Morning Sickness During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & More

Nothing can bust the happiness of being pregnant than the first bout of morning sickness. But why does it affect some women more and some less? Waking up every morning to that nauseous feeling can burst the happiness of being pregnant—the feeling of being ill, not wanting to eat, and throwing up at the sight of some foods is not something that is welcomed by any expecting mother. But then, there are cures and medicines that help. Here’s something you should know about morning sickness.

What Is Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness is a situation wherein a pregnant woman feels nauseated and extreme fatigue due to constant throwing up. Morning sickness may or may be accompanied by vomit though nausea is quite common.

What Causes Morning Sickness During Pregnancy?

Doctors still aren't sure exactly what causes morning sickness, but the most popular theory is that morning sickness is the body's reaction to the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is produced at higher levels during the first trimester than at any other time during pregnancy.

It generally gets triggered off by some odor of strong-smelling foods such as fish, garlic, eggs, or even perfume. Another well-documented reason for morning sickness is being empty stomach when pregnant.

Signs & Symptoms

Some of the easily recognizable signs of morning sickness during pregnancy are as follows—

• Vomiting 3 -4 times a day
• Extreme fatigue
• Dehydration
• Dark-colored urine
• Severe weight loss and unable to gain weight
• Feel dizzy while getting up

How Long Does Morning Sickness Last?

The entire effect of morning sickness lasts till 14 weeks of pregnancy is the first trimester. By the beginning of the second trimester, you will start feeling better and will also see that the bouts of nausea are decreasing.

Does Morning Sickness Harm The Foetus?

The fetus is well protected in the amniotic sac and your jerking to puke, will not harm the baby. But sustained nausea, where a pregnant mother throws up frequently or compromises on her intake of food because of the nauseous feeling, can lead to nutritional deficiencies for both the mother and the baby.

How To Deal With Morning Sickness?

There are 7 easy ways to deal with morning sickness. But you may not be able to follow all seven, so choose the one that suits you and stick to it till you start feeling better.

• Identify what irritates you and causes you to puke and limit exposure to those elements—strong-smelling foods, the smell of cooking oil, etc
• Maintain a chart to figure out when this discomfort is at its peak. Is it early morning, or early evening? This will help you be better prepared the next time around
• Keep healthy snacks at all times. Fruits like apples, pears, dry snacks such as crackers and biscuits, dried plums and apricots; a few raisins (which can be carried around in your shopping bag), etc are some things that provide the body with the required carbohydrates to tackle nausea. If you get affected in the morning, keep a box of biscuits on your bedside table to eat, every time you take a washroom break at night
• Experiment with foods of your choice and preferences and see which help in controlling the onset and the symptoms of morning sickness. Ginger is a commonly known antidote but you may or may not like it. So, figure out your own preferences
• Break up your breakfast into smaller bits and ensure you munch on something every hour or two. Keep this pattern across meals
• Also, indigestion will aggravate morning sickness and so keep off too greasy a preparation, spicy or even gassy foods such as cauliflower and cabbage. Have in moderation
• Dehydration is a common and serious side effect of morning sickness, so drink plenty of healthy fluids throughout the day. Tender coconut water, nimbu paani, fresh juice, herbal teas are some great options. Sip gradually rather than gulping at one go

Morning Sickness Medication

What are the remedies? Are there any pills I can take? Read this...

• There are safe medicines for it. Women who are very seriously afflicted by morning nutrition can ask their doctors for help. There are very safe medicines that when taken on time can reduce the severity of the symptoms
• Certain supplements can trigger off nausea. For some women, something like iron pills can aggravate the condition further. So, even though iron pills are advised during pregnancy, your doctor can help you with the dosage and nutrition advice
• Vitamin B6 can help. There are some studies that say that Vitamin B6 works as a tummy soother and hence may help in morning sickness. But check with your doctor on this

Home Remedies for Morning Sickness

It can be really daunting to rush to the washroom the moment to get up so here are some home remedies that will help you stay sane during those bouts of morning sickness

• Ginger: Ginger is renowned to curb the symptoms of nausea and settling down the rumbling stomach as well thus reducing the bouts of nausea
• Lemon: We don’t know how this helps but it is believed that smelling a lemony or a sour flavor helps you from feeling nauseous or even throwing up. You may even drink lemon water or suck on some sour candy to reduce the bouts of morning sickness
• Mint: Mint is considered as one of the freshest herbs that not only helps your stomach to settle but will also keep your mouth fresh
• Crackers/biscuits: Basic carbohydrates like crackers, toasts, or for that matter even biscuits come handy while settling an upset stomach

Is Morning Sickness a Good Sign for Pregnancy?

Well, it all depends on how you perceive being sick during the first three months of your pregnancy. There is no proof to validate the fact that morning sickness is a good sign for pregnancy because it is believed that you get morning sickness when your pregnancy hormone – human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – levels are quite high. At the same time, there are ladies who don’t experience any sort of sickness neither in the morning nor in the evening and yet have had healthy pregnancies. So it is just a myth and if you are sick then keep yourself hydrated and if you are not just thank your lucky stars.

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