Saturday, February 17, 2007
appointment #2
the good news - i got to hear roo's heartbeat for the first time! it's strong and healthy. i also learned my blood type which i've always wondered about - A+
the not-as-good news - my morning sickness continues. my doctor is a little concerned about it since i haven't eaten much of anything for months. i lost another five pounds and she's worried that i'm not getting enough protein. so she prescribed me an anti-nausea medicine. we'll see how that goes.
ironically i am currently reading the chapter in the 50 year old maternity book called "common discomforts and their treatment." some good stuff and some funny stuff. so here it is - expectant motherhood on... nausea.
"As many examples show, nausea is often psychic in origin. For instance, a repellent sight, or an obnoxious odor, or the mere recollection of such a sight or odor, may give rise to nausea or even vomiting."
bingo. that is exactly what i have. i can make myself sick on command.
but then it takes a turn for the weird, seeming to imply that fear is what causes morning sickness...
"An upset mind may cause an upset stomach. Now in all life's encounters there are probably few things more upsetting, mentally and emotionally, than the realization by a young woman that she is pregnant... Emotionally, the implications of pregnancy extend far back into the past when she first met her husband, while its future ramifications are endless. The responsibilities entailed are plain enough also and seem on first thought, perhaps, more than can be assumed. These, and a thousand other thoughts, crowd themselves into the mind, and not infrequently the stomach, in a perverse sort of sympathy with the mind, reacts by nausea."
yup. it's all in my mind. it goes on to advise that distractions like movie, novels, and comic strips will cure your morning sickness because they distract your evil mind. sigh. if only.
oh - also from my appointment yesterday - my OB is also pregnant! she's having twins in may, and is only planning a 6-week maternity leave. i think she's crazy!
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Morning sickness
How common is it?
Up to 70 percent of expectant mothers have nausea, sometimes with vomiting, early in pregnancy. Queasiness may be most noticeable in the morning, but it can occur at any time. Even if you aren't nauseated, you may develop aversions to certain foods, such as coffee and meat, partly because of their odors. As long as you continue to eat a healthy diet and get all the nutrients you need, food aversions aren't a cause for concern.
What causes it?
The exact cause is unclear, but pregnancy hormones that relax the stomach may play a role.
How long does it last?
It generally improves by the 13th or 14th week of pregnancy, but some women continue to feel queasy from time to time well into the second trimester.
How can you manage it?
* Munch a few crackers before getting up in the morning.
* Eat several small meals a day so that your stomach is never empty.
* Avoid anything that causes nausea.
* Drink plenty of liquids, especially if you've been vomiting. Try crushed ice, fruit juice or frozen ice pops if water upsets your stomach.
* Try wearing a motion sickness band, which may relieve nausea by pressing on an acupressure point inside the wrist.
* Suck on hard candy.
* Try ginger, which has proved effective in combating morning sickness. Some ways to consume the spice include ginger soda or tea, gingersnaps or ginger in capsule form.
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