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Morning sickness is a common condition experienced by pregnant women during the first and last trimesters, characterized by fatigue, nausea, vomiting, swelling, increased blood pressure, and urinary protein. Left untreated, it can lead to pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and a higher risk of birth asphyxia.
1. Morning Sickness in the First Trimester
Mild Morning Sickness
Feeling queasy is a common symptom of mild morning sickness. Pregnant women often experience fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, excessive saliva, hoarseness, weight loss, and paleness. Foods they used to enjoy may now seem unappetizing or even repulsive. Pregnant women tend to avoid rice and crave snacks, acidic, and sweet foods.
Mild morning sickness typically starts around the first month of pregnancy and lasts up to three months. Symptoms gradually decrease, and mothers-to-be return to normal. While it may cause weight loss, it doesn't lead to severe weakness.
Severe Morning Sickness
Experiencing severe morning sickness presents differently. At this stage, pregnant women still have symptoms similar to mild morning sickness but they tend to occur earlier and worsen over time, especially vomiting. They vomit everything they eat and may even continue to vomit after emptying their stomachs, sometimes even vomiting bile. Due to inability to eat and excessive vomiting, pregnant women become dehydrated and visibly lose weight.
At this stage, pregnant women need rest, should eat lightly, and have small meals frequently throughout the day. It's advisable to consult with specialists for the use of antiemetic medications.
2. Morning Sickness in the Last Trimester
Symptoms
Swollen Feet:
Cause
The specific causes have not been clearly identified. However, according to doctors, pregnant women may develop this condition due to some of the following factors:
- Pregnancy at a young age, especially with the first child.
- Excessive workload and fatigue during pregnancy.
- Seasonal changes or cold weather.
- Consuming unfamiliar foods (which can lead to allergies).
Treatment Approach
It's imperative to seek medical assistance to halt the progression of the condition and prevent complications. For the fetus, doctors will ensure normal development and mitigate any growth deficiencies. Without treatment, there's a high risk of mortality due to increasing physical exhaustion.
Some Tips for Expectant Mothers:
- Limit salt intake.
- Drink no more than 1 liter of water than usual.
- When lying down, tilt to the left to prevent pressure on the renal vein.
- Take blood pressure medication and diuretics as prescribed by your doctor.
Prevention
Since the specific cause hasn't been determined, there isn't a most effective prevention method yet. Therefore, pregnant women need comprehensive prenatal care to detect any abnormalities during pregnancy. If anything seems unusual, prompt examination and early treatment are necessary.
