FACT WHATYOU


YOUR BABY IS MOST VULNERABLE TO TOXINS IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER. YOU MAY BE NAUSEATED BY THINGS THAT CAN HARM YOUR BABY, LIKE RAW MEAT AND COFFEE


SHOULDEXPECT


This month’s most notable change will likely be the need to pee a lot. In the first trimester, your body ups its workload clearing toxins and increasing blood volume, which has an impact on your kidneys and your need to wee – a lot.


nausea,” advises Gauteng dietician Maryke Oberholzer. “Bland foods like crackers, rice cakes, plain baked potatoes, plain toast, pretzels, plain cereal and plain popcorn all work well, as do plain vegetables and fruit.” “Eating frequent small meals instead of fewer large meals should also help,” adds Dr Chimusoro.


FOODS THAT MAY EASE THE SYMPTOMS Even if eating is the last thing you feel like doing, you have to get food into your stomach. “Foods rich in vitamin B6 and magnesium, such as wholegrains, meats, nuts and leafy green vegetables, may help reduce the symptoms,” says Maryke. Although some pregnant women can’t bear the smell of cabbage cooking, cabbage in any form – including raw – can soothe the stomach and relieve nausea. (It does


cause flatulence, though.) Dr Chimusoro suggests toast with bitter jams like marmalade, and black rooibos tea with rusks.


NATURAL REMEDIES “Every pregnancy is unique, and not all morning sickness remedies will work for you, but there are a few natural remedies that may help to ease the symptoms,” says Maryke. GINGER in almost any form is widely known as a stomach soother – try sipping flat ginger ale or ginger tea, nibbling ginger biscuits, or having ginger jam on toast. Drink


LEMON PEPPERMINT tea.


Inhale the scent of lemon peel or fresh ROSEMARY. Suck MINTS or chew gum (but avoid peppermint if you have heartburn). Suck ICE CUBES made from water or fruit juice.


WHAT IS HCG?


In the first couple of months of your pregnancy, you will hear the term hCG a lot. This stands for human chorionic gonadotropin – a hormone produced by your newly developing placenta. One of its roles is to make sure that your foetus “sticks”. When you do a pee stick pregnancy test, the test detects if you have hCG in your urine. As hCG is only made after an egg has been fertilised and implanted into the uterine wall, it is a sure sign that you are pregnant. The actual amount of hCG present in your blood can only be measured by a blood test and can give you an indication of how far along you are. In the early days, your hCG levels can be quite low but within days it begins to soar, doubling every 48 hours (although like every woman, every pregnancy is different).


or


Chew FENNEL seeds after meals or drink fennel tea. Acupuncture, acupressure


and HYPNOSIS work for some women, and have no harmful side effects.


WHEN TO SEEK HELP If no home remedy works, ask your doctor for help. “Pyridoxine, which is a form of vitamin B6, works in some women, and there’s a safe range of medication available for use under clinician’s supervision,” says Dr Chimusoro. In rare cases, the nausea and vomiting can be so bad that it


causes excessive weight loss and dehydration, which can be harmful to both mother and baby. This is when you need to see your medical practitioner urgently. “There are other causes that need to be looked out for in the very ill, in those who’re severely dehydrated, and in women with persistent and severe cases of morning sickness,” says Dr Chimusoro. “It could be a bladder infection, a bowel infection such as appendicitis, an ear infection, a thyroid or liver disease, or a sign of an abnormal pregnancy.” YP


DOS AND DON’TS DO


Get plenty of rest.


Keep well hydrated – sip water in small quantities throughout the day, (the colder the fluid, the easier it is to stomach). In the morning, try to eat something bland like a cracker or dry toast before getting up.


Keep a stash of snacks (crackers, pretzels, dried fruit or nuts) nearby at all times. Take your multivitamins later in the day, preferably with a meal. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes and avoid tight waistbands. Identify your nausea triggers and try to avoid them.


Pack a clean top, toothbrush, toothpaste and/or mouthwash when you go out just in case.


Exercise – go for a leisurely walk, even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing. Listen to your body. Even if the morning sickness remedy that works for you seems weird, go with it – each pregnancy is different and unique. Let your partner know how you’re feeling so he/she can give you the support you need.


Ask for help if you need it.


DON’T Don’t hurry out of bed in the mornings – get up slowly. Avoid having an empty stomach – graze throughout the day. Take frequent breaks from your computer – its bright screen and undetectable strobe effect may trigger nausea. Avoid fried, fatty and/or spicy foods. Avoid smelly foods like broccoli and cauliflower. Avoid strong smells like garbage, perfume, coffee, cigarettes and garlic. Avoid high energy drinks.


PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR ON ANY AND ALL ISSUES REGARDING YOUR PREGNANCY AND BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TREATMENT AND/OR MEDICATION.


JUNE/JULY 2015 77


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