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Pregnancy Issues and DiscomfortsNausea,Vomiting & Food Cravings
Many women experience nausea and vomiting in the first trimester. It isestimated that 1 in 10 will continue to experience the symptoms beyond thefirst trimester. It is often called “morning sickness” but for many women persiststhroughout the day.Hyperemisis gravidarum, also known as excessive and uncontrollable vomiting is medically definedby weight loss and dehydration due the inability to retain food and fluids.
Causes/symptoms
Though the cause of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is not greatly known it is believed to becaused by the rising hCG levels in women and the imbalance of glucose in the woman’s body.Estrogen has also be linked to an increased sense of smell and thus causing sensitivity which canincrease a woman’s symptoms. It has been shown that women with decreased levels of estrogen intheir system such as teenage girls and menopausal women have a decreased sense of smell! One study suggested that women born with anosmia
(
lack of ability to smell
)
did not su
ff
er from morning sickness during their pregnancy. Some people believe that women carrying multiple fetusesexperience more severe symptoms due to the increased levels of hormones. Some people havesuggested and believe that hyperemisis can be caused by stressful relationships in the woman’s life.By getting away from the causes of stress some women’s symptoms have eased up. Low blood sugar,increased stomach acid, lack of sleep and extra protein requirements from the fetus are some otherpossible causes.
Holistic Method
•
Eat small meals frequently, every two to three hours; do not skip meals; avoid hunger.
•
Have a snack before bedtime or during the night.
•
Try eating a piece of bread or a few crackers before getting up in the morning to quell nausea.
•
Get out of bed slowly; avoid sudden movements and get out of bed slowly
•
Avoid high fat and fried foods; eat lower
-
fat meats, poultry and fish; use skim or low
-
fat milkproducts; try carbohydrate
-
rich foods such as fruit, fruit juice, breads, cereals, rice, potatoes.
•
Drink fluids between rather than with meals to avoid stomach fullness at meal times.
•
Avoid strong food smells and cooking odors by eating cold foods, opening windows to freshen theair, avoiding co
ff
ee, garlic and other spices and having others cook when possible.
•
Avoid highly seasoned foods.
•
Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating; avoid brushing your tongue.
•
Keep well rested; avoid fatigue.
•
Avoid cigarette smoking.
•
Try drinking ginger beer or ginger tea to ease nausea •Drink liquids between meals as apposed to meals• Turn to starchy foods such as potatoes, crackers and pasta •Eat food high in vitamin B6
Acupressure
P6
Some people have found that apply pressure to the acupuncture point Neiguan
(
P6
)
to behelpful. The wrist bands which work as pressure on the point as well as magnets have worked for some women and no adverse e
ff
ects to the fetus have been noted.
Mastoid Process
Ice applied right behind the mastoid process may also helpalleviate nausea.
Homeopathy
Due the none intrusive healing e
ff
ects of homeopathy and its ability to work on energeticlevels many women may be tempted to try Homeopathy right away without consulting a trained Homeopath. Due to my personal beliefs and understanding of Homeopathy and itsability to balance or imbalance the bodies system I believe that a trained Homeopath shouldbe consulted for the correct remedy.In Elizabeth Davis’ book
Heart and Hand’s
she suggests the following Homeopathicremedies:
-
Pulsiti
"
a
-
Sepia
-
Nux Vomica
-
Ipecacuanha
-
Antimonium Tartrat
e -
Argentum Nitricu
m-
Petroleu
m
According to reference works there are 187 remedies with symptoms of nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy. The top four remedies and their sources associated with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are:
The use of antihistamines
The drug Benediction was released onto the market in the 1950’s which contained antihistaminesand vitamin B6 which helped reduced nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy. The drug waspulled from the market in 1983 when claims were made that it had a teratogenic e
ff
ect causing congenital malformations though many people believe that the drug itself does not cause defects.Diclectin, containing the same ingredients is now available on the Canadian market though many doctors are reluctant to prescribe it due to lawsuits. According the U.S food and drug administration,updated June 2008 Benediction has been approved to be given as a 10
-
mg oral tablet.
Pica
Pica is medical disorder defined by the desire and craving to eat non
-
foodsubstances. Items may include and are not limited to: The cravings must last for at least one month and be age appropriate
(
i.ean infant under 24 months of age
)
. It is the most common eating disorderin people with mental disabilities and is greatly linked with young primipara women during their first pregnancy.It is widely believed the pregnant women experiencing pica have an irondeficiency but this is not always the case. According to a study done atthe University of Alabama in Williams “the rate of spontaneous pretermbirth at less the 35 weeks was twice as high in women with pica”. The word Pica comes from the latin word meaning magpie, a bird which isbelieved to eat anything. Pica may develop in people of all ages but ismost commonly linked to pregnant women. The etiology of Pica is yetunknown and there is no specific medical cure.
-
Cimicifuga
(
flower
)--
Ipecacuanha
(
flower
)-
Sepia
(
ink of the cuddle fish
)-
Pulsitila
(
flower
)
•
feces
•
lead
•
laundry starch
•
vinyl glove
•
plastic
•
pencilerasers
•
ice
•
paper
•
light bulbs
•
needles
•
string
•
cigarettebutts
•
plaster
•
clay
•
dirt
•
sand
•
stones
•
pebbles
•
hair
•
burntmatches
•
fingernails
•
wire
•
paintchips
•
coal
•
chalk
•
wood
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