Few Women Seek Help for Morning Sickness
Posted on Mar 30, 2012 | Blog Posts, Morning Sickness News Category | | Print This Article
Roughly three out of four pregnant women experience morning sickness. A recent study conducted by the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health shows that less than half of those who experience morning sickness symptoms such as nausea and vomiting seek medical help or advice.
Much of the reason for this is that morning sickness is considered “normal.” In most cases, morning sickness causes no real harm to mother or child. However, severe morning sickness can be a sign of a more serious problem, and should not be ignored.
Severe morning sickness can be a sign of hyperemesis gravidarum. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum can become malnourished if the condition is not treated. This can, in turn, harm both mother and baby. Neonatal vitamins can help, but it’s also important for pregnant women to take in adequate nutrition from the food they eat and to stay hydrated.
Even those who experience mild morning sickness symptoms can benefit from the advice of a doctor or nurse midwife. While there is no real cure for morning sickness, there are a number of remedies and medications which can be prescribed to help expectant mothers cope with it. Some of the more common suggestions for treating morning sickness include:
- Ginger (straight or in ginger snaps, ginger ale, etc.)
- Vitamin B6
- Ondansetron
- Dietary changes
- Lifestyle changes
- Eating more, but smaller, meals
- Avoiding unpleasant smells
- Eating crackers before bed and/or first thing in the morning
- Sucking ice cubes if you typically become nauseous form or vomit liquids
- Acupuncture or acupressure
- Chiropractic treatment
Keep your doctor or nurse practitioner informed regarding morning sickness and any other symptom. Even if you think the symptoms are normal, it’s important to keep your health care professional in the loop. Chances are, the symptoms are normal and you’re fine. Still, it’s better for your doctor or nurse practitioner to know about any potential problems as far in advance as possible.
On a positive note, morning sickness is usually not a serious problem and is not something to worry about. Make your health care professional aware of your symptoms and follow the advice that works best for you. In most cases, your morning sickness will go away in the second trimester.
Have you spoken with your health care professional about your morning sickness? Why or why not?
Top of Page
