Full Question:
When you have severe morning sickness, and can't keep any meals down, how is your baby receiving proper nutrition and what can I do to ensure they're getting the best I can give when I spend first 18 weeks like this each time?? Please help!!
Expert Answer:
Morning sickness is very common in the early weeks of pregnancy. It doesn’t put your baby at any increased risk, and usually clears up after 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. It’s thought the cause of morning sickness is down to hormonal changes that occur in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Some women however, get a very severe form of morning sickness, called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). It's sometimes called extreme morning sickness. It is best that specialist treatment is received, sometimes in hospital to ensure that both you and your baby are staying healthy.
Because it may be hard to keep food down, your healthcare professional may advise you to take a pregnancy supplement to ensure you and your baby are not missing out on valuable nutrients.
Some practical tips include:
- Get plenty of sleep as feeling tired will just make the nausea worse.
- If you feel sick first thing in the morning, get up slowly as opposed to jumping immediately out of bed. Try to eat something like dry toast or a plain biscuit before you get up.
- Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day – sipping drinks, rather than taking large volumes at a time, may help prevent vomiting.
- Avoid spicy and greasy foods are they can trigger feelings of sickness.
- Avoid eating large volumes of food at one time but instead have 5 small meals in the day and 2-3 healthy snacks.
- If the smell of hot food makes you nauseous, eat cold foods such as sandwiches, potato salads, pasta dishes, bowls of cereal etc.
- Any strong smelling food that triggers nausea should be avoided.
- Make sure your clothes are loose and comfy as tighter clothes can put extra pressure on your abdomen and possibly make you sick.
