Nussea

Nausea is often one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. You may feel a woozy, queasy feeling in your stomach, with a tendency to gag. You may feel quite sick in the morning after waking up or while brushing your teeth. Many women experience mild nausea. A much smaller group is nauseated all day long and must vomit. Finally, some women are constantly sick and weak during the first few weeks.

Nausea can do no harm. As long as you do not vomit too much, eat and drink enough and urinate enough, the situation is normal. If you do not eat or drink anything at all, there is a risk of dehydration. If you notice that you have stopped swallowing and are urinating less than usual, contact your midwife.

CAUSE

Nausea is caused by the HCG hormone. This is especially present in the first weeks of pregnancy. After 12 weeks it gets better. In the best case, nausea stops at about sixteen weeks. From the twelfth week it may already be less.

TIPS

• Have small, light meals, spread out over the day. Sometimes it helps to eat something light in bed when you wake up, before you get up. Think for example of a cup of tea with a cracker or rusk.
• Avoid heavy and fatty foods and make sure you have something with you when you go out. A cup of broth is an excellent pick-me-up for when you're feeling faint. Sometimes a mint or sour can quell a rising feeling of nausea.
• Research has shown that ginger provides relief. Drink ginger tea or swallow ginger capsules.
• Try to take it easy in the morning, take the time to have a leisurely breakfast and get going slowly.
• Make sure you get enough rest and if you feel a wave of nausea coming on, pull back for a moment and breathe in and out through your nose slowly and deeply.