for Morning Sickness
Apple Vinegar
Bael Juice
Cashew Seeds Juice
Ginger
Lemon
Oranges
Pickles
Unripe Pumpkin Seeds
Tamarind
• Apple Vinegar – Take Apple Vinegar extract with Raw Honey at night, before going for sleep. Mix equal amount (one tablespoon) of both Vinegar and Raw Honey in a cup of Water.
• Bael Juice – Add a couple of spoonfuls of the bael juice in some cooked Rice, then take 2-3 a day (especially if you have persistent Morning Sickness problems).
• Ginger – Pregnant women who use Ginger experience relief from their Morning Sickness/Nausea without limiting side effects and Pregnancy (dried root is best). Ginger tea is an effective home remedy for Morning Sickness (gives immediate relief from the symptoms of Morning Sickness). Take 2-3 pieces of Ginger into Water and Boil it till the Water is halved of its original volume, allow it to cool a little, then take in small sips, however, many pregnant women are unable to take the tea because of the strong taste of Ginger.
• Lemon – Lemon is quite effective in reducing Vomiting, Nausea or Morning Sickness. Always keep Lemon slice or freshly prepared Lemon juice by the bedside. The strong but pleasant odour of Lemon, it is very useful in the treatment of Morning Sickness. When the woman feels the symptoms of Nausea and Vomiting, just sniffing at the juice or the peel of a Lemon is enough to stop the Morning Sickness.
• Oranges – Take two (2) Oranges in the morning and the evening to keep you healthy during the Pregnancy and also useful in numerous ways during the months of Pregnancy. Oranges are rich in Vitamin C, but avoid taking it if you are prone to Colds.
• Pickles – Salty Lime or Ginger made varieties prevents Morning Sickness and Nausea. Tangy, tart flavour of a Pickle tingles the taste buds, revives the appetite, and eases Nausea.
• Tamarind – Tamarind may help with Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy.
Herbal Remedies for Morning Sickness
Black Horehound
German Chamomile
Curry-leaf Tree
Ginger Leaves
Helonias
Ipecacuanha
Korean Mint
Mint
Peppermint Oil
Pulsatilla
Raspberry Leaves Infusion
Spearmint
Wild Yam
• Black Horehound – It may also be helpful for Morning Sickness (or Nausea is triggered in the inner ear and central Nervous System, but caused by Stress and Anxiety). In that regard, the herb is often used in conjunction with Meadowsweet and German Chamomile. Black Horehound combined with Motherwort is an excellent remedy in the pains of labour.
• Curry-leaf Tree – Curry-leaf Tree leaves gives pregnant women in their First trimester of Pregnancy relief from Nausea, Morning Sickness and Vomiting. Take a handful of curry leaves and extract their juice as very helpful in the treatment of Morning Sickness. Add 1 Lemon juice and a spoonful of Raw Honey to it, drink the mixture on a regular basis 3-4 times a day.
• Ginger Leaves – Ginger Leaves are an effective remedy for morning and Motion Sickness during Pregnancy.
• Helonias – Helonias has the ability to relieve the symptoms of Morning Sickness. Its chewed by Native American women to prevent miscarriage.
• Ipecacuanha – It may help pregnant women through Morning Sickness or unwanted bleeding.
• Korean Mint – Korean Mint leaves are commonly used to relieve Vomiting and Morning Sickness. Powdered Korean Mint, nut grass root and Licorice root is taken with salt Water to prevent miscarriage.
• Mint – All Mints (Spearmint, Horsemint and Peppermint) are beneficial in controlling Morning Sickness as their fragrances and flavors mitigate the feelings of Nausea and Vomiting.
• Peppermint Oil – Peppermint Oil is another useful home remedy for Morning Sickness. Take 500 ml of Water, Boil it and add 3-4 drops of Peppermint Oil, allow it to stand, put it in a container, and keep it near the bed. The soothing fragrance of Peppermint Oil helps a lot during Morning Sickness.
• Pulsatilla – Its a remedy for Indigestion, Stress incontinence, fatigue, and Morning Sickness in Pregnancy.
• Spearmint – Prepare a tea made of Spearmint (very effective in curing Morning Sickness).
• Wild Yam – Wild Yam is helpful in relieving Morning Sickness (Nausea).
