What Can I Take To Settle My Stomach While Pregnant
What Can I Take To Settle My Stomach While Pregnant? Pregnancy can be one of the most exciting experiences in a woman’s life. It also comes with many challenges that women have to face on their own. One challenge that pregnant women tend to encounter more often than not is nausea or sickness. There are some things that you can take to settle down your stomach while pregnant but there are other things that will not help at all. The following article contains tips on how to deal with pregnancy sicknesses so you can enjoy your new experience without feeling sick every moment.
Nausea And Sickness During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, you may suffer from nausea and vomiting which is a common side effect during this stage of life. Nausea affects about 80% of pregnant women and it usually starts around 14 weeks into their pregnancy. This condition is caused by hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy. When these hormones change, they cause the muscles connected to the stomach to relax prematurely. As such, when food enters the stomach, it causes the stomach to expand quickly causing discomfort. In addition, the increased blood flow towards the baby also contributes to the occurrence of nausea.
There are several factors that contribute to nausea and sickness during pregnancy such as morning sickness (which affects 70% of pregnant women), dehydration, eating too much spicy foods or caffeine, being overweight or underweight and stress. However, if you want to know what really settles your stomach while pregnant, here is a list of things that you can try:
Try ginger tea – Ginger has been used for thousands of years and its benefits include relieving pain, reducing inflammation and settling upset stomachs. You can prepare ginger tea using fresh ginger root. Simply boil water to make a cup of ginger tea. Add 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger root to 1/4 cup boiling water. Let it cool off, strain and drink it once a day.
Drink plenty of liquids – Being dehydrated can worsen nausea and sickness during pregnancy. Therefore drinking lots of fluid is very important during pregnancy. Drink eight glasses of liquid daily including water, juices, coffee, soda, milk and alcohol. Dehydration can affect how our bodies absorb nutrients which can result to low birth weight babies.
Avoid foods that aggravate nausea – Foods such as citrus fruits, curry, onion, garlic and broccoli should be avoided because they can aggravate nausea. Spicy foods like hot chili peppers, pickled vegetables and salsa can also increase your chances of developing an upset stomach. These types of foods contain oils that can irritate your digestive system.
Eat small meals frequently – Eating smaller meals rather than three large meals per day can reduce the frequency of nausea. By doing this, you can avoid overeating which could lead to heartburn and bloating. Also, frequent meals prevent your body from going into starvation mode which can slow down fetal development.
Keep yourself entertained – Watching television programs, reading magazines and listening to music can distract you from your nausea. Keep yourself distracted from your sickness by keeping healthy snacks handy. Snacks like carrots, celery sticks, apples, bananas and raisins can keep you away from overindulging in junk food.
Take anti-nausea medication – If you find yourself suffering from severe nausea, you might need prescription medications such as Diclofenac Sodium Capsules, Zinc Gluconate Tablets, Cimetidine Orally Disintegrating Tablet, Metoclopramide Maleate and Domperidone.
Preventing Your Child From Developing Allergies
It is estimated that 50% of infants born today develop allergies, asthma and eczema by age one and 90% by age two. A recent study showed that children who were breast fed had fewer allergies compared to formula fed children.
Breast feeding helps to create antibodies that fight infections and diseases. According to research, breastfeeding protects against allergies through the introduction of maternal oral secretions known as “mammary flora.”
In order to establish beneficial colonization of bacteria and viruses, mothers’ breastmilk must remain intact and unbroken until digestion begins. Once digested, these microorganisms travel to the infant’s intestine where they proliferate and form the basis of immune defenses. Breastfeeding provides protection against gastrointestinal infection and diarrhea due to exposure to harmful pathogens. Studies show that breastfed infants receive approximately 500 million microbes via saliva, skin contact, and breast milk. Breast milk contains special sugars called oligosaccharides that are unique to human milk.
Oligosaccharides protect the newborn from illness and disease by stimulating the production of mucosal antibodies. Babies who are breastfed gain immunity through intestinal bacteria, and early exposure to mother’s vaginal bacterial strains.
Researchers believe that the health effects of breast milk are derived from the complex mixture of bioactive agents contained within breast milk. Some of these bioactive compounds are immunological agents that stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Breast milk contains hormones, enzymes and proteins that support the neonatal transition to extrauterine life.
Breastfeeding provides essential fatty acids and amino acids that promote brain development and cell membrane function. Breast milk aids in proper absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Additionally, breast milk is rich in nucleotides, carbohydrates, lipids and minerals that provide energy to nursing infants.
You now know what you can do to settle your stomach while pregnant. Although pregnancy sicknesses can be uncomfortable, knowing how to handle them will allow you to enjoy your pregnancy fully and safely.
If you enjoyed reading this article and would like to see similar ones,
