| Morning sickness is the term given to the feeling of | | | | digestive system working continuously. The typical |
| nausea and vomiting when the woman is pregnant. | | | | hunger pangs and the growling feelings of the stomach |
| This type of heaviness is felt generally in the morning | | | | must be avoided by always eating something or the |
| when the blood sugar level is down. However, it must | | | | other. |
| not be thought that morning sickness can occur only in | | | | 2. Avoid spicy foods that are difficult to digest. Not only |
| the morning. Episodes of such sicknesses can be felt | | | | will they cause morning sickness, but they will also |
| through the day, right up to late afternoon. | | | | increase the heat of the body. This could endanger the |
| Not every woman suffers from morning sickness. | | | | very life of the fetus and lead to a spontaneous |
| Statistics show that about 50 to 60% of all pregnant | | | | abortion. |
| women will suffer from morning sicknesses. These | | | | 3. Vitamin B deficiency is directly linked to morning |
| morning sicknesses begin from the first week of | | | | sickness. Vitamin B is a water soluble vitamin; hence its |
| pregnancy itself and can continue right up to the | | | | amount in the body must be replenished regularly. |
| sixteenth week (or later in some women). | | | | Salads, wheat, vegetables, bananas, sea food, chicken, |
| The main reason for morning sickness is the hormonal | | | | etc. contain vitamin B. They must be included in the |
| and chemical changes that occur in the body during | | | | regular diet. |
| the pregnancy. It is felt more during the first pregnancy | | | | (3) Home Remedies for Morning Sicknessa. Unless |
| of the woman, when the body is yet learning to | | | | you are prone to common colds, taking two oranges in |
| grapple with the several changes that are occurring | | | | the morning and the evening helps to keep you healthy |
| within it. Dietary deficiency (especially of vitamins of | | | | during the pregnancy. This will add to the vitamin C |
| the B complex, including folates) can cause morning | | | | content to the body which is useful in numerous ways |
| sickness. Some women experience morning sickness | | | | during the months of pregnancy.b. In some cooked rice, |
| if they are exposed to strong odors. Digestive | | | | add a couple of spoonfuls of the bael juice. This must |
| problems can also be responsible for morning sickness. | | | | be taken twice or thrice a day, especially if the woman |
| (1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Morning Sickness | | | | has persistent morning sickness problems.c. Take a |
| 1. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) | | | | handful of curry leaves and extract their juice. Mix in |
| Ginger is the best remedy for morning sickness. It can | | | | this the juice of one lemon. Add a spoonful of honey |
| be taken in any form – paste, ale, tea, etc. – to | | | | to the mixture. Drinking this mixture on a regular basis |
| seek immediate relief from the symptoms of morning | | | | – three to four times a day – helps in the |
| sickness. | | | | treatment of morning sickness.d. Prepare a juice of |
| 2. Lemon (Citrus limon) | | | | lemon juice and the juice of mint juice. Drink this three |
| Due to its strong but pleasant odor, the lemon is | | | | to four times a day.e. Tea made from spearmint is |
| extremely beneficial in the treatment of morning | | | | also taken for curing morning sickness. Peppermint is |
| sickness. When the woman feels the symptoms of | | | | also found to be effective. In fact any mint is useful as |
| nausea and vomiting, just sniffing at the juice or the | | | | a remedy for morning sickness due to its astringent |
| peel of a lemon is enough to stop the morning | | | | and pungent odor. Chewing gums containing ginger, |
| sickness. | | | | spearmint or peppermint are very effective in |
| 3. Mint (Plants of the Mentha family) | | | | controlling morning sickness.f. Morning sickness is |
| All mints are very effective in controlling morning | | | | caused due to lowering of the blood sugar early in the |
| sickness. Examples are spearmint, horsemint and | | | | morning when you wake up. In order to increase the |
| peppermint. Their fragrances and flavors can stimulate | | | | carbohydrate content, some dry crackers or biscuits |
| the different channels of the body and mitigate the | | | | can be had as soon as you wake up. For better |
| feelings of nausea and vomiting. | | | | effects, have these crackers or biscuits with a ginger |
| (2) Dietary Treatments for Morning Sickness | | | | or mint tea.g. Though it may sound like an old |
| It is usually found that correcting the diet of the | | | | wives’ tale, satisfying food cravings during |
| pregnant woman helps in taking care of morning | | | | pregnancy is actually beneficial. During pregnancy, a |
| sickness. Read the following points:- | | | | woman may get several urges to eat a particular type |
| 1. Morning sickness is caused often when the woman | | | | of food, even those which she might have never |
| is improperly nourished. Pregnant women must take an | | | | tasted before. Retaining such urges could increase the |
| adequate balanced diet, even if they may not feel like | | | | chances of morning sickness.h. Do not remain hungry |
| eating most of the time. This situation can be remedied | | | | when you are pregnant. Keep eating small meals |
| by eating small meals throughout the day rather than | | | | throughout the day, instead of two heavy meals. |
| having just two big meals. This will also keep the | | | | |