Signs And Symptoms of Morning Sickness

Often the very first sign of pregnancy is morning sickness and one may experience the effects as soon as two weeks after the date of conception. Despite it being called morning sickness, women who suffer from it can feel ill all day or any part of the day. One of the triggers for symptoms of morning sickness to appear seem to be an empty stomach which makes it a common time to appear.

Although not all pregnant women will be affected by morning sickness, most of them to some degree will experience queasiness or mild nausea and may battle to keep food or liquids down at some times. Women who have a history of getting travel sickness or migraine seem to be more affected by morning sickness than women who do not.

While nobody really knows what causes the nausea most doctors agree on the fact that the hormone changes that pregnancy triggers are the biggest culprits. Pregnant women also seem to suffer from heartburn or acid reflux which is caused by higher levels of acid due to hormone changes at the time of pregnancy.

Another plausible cause is the fact there is an increased or heightened sense of taste and smell during pregnancy which can trigger the nausea. Any woman who has ever been pregnant can tell you about some or other smell that they found absolutely repugnant while pregnant!
Being stressed and tired can also play a big role, and most women who are pregnant can confess to being stressed and tired most of the time!

For some women, morning sickness can last through the full pregnancy, but for most women the symptoms disappear or lessen at around 14 weeks as their hormone levels start to stabilize.
When you are pregnant there are normally dozens of aunts and grandmothers who seem to have loads of opinions on traditional ‘cures’ for morning sickens, but the act is that every women is different and their bodies react different to different things so that there is not really any single thing that will work for everybody. There are some tried and tested simple things one can do to try and feel better.

Seeing as an empty stomach could be the forerunner to nausea, you should try and snack on something healthy every so often to keep from getting too hungry. Keep a couple of snacks on your bedside table to eat before you get up in the morning or if you often wake up at night.
Sucking on crushed ices could help keep the nausea at bay, and while fizzy drinks are not exactly slimming, it can also help prevent nausea. Try making a therapeutic tea from fresh or crushed root ginger and drink it every so often. Ginger is a known remedy for soothing upset tummies and nausea.

Over the counter remedies that help for travel sickness might help, but you should always consult with your physician before taking any medication while you are pregnant.
As unpleasant as it may be, morning sickness is a very natural part of being pregnant and it will not harm your baby in any way. However, if you suffer from severe nausea and you are not able to retain any food or fluids you might become dehydrated and this is very dangerous for you as well as your baby. You should definitely consult with your doctor if this continues, and if your urine turns a dark color it is a definite sign that your fluid levels are too low.

When you are experiencing morning sickness it is more important to eat something that makes you feel better and gives you energy rather than to worry about what you are eating. So if it is chocolate that you are craving, and it makes you feel better, go for it by all means. You can once again start eating healthier foods when the morning sickness lessens or disappears altogether.

By Early Pregnancy Week