It’s just as well that the joy and wonder of holding a newborn baby wipes most mothers’ memory clean because many mothers suffer long and hard to get to that point. And we’re not talking labour and childbirth here.
Over 50% of pregnant women suffer from it, usually in the first three months, but sometimes throughout pregnancy. Sometimes it happens earlier – the first hint that a woman is pregnant. Technically speaking, Morning Sickness isn’t a sickness at all. Opinions vary as to its causes and its purpose.
One theory is that the big increase in hormones circulating in the blood during pregnancy causes the condition. This is supported by the fact that non-pregnant women on hormonal contraceptives or HRT also experience Morning Sickness.
Another theory is that it may be a natural protective mechanism to put a pregnant woman off much of her usual diet. Why? For the first three months, the foetus is particularly sensitive to even mild, naturally-occurring toxins that have little or no effect in later life. Morning Sickness may also protect the mother herself as her defence mechanisms will have been depressed (to allow her to tolerate this ‘foreign’ entity growing in her womb), so her body may be less able to deal with these everyday tox-ins. In support of this proposition, it has been noted that foodstuffs with strong tastes and smells usually contain higher levels of these ‘harmless’ toxins and these are the ones that most sufferers can’t stomach – literally! So, even if you’re lucky enough not to suffer from Morning Sickness, you might wish to avoid ‘strong’, potentially toxic, foods.
Of course, always discuss your full range of experiences with your health professional during routine check-ups, but most mothers have their own ‘tips’ on how to deal with that queasy feeling.
Easing Morning Sickness! Top tips from www.RollerCoaster.ie
“One of the nurses recommended sucking a wine gum. I think it brought up my blood sugar levels. Not too sure, but it worked for me!”- “Nibble on crackers when you first wake so there’s something in your stomach.I kept a pack of crackers on the bedside locker and ate 2 in bed, first thing, before I’d even got out of the bed, before my feet touched the floor.”
- “I’ve been using seasickness bands, which seem to work. Peppermint tea is a fantastic tummy-settler – definitely give it a go.”
- “I took Vitamin B6 every day. It didn’t completely get rid of the sickness but brought it down to much more manageable levels. Check first with a doctor.”
- “Ginger is a natural remedy that relieves nausea, so have a few gingersnaps or Nairns ginger oat biscuits.”
- “I felt sick in the afternoon and evenings. It was worse with an empty stomach, so I ate every 3 hours or so.”
