Managing morning sickness

MOST pregnant women share one common complaint — morning sickness or nausea. It’s a condition where not only can they feel queasy at the sight and smell of their favourite meal, but overbearing fragrances and scents can send their heads spinning. But according to obstetrician-gynaecologist at ICON Medical Centre, Dr Keisha Buchanan, you don’t have to allow these symptoms to diminish your quality of life or prevent you from enjoying your pregnancy.

“The term ‘morning sickness’ is a misnomer, as nausea and vomiting can happen throughout the day or more prominently at night. Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are common and may be debilitating. Most women experience this is in the first trimester (the first three months), and then it subsides. However, six per cent of women will have persistent nausea and vomiting throughout their pregnancy,” Dr Buchanan revealed.

She explained that women tend to experience vomiting and nausea during their first pregnancies. The same is true for women with pre-existing conditions such as ulcers, reflux disease, motion sickness and migraine headaches. Women who are carrying twins or other multiple pregnancies are also more likely to vomit due to higher hormonal levels. Dr Buchanan notes, however, that once women are hydrated and are able to keep down an adequate amount of calories, vomiting and nausea are generally not a cause for concern.

Below she shares tips on how you can manage your morning sickness:

•“Symptoms of nausea and vomiting can be improved by eating small meals regularly. So instead of having three large meals, having five or six smaller meals and snacks can improve these symptoms. It is important to eat at a slower pace instead of rushing meals,” Dr Griffith recommends. She said that eating high-protein meals and complex carbohydrates can prevent vomiting, as well as avoiding lying down or driving on rough roads immediately after eating.

• Take note of the types of foods e that trigger nausea. Among the most common sources are greasy and spicy foods. Try to include more foods that help to reduce nausea. “A bland diet such as crackers, bread, ginger-based foods such as ginger sweets, ginger teas, ginger biscuits, and sucking on peppermint sweets may help to reduce nausea. It’s best to eat more of what can be tolerated and avoid those foods that can irritate the stomach,” Dr Buchanan advises. She also recommends taking additional vitamins such as Vitamin B6 which can help to reduce nausea and vomiting. Importantly, she said that it’s best to take prenatal vitamins after having a meal to prevent throwing up.

•Keep well hydrated at all times. Drinking water is important. Coconut water is an excellent source of oral rehydration and is pleasing to the taste.

•Medications are often needed to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. “Anti-vomiting agents such as dimenhydrinate, ondansetron, metoclopramide, granisetron and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine are safe in pregnancy,” Dr Buchanan said. She notes, however, that they may have side effects such as drowsiness, but they are effective in curtailing nausea and vomiting. If these drugs are not effective, Dr Buchanan suggested that steroids may be needed.

• Nausea and vomiting could be an indication of other problems and may not be just due to pregnancy. “If there is associated diarrhoea and fever, the vomiting may be due to gastroenteritis due to infection from food,” Dr Buchanan advised. In addition, stomach pains and vomiting could be due to inflammation in the stomach or an ulcer, while lower abdominal pain could be due to appendicitis. Vomiting and headache may be due to migraine, or possibly a brain tumour. A bladder infection could cause nausea, vomiting, burning on urination and frequency on urinating. When these symptoms occur, it is best to see your doctor to have the vomiting assessed.

•Excessive nausea and vomiting resulting in weight loss, dehydration, a feeling of weakness and decreased urine output is caused by hyperemesis gravidarum. Patients suffering from this condition need to be hospitalised.