There are few things more joyful, blissful and utterly euphoria-inducing than experiencing the birth of a baby. Babies are new life; they are innocence and beauty, a miracle from the mind of God made reality. So why is it that the incredible, life-giving experience of pregnancy is often marred by morning sickness? No one really knows, but it???s a challenge many pregnant women must face.
Morning sickness, which can range from mild to extreme nausea and vomiting, is often one of the most reliable early signs of pregnancy. The symptoms generally ease after the first three months, but for some women, nausea and vomiting continue throughout. On the other hand, some women never experience morning sickness at all.
There is little rhyme or reason to it; it seems to involve each individual???s personal make-up and sensitivity to pregnancy hormones. Many women state that they experienced fewer symptoms in successive pregnancies, but had the most difficulties when carrying their first child, while others were the reverse.
Doctors, of course, are hesitant to prescribe pharmaceuticals for morning sickness, due to the vulnerability of the unborn child. In the late 1950s, the tranquilizer Thalidomide was prescribed for pregnant women with tragic results, as the drug caused severe birth defects. Since then, the medical community has exercised extreme caution in prescribing drugs to expectant mothers, reserving prescription products like Zofran for only extreme, debilitating cases of nausea and vomiting.
What can pregnant women do to help ease milder morning sickness symptoms? Antacids have been shown to help with nausea and the heartburn that sometimes comes with the ailment. Low sodium antacids are readily available as an over the counter medication. Vitamin B6 and ginger have also been shown to help, and some pregnant mothers have found ???seasickness??? wrist bands to be effective.
And then of course, there is the classic recommendation of saltine crackers and a lemon-lime soda or ginger ale. Most importantly, moms just have to remember, it???s only nine months!