Morning Sickness
How do Live Well BellyBug Sick Bags help with morning sickness?
Vomiting caused by morning sickness can be hard to plan for. But what can make it easier is having Live Well Health Essentials Bellybug Sick Bags on hand. If you are encountering morning sickness, keeping sickbags discretely in your hand bag, car glove box or office drawer can help you be prepared for the unexpected.
What is morning sickness?
Morning sickness unfortunately is a common symptom of pregnancy. It is commonly marked by nausea and occasional vomiting. You’d think morning sickness would only be in the morning, but morning sickness can cause discomfort at any time of the day. Morning sickness usually happens within the first four months of pregnancy and is often the first sign of being pregnant. That being said, in a small percentage of women morning sickness can happen for the duration of a pregnancy.
Morning sickness is typically at its worst early in the day, hence its name, but it can strike at any point during the day or night.
For most women, morning sickness begins around the fourth week of pregnancy and ends by the 12th to 14th week. However, one in five women has morning sickness into their second trimester, and an unfortunate few experience nausea and vomiting for the entire duration of their pregnancy.
In most cases, morning sickness doesn’t harm the woman or the unborn child. However, severe morning sickness that includes weight loss and dehydration needs prompt medical attention.
Severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum)
Severe morning sickness is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and can affect around one in 1,000 pregnant women. The symptoms of HG include repeated vomiting, weight loss and dehydration. Treatment usually involves hospitalisation.
The possible complications of untreated hyperemesis gravidarum include:
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Extreme depression and anxiety
- Malnourishment of the fetus
- Excessive strain on vital organs, including the liver, heart, kidneys and brain.
If you are concerned at all regarding morning sickness, please don't hesitate to contact your doctor.
Managing morning sickness
Suggestions for coping with morning sickness include:
- Don’t take drugs of any kind, unless your doctor knows you are pregnant and has prescribed specific medications.
- Eat a few dry crackers or plain sweet biscuits before getting out of bed in the morning.
- Don’t eat anything that you suspect will make you nauseous. In general high-carbohydrate meals are well tolerated.
- Eat small meals regularly, as an empty stomach tends to trigger nausea.
- It may help to avoid cooking or preparing foods.
- Drink as much as you can manage. Sometimes sips of flat lemonade, diluted fruit juice, cordial, weak tea, ginger tea, clear soup or beef extract drinks are helpful. If none of these are bearable, try sucking on ice cubes.
- Vitamin B6 supplements can be useful, but doses above 200 mg per day can actually be harmful. Follow your doctor’s advice.
- Consider acupressure or acupuncture on the wrist.
- Wear loose clothes that don’t constrict your abdomen.
- Moving around may aggravate morning sickness. Rest whenever possible.
Seeking professional advice for morning sickness
Always seek medical advice if your morning sickness is severe, if you have lost a lot of weight quickly, or if you feel depressed or anxious. Treatment options can include drugs that won’t harm your developing baby. See your doctor or your maternal and child health nurse if you are experiencing morning sickness.
Keep Live Well Health Essentials Bellybug Sick Bags on hand to make managing morning sickness easier. Keeping sickbags discretely in your hand bag, car glove box or office drawer to be prepared for the unexpected.
