Morning sickness is oftentimes what many people associate with pregnancy, and it happens to most women during their first trimester of pregnancy. Although “morning” is in the name, it can hit at any point in the day. It is not uncommon to experience symptoms for a prolonged period of time beyond the early hours of the day. For a lot of women, morning sickness can easily become one of the hardest parts of being pregnant. Below, we have answered some of your most common questions about morning sickness and how to reduce the pain:
At what point in pregnancy does morning sickness hit?
Morning sickness usually begins anywhere from 6-9 weeks of pregnancy but could pop up at any point in pregnancy. Not all women experience symptoms, and not all women struggle with it as much as others. If you don’t have any symptoms, consider yourself lucky to be one of the few who get by without experiencing it!
How long will morning sickness last?
The good news is most women only feel morning sickness symptoms for the first trimester of their pregnancy (first 12 weeks), and for those that experience symptoms beyond that, they are usually a lot more subdued and not as serious. However, there are some women who have morning sickness for a lot longer than the first 12 weeks, and some even get a return of symptoms during the last trimester.
What will morning sickness feel like?
Each woman experiences a different range of symptoms and to varying degrees. New research has found that morning sickness is genetic, meaning that you will most likely have symptoms very similar to the ones your own mother had. Some of the common ones are:
● Nausea, or a prolonged feeling of needing to vomit (regardless of whether or not you actually vomit)
● Vomiting, which can occur once a day or more
● Hunger pain, but not wanting to eat
● Heartburn or acid reflux
● A sense of seasickness or motion sickness
Can morning sickness be serious?
Sometimes morning sickness can be so severe that a woman throws up an increased amount, meaning 3 or more times. It is possible for morning sickness to develop into hyperemesis gravidarum, or persistent nausea and vomiting. If you can’t seem to stop vomiting, talk to your doctor immediately. With hyperemesis gravidarum, there is an increased risk of weight loss and dehydration and other complications. However, most likely morning sickness will only mean vomiting 0-2 times a day, which is entirely normal and is not a cause for concern.
What are strategies for avoiding morning sickness?
Again, morning sickness is not always something you can avoid and some women are more predisposed to it. However, morning sickness can sometimes be triggered by both the feeling of an empty or full stomach. To avoid this, a lot of women eat small portions of food throughout the day and snack constantly. The goal is to never feel hungry. Additionally, eating immediately after waking up (even before you leave your bed) can fill your stomach slightly before you even get the chance to feel nauseous. Smells can often be a trigger as well, so keeping something that you can sniff to counteract whatever smell is making you nauseous can be beneficial. Some women find that smelling lemons or other citrus helps to decrease nausea.
Are there any home treatments for morning sickness?
Ginger has long been used as a natural remedy to calm a queasy stomach. Incorporating ginger into your daily diet whenever possible may help you fight nausea. Ginger can be consumed in soups, drinks, candy, or supplements. If nothing else, steeping some ginger tea, or putting some fresh ginger shavings in hot water can help. Also, some women find that sucking on hard candy helps keep their minds off their stomachs, so keeping peppermints, lemon candy or suckers nearby might help.
Are there any medications that can decrease morning sickness?
There are some medications that can be safe for use in pregnancy that can help to decrease morning sickness. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplements or over-the-counter medicine. Additionally, your doctor might be able to prescribe a medication to relieve morning sickness. Your doctor may prescribe an antiemetic, which is a medication that reduces nausea. You may alternatively be prescribed an antihistamine, which is generally an anti-allergy drug but can be used to treat nausea.
Our team at Community Pregnancy Clinics is here to help support you throughout your pregnancy. Whether you’re a first-time mom or have experienced pregnancy before, we are here to offer help in whatever way we can. Schedule an appointment with one of our trained staff members to get all the information on pregnancy and parenting.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of morning sickness and have missed a period, you can schedule a free pregnancy test at one of our clinics to confirm or rule out a pregnancy.
Resources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/morning-sickness/symptoms-causes/syc-20375254
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vomiting-and-morning-sickness/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16566-morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/morning-sickness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375260