Up to 80% of pregnant women
suffer from some form of morning sickness (which
can generally be defined as nausea or vomiting that
starts in the first trimester and can last anywhere
from a few months to the full term).
Although
most cases are mild, it is a condition that should
not be taken lightly. In fact, if not treated properly,
it can result in serious side effects to the mother
and child.
The cause of morning sickness is not well known
because it has not been deeply researched. It is
believed to be hormonal in nature — the body's
way of adjusting to the hormonal changes during
pregnancy.
Severe morning sickness can result in social and
mental problems for the mother-to-be. She may feel
isolated as a result of shying away from normally
enjoyable social activities—due to the unpredictable
nature of morning sickness. A woman who may have
been seen as the family caregiver may feel she is
now the one who needs constant help. She may also
have feelings of being rejected or hopeless as well.
Unchecked morning sickness can even cause such health
problems as dehydration, weight loss, depression,
anxiety, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, lesions
to the central nervous system, damage to liver and
other organs of the mother as well as the fetus,
and even spontaneous abortions of otherwise healthy
fetuses. If a mother-to-be loses 5% of her weight
as a result of morning sickness, the fetus can be
born with a lower birth weight (increasing the odds
of infant mortality).
Vomiting and nausea can go from mild to moderate,
and in some more rare cases can result in a condition
known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum, when vomiting is
quite severe. With Hyperemesis Gravidarum, it is
even more critical to actively treat the vomiting.
Women suffering from this level of vomiting should
be hospitalized. Actually, thousands of women each
year are hospitalized due to harsh cases of morning
sickness—some as a result of lack of early
detection and treatment.
There are many ways to deal with morning sickness,
such as eating smaller meals throughout the day
(to keep blood sugar levels on an even keel) and
eating a high-protein meal in the evening (as protein
lasts longer in the body and will be there in the
morning). Many rely on the old “keep crackers
by your bed” method. But, they do not always
to the trick, and can offer a false sense of security.
For these reasons, the best thing to do at the first
sign of any level of morning sickness is to keep
a continual dialogue with the doctor so that any
changes or problems can be averted early on.
Keeping morning sickness in check and treating it
as any other condition that could potentially harm
the mother or child is the best way to ensure that
most women will be able to remember it as a minor
inconvenience when their little bundle of joy arrives.
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