Even though there are many signs of pregnancy, the most common symptoms are nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting can be a daily challenge for pregnant women, affecting appetite and creating sensitivity to some food smells.
Even if nausea and vomiting are common problems in pregnancy, there is no definitive information about the cause. Nevertheless, according to popular belief, these symptoms are the result of hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy. Rising oestrogen in early pregnancy progresses in the first three months, a period in which nausea and vomiting are felt intensely. Sensitivity to smell also starts to occur in this period.
Another view is that these problems arise from the baby's natural biological response. As the period when nausea and vomiting occur are often in the same period when the fetus’s organs begin to develop, the embryo is more vulnerable to be influenced from outside at this point. Therefore, the mother’s body reacts in this way to protect both herself and her baby from food poisoning.
Nausea and vomiting in pregnant women are extremely natural: these symptoms are seen in almost half of pregnant women. In some pregnant women vomiting might not occur, but nausea continues. The nausea and vomiting problem, known as "morning sickness" because it usually begins in the morning, can also occur during the day. This often continues until the end of the fourth month of pregnancy.
Despite all these challenges and its natural status, there are of course measures you can take against nausea and vomiting, which are two of the most difficult problems for pregnant women. The following tips can help you to deal with nausea and vomiting and enjoy a more comfortable pregnancy:
-Eat small portions of food frequently;
- Avoid fried, oily, pungent and hard-to-digest foods;
- Try to eat sources of protein and carbohydrate as much as possible;
- In between meals, if you feel hungry, try to eat crackers or pretzels;
-Fresh fruits and vegetables should definitely not be missing from your menu. Food that is as natural as possible is even more important in terms of your stomach health, especially during pregnancy, which is a very sensitive period;
- Keep away from cigarettes and alcohol;
- Minimise your consumption of caffeine and avoid drinking tea or coffee before bedtime;
-Drinking water can sometimes irritate the stomach in some pregnant women. In such cases, you can drink salty ayran, but it shouldn’t be excessive and shouldn’t replace water.
- Do not make sudden movements, especially when you wake up in the morning: get up out of bed slowly;
- If you suffer from severe vomiting that leads to weight loss and that occurs after every meal develops, you should consult your doctor. After urinalysis, if your doctor deems it necessary, a serum feeding method might be required for one or two days to replenish the required minerals in your body;
- Vitamin B6 deficiency and the stress experienced when pregnant might cause nausea and vomiting; therefore you should address these issues by taking a vitamin B6 supplement and managing stress, for example;
- Try starting meals with bread, crackers etc.
- Stay away from fried, spicy foods, choosing healthier, oven-cooked options instead, if possible.
