Couples who are trying to get pregnancy should look for early signs of pregnancy such as nausea and vomiting, food aversions, headache, mood swings etc. Morning sickness is one of the first signs of early pregnancy. A missed period is the first indication. If a woman has missed a period and is more than 10 days after the missed period then a pregnancy test should be carried out. A positive pregnancy test can justify for your morning sickness and other symptoms. Being pregnant does not mean that you need to rest 24X7 (unless advised by the doctor) and eat all the time. The women should be able to perform all the regular activities and eat in limits to meet the increased nutritional demands.
How Much Morning Sickness Is Normal?
Pregnancy symptoms may vary from individual to individual. It is not necessary that all the pregnant women will have the same intensity of morning sickness symptoms. As the hormone levels boost there will be more changes in the body such as breast tenderness, slight bleeding or cramping.
The increase in levels of HCG, human chorionic gonadotrophin causes nausea and vomiting. The symptoms can happen at any time of the day, but many women experience it in the morning. Irrespective of the time of the day and duration, it is important to know how much of the morning sickness is normal. In certain cases, the morning sickness will be very high and it is referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum which means severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. If the women experience nausea whole day long and vomit more than three times a day and unable to eat or drink then it is expected to be the problem of hyperemesis gravidarum. The condition requires immediate medical attention as the condition can affect the growth and development of the baby and can put the life risk for women and baby. In a normal pregnancy, a pregnant woman generally experiences nausea and vomiting at the start of the 4th week and typically ends in the 16th week. Nausea experienced during this period is manageable and does not affect the quality of life, the women will be able to do the daily quotes and follow a healthy diet regime. Vomiting if at all happens it happens only once or twice and does not cause complete removal of the food which has been consumed by the lady.
Nutrition is very important during pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting decreases the amount of body fluids and nutrients as required by the developing fetus. Identify the trigger factors which are making you nauseous such as smell of certain food. This can help in preventing an episode of nausea. Try to stay in ventilated places as fresh air removes any kind of smell. Certain home remedies such as lemon, ginger tea and in few cases use OTC antiemetics can be helpful.
Normal morning sickness or mild pregnancy sickness will not cause any loss of body fluids or electrolytes. The women will be able to maintain a healthy weight in contrast to a woman who is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum where there is loss of weight and electrolyte imbalance. Mild pregnancy symptoms are manageable and do not affect the quality of life. Women can enjoy the motherhood without altering the work pattern or extra rest.
Conclusion
It is common for women to experience morning sickness in the first trimester of pregnancy. Morning sickness during this period will be mild and of short duration. Adequate rest and keeping away from trigger factors can be beneficial in preventing an episode of nausea and vomiting. Normal morning sickness does not produce any clinical symptoms such as weight loss, dehydration or electrolyte imbalance. Pregnant women should ideally be able to perform all the daily activities without any changes in the quality of life. If the symptoms worsen, then better to consult a physician.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2018). Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy
- Mayo Clinic. (2021). Morning Sickness: Understanding Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/morning-sickness/faq-20447145
Also Read:
- Can You Get Morning Sickness Before A Positive Pregnancy Test?
- How To Cope With Morning Sickness?
- Is It Bad If I Don’t Get Morning Sickness?
- Can Morning Sickness Just Be An Upset Stomach?
- How To Prevent Morning Sickness?
- What Helps Morning Sickness That Lasts All Day?
- Does Your Stomach Hurt With Morning Sickness?
