Dealing with a woman can be very difficult. Dealing with a pregnant woman can be more difficult. Being a pregnant woman is much more difficult.
Causes
Nausea during pregnancy is usually associated with morning sickness, also known as pregnancy sickness. This condition is very common as it affects up to 70 percent of all pregnant women. Generally speaking, it is more severe in first pregnancies and usually occurs within the first trimester. Along with several other symptoms including vomiting, weight loss, starvation and signs of dehydration, nausea is believed to be caused by increased levels of certain hormones.
The elevated hormones affect the digestive system. In particular, estrogen can cause sensitivity to odors especially to offensive smells. That’s why they tend to smell even the slightest and mildest of odors. They are perceived by pregnant women as very powerful smells and they can even be very sickening to them. Fatigue and emotional stress also aggravates nausea.
Nausea and Nutrition
Pregnancy nausea usually begins between the fourth and the eighth weeks of gestation. It subsides between the fourteenth to the sixteenth weeks. It must be noted, however, that some expectant mothers struggle with this condition throughout the entire pregnancy. This can keep the woman from maintaining proper nutrition. Thus, it is usually followed by other symptoms mentioned (dehydration and weight loss). Other women develop liver damage. These symptoms can be life-threatening to the mother, the baby or both if left unchecked or untreated. When the condition worsens, it can develop to hyperemsis gravidarum, a rare troubling condition that affects one in every 300 expectant mothers. Other women don’t suffer from nausea at all. Talk about lucky.
Prevention and Treatment
The best preventive measure and remedy to nausea during pregnancy is having small, frequent meals. They should also be taken slowly. Eating smaller meals frequently can help eliminate nausea. Avoid having your stomach completely full or completely empty. They can aggravate the condition and can lead to vomiting. If nausea is felt after waking up, nibbling on crackers and sipping tea can be an easy remedy.