Morning Sickness. It has been estimated that 80% of all pregnant women suffer with some degree of nausea discomfort. Although each mom’s personal queasiness level can vary anywhere from slight to severe. Most nauseous moms will agree on one thing: it’s never a fun experience.
Having been diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) with all eight of my pregnancies, I understand all the different phases and stages that nausea can take a pregnant woman through. I created this quiz in one of the depths of my severe nausea experience hoping I could one day help and encourage other nauseous moms.
How bad is your morning sickness compared to others? Take this quiz to see where your nausea level is, then find out how to get information to specifically combat it!
“The Morning Sickness Moments” Quiz
20 quick questions to rate your nausea level & determine a remedy starting point. Choose the answer that best describes you.
Motions.
1. a) You feel queasy, sometimes.
b) Your “morning” sickness never leaves.
2. a) Sudden, fast movements may make you feel queasy.
b) Any movement anytime and anywhere, has a decided impact on your ability to keep stomach contents from coming back up.
3. a) Eating is an overall enjoyable experience that can help you allay your nausea.
b) If you can eat, you cautiously choose a food based on forethought about what might be the consequence of a return trip back up.
4. a) When someone tells you to eat crackers and have small frequent meals, it is helpful.
b) The above advice lets you know that the person speaking does not understand what is going on with you.
5. a) Riding in cars and lying in bed are still functional things to do.
b) These become your worst enemies because of the slightest non-initiated movement factor.
Daily Life.
6. a) You are pretty much able to go about your day as usual in the same social circles.
b) The floor, your bed, and the bathroom are the only
places you can go and have become your new social circle.
7. a) You are concerned about possibly gaining weight.
b) You are concerned about the weight you are losing.
8. a) All five of your senses may be heightened just a little.
b) All five of your senses have grown to bionic proportions and you have even acquired the additional sixth sense to know what’s going to cause you to be queasy before actually getting there.
9. a) The days go by rather quickly.
b) The days go by so slowly and laboriously that you can count time by the milliseconds.
10. a) If you do throw up, it is fairly quick and it brings instant relief.
b) Throwing up is a 10 minute heaving experience that brings momentarily relief before giving way to miserable, agonizing nausea once again.
Sleep.
11. a) For the most part you are able to get a good night’s sleep.
b) Sleep is something you try to do in between bouts of nausea and throwing up.
12. a) 7-8 hours of sleep at night and maybe a nap during the day help you feel restful and energized.
b) If a full night’s sleep is obtained, and several naps taken during the day, you still feel like it has been a week since you closed your eyes.
Food.
13. a) You may have certain food cravings and these bring satisfaction.
b) Cravings are last hope efforts to relieve you of your queasy feeling, and must be satisfied within a very small window of time to prevent any further complications.
14. a) If something sounds good to eat, you fix it/find it and all is well.
b) If something sounds good to eat, but you have to fix/ get it, then the odds of it staying down decrease proportionately with how much time and effort you had to put into acquiring it. (If you were brave enough to try).
15. a) You can drink water with no ill effect.
b) Water has to be sipped, icy cold, held in your mouth for a predetermined amount of time, and slowly swallowed to keep it down.
Smells.
16. a) Smells don’t generally bother you, although you may try to avoid certain scents.
b) One brief whiff of something that doesn’t even have a traceable odor to the average person can make you ill.
What Others are Saying.
17. a) You have that pregnancy glow and others tell you so, even when you don’t feel quite well.
b) You’re sick to your stomach most of the time, extremely miserable, and can’t remember what if feels like to feel good.
18. a) People understand and sympathize with you.
b) No one understands and can relate to you.
19. a) People generally sympathize with you about your
queasiness problems and offer comfort.
b) People don’t know how to respond to your extreme
sickness and offer words of “help” that often make you feel worse.
In Summary.
20. a) Labor will be more challenging than your nausea.
b) Compared to “morning” sickness, you feel labor will be a breeze.
You finished! For each question, write down: a = 1, b = 2
20-24 = Not fun. Light Nausea.
Those pregnancy hormones are showing, a good sign of a healthy pregnancy. For the most part you can have a fully functional day and people can genuine- ly understand how you feel. But you do need some overall tips and advice on how to make your day even better. Read Stage 1 for a list of helpful tips.
25-34 = Hang in there. Moderate Nausea.
You’ve had some rough days and/or nights. Be of good cheer, your hormones show a good and steady pregnancy. There are a lot of great ideas that can work just for you. See Stage 2 for help to relieve symptoms.
35-40 = You Are Special. Severe Nausea.
You are extraordinary! You are in a small elite group of women who have achieved this status. You don’t feel special; you feel awfully miserable and don’t know how you can make it through another moment. You need extra love and support. See Stage 3 for vital information.
All stages and remedies are found and listed in, “The Morning Sickness Handbook,” by Wendy Shaw.
Congratulations on your pregnancy. Smile, a blessing is soon to come!
Source by Wendy Shaw
