Pregnancy and morning sickness

 While the nausea and vomiting are usually experienced in the morning, they well continue well into the day and while uncomfortable, morning sickness is also natural and is due to the increase in the Beta-hCG hormone during the first three months of pregnancy. This hormone is indicative of the strength of the foetus: the higher the level of hormone, the stronger the foetus. Women who are carrying twins also have more of the hormone because they have a larger placenta. 

Experts are at odds as to whether nausea gravidarum should be considered as an ailment and most doctors are reluctant to prescribe any drugs to control it unless it becomes severe.

However, mild morning sickness can benefit from a change in dietary habits. You should replace the norm of three main meals a day with five of six smaller meals. It is also recommended that you don’t let your stomach become empty or become too hungry. 

It is also wise avoid anything that can cause you to vomit, including overly pungent and fatty foods. 

You should start to feel better after three months as the Beth-hCG hormones decrease again and the morning sickness subsides. If the conditions persists or becomes worse, a doctor should be consulted and Dramamine or Vitamin B6 will be prescribed.

 

The following are some tips for alleviating morning sickness.

l Ginger is very effective for easing queasiness and research has demonstrated that ginger ale can relieve morning sickness. In more severe cases where you lose your appetite, cannot even drink water and become exhausted, it is recommended that you stay in hospital so that you can be fed saline solution intravenously. In most cases, you will feel better in one or two days.

 

l There are certain types of abnormal pregnancies, such as molar pregnancy. In this case, the placenta produces unusually high amounts of hCG hormones, which causes expectant mothers to have more severe nausea and vomiting. 

 

l If an expectant mother is still experiencing queasiness and vomiting in the eighth month of pregnancy, it is possible that there is a malfunction of the alimentary system, such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, food poisoning, a failure of the circulatory system of the body or low blood pressure. These symptoms are a result of the uterus overlaying the great vein of the pelvis, leading to a poor flow of blood to the heart and the brain. To reduce the risk of this happening or to alleviate the symptoms if they are already present, it is recommended that you take plenty of rest, drink a lot of water, and avoid standing or sitting for too long in order to prevent the uterus from overlaying the great vein for any extended period. If there is still no sign of recovery after following these steps, visit your doctor. 

 

DR MAKAWANTANANUNKUL is an obstetrician-gynaecologist specialising in high-risk pregnancies at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital. Call (02) 378 9129-30 or (02) 378 9000.