Causes Nausea During Pregnancy example essay topic

Why do they call it morning sickness if I feel nauseated all day long? About three-quarters of all pregnant women have nausea (and sometimes vomiting) during their first trimester. For some, it's worse in the morning and gets better over the course of the day, but 'morning sickness' can strike at any time. The nausea usually starts around 6 weeks but can come on as early as 4 weeks for some women, and it usually tapers off around 13 weeks as you start your second trimester, although queasiness can come and go throughout your pregnancy. What causes nausea and vomiting during pregnancy? No one knows what causes nausea during pregnancy, but it's probably due to some combination of the many physical changes taking place in your body.

Some possible causes include: o Rapidly increasing levels of h CG, estrogen, and other hormones during early pregnancy No one knows why they may contribute to your nausea, but the timing is right: Nausea tends to peak around the same time as your levels of these hormones do. o An enhanced sense of smell and sensitivity to odors. It's not uncommon for a newly pregnant woman to find that she's now overwhelmed by the smell of a bologna sandwich from four blocks away, for example, and that certain aromas instantly trigger her gag reflex. This, too, may be a side effect of rapidly increasing estrogen in your system. o A tricky stomach. Some women have a gastrointestinal tract that's more sensitive to the changes they " re undergoing in early pregnancy. One study even found an association between h. pylori (a gastrointestinal bacteria that can cause ulcers) and severe nausea during pregnancy, although no one knows why the two may be related.

You may have heard that morning sickness can be caused by a B vitamin deficiency. While taking a vitamin B 6 supplement does seem to help ease nausea in many pregnant women, that doesn't mean they have a vitamin deficiency. In fact, at least one study has shown no significant differences in the levels of B 6 in women with morning sickness and those without it. No one knows why B 6 is helpful. Some researchers also believe that stress and emotions may also play a role in morning sickness, but it would be hard to say whether it's stress causing the nausea or the other way around. Are some pregnant women more likely than others to have nausea?

You " re more likely to have nausea or vomiting during your pregnancy if any of the following apply to you: o You " re pregnant with twins or higher multiples. This may be due to the higher levels of h CG or other hormones in your system. You " re also more likely to have a worse case than average. On the other hand, it's not a definite thing - some women with twins have no nausea at all. o You have a history of nausea or vomiting as a side effect of taking birth control pills.

This may have something to do with your body's response to increased levels of estrogen. o You have a history of being susceptible to motion sickness. o You have a genetic predisposition to nausea during pregnancy. If your mother or sisters had morning sickness, there's a higher chance you will, too. o You have a history of migraine headaches. Will my nausea affect my baby? The mild nausea and occasional vomiting commonly associated with morning sickness won't threaten your baby's well being as long as you " re able to keep some food down and drink plenty of fluids. After all, for most of the first trimester, you " re just talking about a tiny embryo that doesn't need too many calories. If you find you " re unable to eat a balanced diet, it's a good idea to take a multivitamin (one without iron if that mineral makes your nausea worse) to make sure you " re getting the nutrients you need.

It's usually not a problem if you don't gain any weight in the first trimester, as long as you " re not starving yourself and able to stay hydrated. Have faith that your appetite will return soon enough and you " ll begin gaining weight. If I don't have morning sickness, does that mean I'm more likely to have a miscarriage? It's true that a number of studies have shown that women who have miscarriages are less likely to have had nausea. If your baby or your placenta is not developing properly, you " ll have lower amounts of pregnancy hormones in your system, so it follows that you would have little or no nausea. But there are also plenty of women with perfectly normal pregnancies who manage to escape nausea during their first trimester.

So count yourself lucky and don't obsess about it if you " re not suffering! What can I do to get relief? o Try to avoid any foods or smells that trigger your nausea. If that seems like almost everything, it's okay if you just eat the few things that do appeal to you for this part of your pregnancy, even if they don't add up to a balanced diet. It might also help to try eating foods that are cold or at room temperature since they tend to have less of an odor than hot foods. o Keep simple snacks, such as crackers, by your bedside. When you first wake up, nibble a few crackers and then rest for 20 to 30 minutes before getting out of bed. Snacking on crackers may also help you feel better if you wake up feeling nauseated in the middle of the night. o Eat small, frequent meals or snacks throughout the day so that your stomach is never empty.

Aim for bland foods that are high in protein or carbohydrates, since both can help fight nausea. Some good ones are crackers, biscuits, or low-fat yogurt, but go for whatever appeals to you. o Try to avoid fatty foods, which take longer to digest, particularly during pregnancy, when your stomach takes longer to empty. Also avoid rich, spicy, acidic, and fried foods, which can irritate your stomach and digestive system. o Try drinking fluids only between meals, and limit them during meals. Though it's important to keep yourself well hydrated, you don't want to drink so much at once that your stomach feels full, since that will make you less hungry for food. A good strategy is to sip something frequently throughout the day and aim to drink about a quart and a half altogether. If you " ve been vomiting a lot, try a sports drink that contains glucose, salt, and potassium to replace lost electrolytes. o Give yourself time to relax and take naps if you can.

Watching a movie (preferably not one about food!) or visiting with a friend can help relieve stress and take your mind off your discomfort. o Try taking your prenatal vitamins with food or just before bed or ask your practitioner whether you can switch to a prenatal vitamin without iron for the first trimester, since this mineral can be hard on your digestive system. o Ask your practitioner about taking vitamin B 6. No one knows why B 6 eases nausea in some women, but it seems to work for a number of women and has been consistently shown to be safe. The usual dose is between 10 and 25 milligrams three times a day, but check with your provider before taking anything. (Also, if you " re taking a multivitamin already, that should serve as one of your doses.) o Try ginger, an alternative remedy thought to settle the stomach and help quell queasiness. See if you can find some ginger ale made with real ginger (most common sodas aren't). Or grate some fresh ginger into hot water for ginger tea.

Ginger candies are also worth a try. (Ask your practitioner before taking ginger supplements, since, as with many other things that are helpful in normal amounts, the effects of megadose's are unknown.) o Try acupressure bands. You can find these soft cotton wristbands at drugstores. This simple inexpensive device, designed to ward off seasickness, has also helped some pregnant women through morning sickness. You strap it on so that the plastic button pushes against an acupressure point in the underside of your wrist. o Ask your practitioner about a device that regularly stimulates the underside of your wrist with a mild electric current. The device costs about $75 and is available by prescription only, but it's safe and seems to work well for some women. o If nothing else works for you, ask your practitioner about taking anti-nausea medications that are considered safe during your first trimester.

What if I just can't keep anything down? Call your practitioner if you haven't been able to keep anything (including fluids) down for 24 hours. (If you " re newly pregnant and don't yet have a practitioner, go to the emergency room.) You may have a syndrome called hyper emesis gravid arum (literally 'excessive vomiting in pregnancy'). This condition can be difficult to manage; the sooner you " re diagnosed and begin treatment, the more likely you " ll be able to avoid severe symptoms.

Your caregiver will probably want to give you some intravenous fluids right away since you " ll most likely be seriously dehydrated. Then she " ll need to do some tests to check your electrolyte levels and also make sure there's no underlying disease causing your constant vomiting. Depending on your condition, you may need to be hospitalized for a few days so that you can continue to receive IV fluids and medication. Many women feel much better after they " re rehydrate d and are able to control their symptoms with anti-nausea medications. In rare cases a woman may need to continue to receive intravenous therapy on and off either in the hospital or at home. If inadequately treated, this condition can result in chronic dehydration, weight loss, malnutrition, and other complications for you and your baby.

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