Even if you aren’t a mom, you have more than likely heard horror stories about morning sickness. A lot of women suffer from this ailment, and others are seemingly unaffected. Here are some of the things you can do to be prepared at all times if morning sickness strikes, and how to make sure that this sickness isn’t a sign or symptom of something more serious.
What causes morning sickness?
No one knows for sure what causes morning sickness, although it is thought that it may be caused by hormones. Essentially, morning sickness is when an expectant mother feels nauseated and sick, which can also cause throwing up in some cases. Although it is called morning sickness, it can happen at any time. There’s also no way to know if you’ll have it, and when it may affect you. Some have it throughout their pregnancy, while others don’t. This makes it hard to predict and figure out.
How can I prevent it?
Since no one really knows what causes morning sickness, it is not possible to prevent it. You can protect yourself by knowing you may get it, and having handy items nearby. Another really good idea is to ask other people you know when they had morning sickness and what they did about it. Write this information they provide down, so you’ll be able to count on it if you need it.
What makes it worse?
Some things are thought to be more likely to cause this type of nausea than others. Here are some of the top possible contributors.
Fatty foods
You may want to limit fatty foods as they can make the situation worse. Stick to lean meats and protein, as well as healthy fruits and vegetables. You might also want to limit fried foods, as those can be too fatty for your delicate stomach to handle.
Hunger
Being hungry never makes anyone feel good. You may feel even worse while you’re pregnant. Make sure that you try to eat whenever you can, so you don’t have an empty stomach. If you have to eat only small meals, there’s no problem with that, just make sure that you have eaten something.
Thirst
Just like hunger, it isn’t going to make you feel any better to be thirsty. You should always be drinking water or have some by your side. That way whenever you are thirsty you can drink the water, which can also keep you from getting dehydrated.
Strong smells
There are many strong smells that may make you nauseous. These are things that are generally associated with cooking, like cooking meat or fish. When you don’t have to cook, ask someone else to do it for you. Other strong smells may bother you too, like citrus, coffee, and animals.
Lack of sleep
If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you may be more nauseous. Do your best to get enough sleep at night or at least take a nap each day. This can go a long way in curbing your morning sickness.
Being hot
Another thing to remember is that you don’t want to get your temperature up too much. This can lead you to feel nauseous as well, which will be even more unbearable when you’re hot. Wear loose fitting clothes and stay in the air conditioner when you can. If it is winter time, make sure that the heater isn’t up too high.
What should I keep with me?
Just because you can’t make morning sickness go away, it doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared for it to show its ugly face. You can have some simple items with you that will help you lessen or combat morning sickness, which will especially aid you when you’re away from home. Here are some things that have helped other women cope.
Crackers
Crackers are a favorite for when you are nauseous. This is because it is something that your body will likely be able to handle when you have been vomiting. If you can’t even eat a cracker without getting sick, this is an indication that something else may be going on, so it helps to gauge the situation. Take some crackers in your purse or keep a box by your bed and in your desk at the office. Some people also say that regular potato chips work just as good as crackers, so you may want to keep a bag of those close by as well.
Lemonade
Lemons or lemonade are a favorite for some. You can either keep lemons with you or in the areas that you will most likely be, so you can suck on them when you’re nauseous. You can also just keep a few bottles of lemonade handy, since it’s a tasty drink that can also keep you hydrated.
Ginger candies
Ginger has been known to help with stomach problems and nausea for a long time, but eating fresh ginger is a little too serious for some. There are ginger candies and mints that you can eat, which you can find in health food or organic grocery stores. Keep these in your car or your purse, so you’ll always have them. They double as breath mints, so you don’t have to worry about your breath if you get sick in public.
Plastic bag
You never know when you may have to throw up, and you may not have access to a bathroom. This is why you should keep at least one plastic bag in your purse or bag. While this certainly isn’t a pleasant thing to think about, it would be even more unpleasant if you got sick on yourself on your way to work or somewhere else.
Water
Keeping bottles of water with you is a good idea no matter who you are, but it can especially help you stay hydrated and may be able to keep your nausea away. It will also help you wash your mouth out if you get sick, or have a terrible taste in your mouth.
Snacks
Since it isn’t a good idea to be hungry, you can keep snacks with you too. Since you’ll already have crackers, you may want to take something like apple slices, carrots, or nuts to go with them. This will give you a healthy snack to eat at any time, which can fill your stomach up and is unlikely to make you feel like you want to throw up.
Is it serious?
Even though morning sickness is likely to make you miserable and feel like it’s the worst time of your life, it will go away. It is rare that women have it after the 2nd trimester. If you have it for longer than the end of that trimester, you may want to see a doctor to make sure that it is morning sickness and not something else.
Another reason you may want to visit your doctor is if you can’t eat anything. This may also indicate a different problem that needs to be treated.
As a whole, morning sickness is something that is not really serious. You don’t have to worry about it, especially if you are prepared with supplies at all times.
Any other tips?
There are a couple of other things you can do to make sure that you’ll be more comfortable if you end up being a mom that suffers from morning sickness.
Stay close to the bathroom
During the time of your pregnancy when you happen to be suffering from morning sickness, try to stay as close to the bathroom as possible, wherever you are. If you have a couch that is right next to a bathroom in your home, take your naps there, so you don’t have to run as far if there is an emergency. If you have to be sick at work, make sure that your path to the bathroom is as simple as possible, or that you have a trashcan near you that will work in a pinch if you can’t make it all the way to the ladies’ room.
Get someone to run your errands
Some of the smells you need to stay away from will be present when you’re doing errands, like going to the grocery store. When you aren’t feeling well, see if you can enlist a friend, neighbor, or your spouse to accomplish some of your errands for you. This helps control how many smells you have to encounter all day, which can be a blessing to your delicate stomach and nose.
Conclusion
Morning sickness is no fun, but it also isn’t something that has to wreck your life. While it may make you feel terrible for many weeks in your pregnancy, there are things that can lessen the effects and make you more prepared to deal with it. The best advice is to keep it simple and know that it won’t last forever. You should also keep all the items with you that you need and stay close to the bathroom. If it becomes more serious or bothers you for months at a time, you can see your doctor to make sure that everything is going well and your sickness isn’t something else. Otherwise, you can be sure that it will pass and that you’ll be okay.
External sources:
http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/morning-sickness-during-pregnancy/
http://www.webmd.com/baby/morning-sickness