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In early pregnancy, approximately half of women develop nausea and vomiting often termed as “Morning Sickness”. In about 35% of women with this condition, nausea and vomiting can become clinically significant, which effects their normal daily routines.
The exact mechanism is unclear, but it’s likely due to hormonal changes. Morning sickness seems to deteriorate by stress, traveling, and certain foods, like spicy or fatty foods.Majority of these cases typically improve by second trimester.
Dietary control and change in habits are the first line of treatment. Women are advised to eat small amounts of food several times a day, avoid exposure to odors, foods, or supplements that appear to trigger nausea, particularly fatty or spicy foods and iron tablets. A useful strategy may include eating and drinking fluids between meals.
A diet high in protein and carbohydrates (like whole-wheat bread, pasta, bananas, and green, leafy vegetables) may also help reduce the severity of the nausea. In some women, alternative therapy remedies such as ginger tea and acupuncture may be effective
A severe form of this condition is Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which usually occurs between 5-10 weeks of pregnancy. The incidence is 0.3% to 1.0% and is characterized by persistent vomiting.
Advise from your doctor should be sought to eliminate any underlying condition if the vomiting is severe.
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