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| Home > Nutrition and Health > Common Concerns
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| | Common Concerns during Pregnancy
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Due to changes in hormone production and the increased size and weight of the uterus, some common nutrition related problems arise during pregnancy. We will discuss some causes of and treatments for these ailments
Nausea and Vomiting
 Nausea and vomiting are sometimes referred to as "morning sickness" though usually not restricted to morning only. Pregnant women frequently feel nauseated and need to vomit when they are on an empty stomach, or they smell certain odors, like that of cigar. Smell especially triggers these attacks. The cause may vary from person to person but the problem remains the same.
You may think that your baby`s health will be affected if you vomit frequently as vomiting may deplete you of nutrition. Be reassured that recent studies indicate that women, who are healthy at conception, have enough reserves to supply the growing embryo and fetus, even if they eat poorly for the first two or three months. Another study indicates that the pre-sence of nausea is associated with a favorable pregnancy out-come.
Nausea is neither abnormal nor a sign of uncon-scious rejection of the baby as is sometimes suggested. Nausea is probably related to the increased production of twenty six hormones, added to the four other hormones produced only during pregnancy. Some of these hormones act to delay the emptying of the stomach. While others, when present in large quantities, upsets the body and the body takes time to adjust.
Treatment
You need to change your eating habits. You will have to eat several (five or six) small meals a day to avoid an empty stomach. Some protein should be included in each of these meals. Eating toast or crackers before getting up in the morning is helpful to some women. It is advisable to have your breakfast in bed in the morning. Drinking liquids between meals instead of during meals is also often beneficial.
Increased consumption of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) helps some women. You do that by eating more foods high in this vitamin (whole grains and cereals, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, legumes, corn). You can discuss with your physician whether you should take vitamin B6 supplements. You should not self medicate during pregnancy.
You have to bear with it for three to four months. Have a sense of humor. Do not make throwing up a part of the morning schedule. Take it as it comes..
Sometimes, nausea can become so severe that a woman actually becomes dehydrated and lose a great deal of weight by being unable to hold any food down. This condition is called hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition may necessitate medica-tion or even hospitalization if the nausea and vomiting en-danger either the mother or the baby`s health.
Medications relieve the symptoms of nausea and vomit-ing. They are prescribed either when the nausea and vomiting are so severe that it may cause dehydration or more commonly, the woman is upset or inconvenienced and requests medication. You should understand that these medications cross the placenta to the fetus and that they are never guaranteed to cure you of the symptom. These medicines are not safe for the unborn child. Since these are used during the formative stage of the fetus. It would be wise to not use them. Until recently, Bendectin was widely used. Researchers found out that there is an association between Bendectin and birth defects (cleft palate and heart deformities)
Heartburn
 Heartburn is a feeling of fullness with some regurgitation of acid from the stomach. It is more prevalent in late pregnancy. The hormones relax the muscular opening at the top of the stomach and cause the stomach to empty more slowly. Added to this is the increased pressure from the growing uterus. Fatty foods and large meals may also contribute to the condition.
Treatment
Avoid fatty food and gas producing foods. Eat several small meals instead of a few large ones through the day. Some women find that eating slowly and keeping a gap between the last meal and bedtime also help reduce heartburn. . Antacids or other drugs are sometimes used to control heartburn. They should be used only if necessary. Be aware of the undesirable side effects.
Constipation
 During pregnancy, food passes through the intestines very slowly. Though this causes better absorption of nu-trients and water, it also tends to cause constipation. The growing uterus puts pressure on the large intestine magnifying the problem.
Treatment
Drink plenty of fluids and eat foods with high-fiber content (raw or dried fruits and vegetables, whole grains and prune juice) which encourage elimination. Exercise regularly. Exercise is an often neglected but ef-fective aid to regularity. Laxatives can and should be avoided.
Exercise and proper diet helps to relieve of the condition. Preventing constipation will also reduce the severity of discomfort of hemorrhoids, another common problem during pregnancy,
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