Morning sickness is a common ailment affecting pregnant women, but fear not, as there are ways to deal with it until it eventually goes away on its own. — dpa
“And do you feel sick?”
Women often get this question when they tell someone they’re pregnant.
Nausea and vomiting are quite common in early pregnancy, but usually subside in the second trimester.
The reason many women experience morning sickness, as it’s often called, is likely linked to production of the hormone GDF15 in the placenta, writes Munich’s Dritter Orden Clinic senior physician in gynaecology and obstetrics Dr Martin Göpfert in the October (2024) issue of the German monthly magazine Eltern (Parents).
What can affected women do?
Dr Göpfert offers three tips to ease mild to moderate morning sickness:
”Hunger is usually a major trigger,” says Dr Göpfert, who recommends responding to hunger pangs with small snacks.
This stabilises blood sugar levels and keeps the offending hormone in check, he says.
It’s best to avoid fatty snacks in favour of ones high in protein and carbohydrates, and eat plain foods – such as a cheese sandwich, rusks, rice, potatoes or soup – rather than spicy or sweet ones.
A little muesli, yoghurt or a banana once in a while are also OK.
Many pregnant women say it helps to nibble on a piece of toast in bed before getting up in the morning.
Fresh flavours can help as well, for instance, sucking on a mint-flavoured lozenge or brushing with a minty toothpaste after eating.
And drinking plenty of fluids is especially important, says Dr Göpfert.
“Cold drinks are better tolerated by most patients than warm ones are,” he adds, giving the example of a cola from the refrigerator in the morning.
Teas, lozenges and sweets containing ginger can also ease nausea.
As ginger can have a slight labour-inducing effect however, it should be consumed in moderation.
Dr Göpfert advises pregnant women to keep a journal for a week or so, jotting down what foods and smells make them feel sick.
Nausea triggers vary greatly from person to person, and when you know yours, you can avoid them.
Should none of this bring relief, affected women can ask their doctor for a safe anti-sickness medicine, known as an anti-emetic.
Fortunately, the nausea and vomiting generally go away by themselves after a while – by the end of the third month of pregnancy for one in two women, and by the 20th week for nine in 10. – dpa
