Nausea during pregnancy often referred to as morning sickness or sickness in pregnancy, is characteristic of early stages of pregnancy and ranges from 70% to 85% of pregnant females. Contrary to its name it can occur in the evening or any other time of the day and the symptoms’ severity can significantly differ. Learning about morning sickness symptoms, its causes and ways to prevent or reduce them can ease this stage of a woman’s pregnancy.
Here we will discuss all the things that one must know regarding morning sickness including signs, factors, facts and tips as per trimesters.
What is Morning Sickness?
This is a type of sickness characterized by nausea and vomiting in the course of pregnancy, most common in the initial trimesters of pregnancy. This is of course your body’s reaction to the hormonal changes that occur to enable it to accommodate for the development of a fetus.
The nausea can be chronic or episodic and maybe precipitated by specific meals, odours or even motion sickness. To many ladies, morning sickness is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy or perhaps the first thing that alerts them of pregnancy.
Symptoms of Morning Sickness
Morning sickness effects can also either be mild or severe and have an interference with different aspects of life. Here are the common symptoms:
Nausea: Nausea, that is not related with the breakfast because for some people it can appear at any time of the day.
Vomiting: Then there is vomiting which denies a person the ability to either hold or ingest foods or drinks in his or her stomach.
Food Aversions: Some foods will be refused simply because the thought of ingesting them causes distaste, he explains tastes and smells, especially the odour of food, can radically alter.
Sensitivity to Smells: This definitely applies to feminine hygiene products as many women gain a far keener sense of smell during their period and some fragrances can either actually become unbearable especially perfumes, food or cleaning products.
Taste Changes: These changes are normal; some women get a hankering for certain strange types of food, while some can no longer tolerate a particular taste.
Fatigue: This is because nausea and vomiting can be tiring thus causes general body fatigue.
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When Does Morning Sickness Start?
Morning sickness is usually experienced early in pregnancy, though it may begin as early as 2 weeks after conception or at about 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. Some women have theirs at week 9 to week 11 and these gradually ease off at week 14 to week 16.
However, each pregnancy is different and some ladies will develop baby bump nausea earlier than others while for some, it lasts for the full term of pregnancy.
Morning Sickness Across the Trimesters
First Trimester (Weeks 1–13)
There is nothing strange in getting them during the first trimester; they are most often felt during this period and are most severe. This is because, when levels of hormones such as hCG and estrogen escalate rapidly, nausea is thought to be resultant.
The displeasure often manifests in form of nausea early in the morning though it may also come at any one time of the day it is felt most during the morning. First signs of morning sickness come in the first trimester and are likely to subside by the end of the first trimester.
Second Trimester
The second trimester of pregnancy is characterized by particular weeks 14 through 26 of pregnancy. Most women, during the second trimester, begin the feeling of relief from the discomforts of morning sickness.
Around weeks 14 to 16, nausea and vomiting cease and in some instances, a woman may feel nauseous occasionally. Still, if morning sickness continues beyond the first trimester it is advisable to seek medical advice from a doctor.
Third Trimester (Weeks 27–40)
Morning sickness during the third trimester is quite uncommon, although it can repeat itself in some women. This can be due to the size of the baby compressing the stomach resulting to mild digestion related discomfort known as heart burn. Some hormonal fluctuations persist throughout pregnancy but they are not as drastic as first-trimester fluctuations.
Who Does Morning Sickness Affect?
Morning sickness affects a broad range of pregnant women, but certain factors may increase the likelihood or intensity of symptoms, including:
- First-time pregnancies
- Morning sickness is best predicted by knowing if your mother or grandmother experienced morning sickness during her pregnancy.
- Individual’s history of migraine or motion sickness
- Change in hormones
- Doing multiple pregnancies that is having two or more children at once.
Although you can experience morning sickness it is important to note that the following aspects take certain women at risk.
What Causes Morning Sickness?
The exact cause of morning sickness isn’t fully understood, but several factors are thought to play a role:
- Hormonal Changes: It is postulated that hormonal changes especially hCG and estrogen cause, nausea by acting on the gastrointestinal system with increasing levels being seen in a short time.
- Low Blood Sugar: Feeling sick can also be caused by early pregnancy as hormone shifts affect blood sugar at this stage.
- Heightened Sense of Smell: Talking of pregnancy symptoms, many women suggest that they have become extremely sensitive to smell during pregnancy; they cannot even endure some particular smells as these make them nauseous.
- Stress and Fatigue: Physical and emotional stress, multiple pregnancy, hormonal changes and other pregnancy induced factors put one at risk for getting nausea.
- Dietary Triggers: Some types of foods for instance spicy foods, the foods that are rich in fats or processed foods are usually difficult to digest and may cause more nausea.
How is Morning Sickness Treated?
Morning sickness, thus, doesn’t need treatment when it is usual for most women. In extreme cases an additional treatment may be needed (hyperemesis gravidarum). Here are some options for managing morning sickness symptoms:
- Prescription Medication: In some situations, your doctor may advise serious non-harmful antiemetic medicines.
- IV Fluids: If vomiting has resulted in dehydration then giving of ORS (oral rehydration solution) in severe cases Intravenous fluids could be used to replenish the body fluids.
- Vitamin B6 and Ginger: Both are holistic and can help with managing a bit of nausea. Before taking any supplement ensure you first consult with your doctor.
If morning sickness is ruining your daily life or you feel uncomfortable then please consult your doctor for ways to lessen the symptoms.
How to Prevent or Relieve Morning Sickness
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent morning sickness, there are several strategies that may help alleviate symptoms:
- Eat a Light Snack Before Getting Up: If you wake up with sour stomach, maintain crackers or dry toast at night and consume a little bit in morning to have relief.
- Eat Small, Frequent Meals: Reducing the number of servings also helps regulate the blood sugar level and the most recommended servings are five or six a day instead of the three big servings.
- Opt for Easy-to-Digest Foods: The bland foods that are easy to digest include: bananas, applesauce, rice, and toast.
- Avoid Triggers: Any particular food that you take, or any smell or activity that increases your levels of nausea should be avoided.
- Stay Hydrated: Fuel with water, herbal teas or electrolytes liquids to prevent the occurrence of excessive vomiting.
- Take Prenatal Vitamins with Food: Many women report that prenatal vitamins lead to nausea if taken with no food intake at all, so better take with a snack.
- Try Ginger or Peppermint: Nausea may be treated with ginger tea or candies or even chew on mint flavoured peices of candy.
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What to Eat (and Avoid) During Morning Sickness
A list of foods that can help and foods that are best avoided could make a difference in easing morning sickness symptoms. Here are some food suggestions:
Best Foods for Morning Sickness:
- Crackers or Toast: Plain, noncomplicated food and can make excellent aids for those with stomach issues.
- Ginger-Based Foods: Mints can provide relief; ginger tea or candy or gingerale if swallowed will help in case of stomach upsets.
- Bananas: They are friendly on the stomach and they should contain necessary nutrient since they are easy to break.
- Applesauce: It is tender, delicate and full of nutrients perfect for the stomach that is not so happy.
- Rice or Oatmeal: Refined and easily digestible carbohydrates or what is commonly known as complex carbohydrates.
Foods to Avoid:
- Spicy and Fatty Foods: Less palatable and causes more nausea than other fluids, although water should not beeliminated from the diet.
- Strong-Smelling Foods: Carcinogens and foods with pungent smells such as fish and garlic may cause and worsen breath odor.
- Caffeinated Drinks: Chlorhexidine and secondary condition: Fluorides are broadly classified as odorless, tasteless substances but coffee and certain teas cause nausea when taken on an empty stomach.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While mild to moderate morning sickness is generally harmless, there are times when it’s important to seek medical attention:
- Severe Vomiting: If you cannot eat any of them or drink water, you may be at risk of developing what is known as ‘dehydration’.
- Significant Weight Loss: Pregnancy weight loss has an impact on both the health of the woman and the fetus if it is done excessively.
- Dehydration Symptoms: If you need more fluids, some of the symptoms that could be displayed include; dark urine, dizziness and a dry mouth.
If you get any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor for how you can be helped or a resultant course of action.
Final Thoughts on Coping with Morning Sickness
Some symptoms, such as morning sickness, may be uncomfortable but are only going to last for a while and will be solved as the pregnant woman progresses in her pregnancy. Sensitive to this information, you can avoid what triggers the problem, drink water to alleviate the distress, eat properly, and try ginger or Vitamin B6.
It is also very important to know that morning sickness can differ from one woman to another in pregnancy and every pregnancy is different. If all of this is too overwhelming, don’t hesitate to build a connection with your healthcare provider. With a little understanding and application of some strategies you will soon leave this phase behind and be ready to welcome the remaining periods of pregnancy.
