Everything you need to know about Morning Sickness

What is Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness is the term given to the nausea and vomiting symptoms that affects about 75% of women during the first trimester, starting as early as the 4th to 6th week of pregnancy.Morning sickness as the name might suggest, does not only occur in the mornings and it  is quite common that women will experience the feeling of nausea for most of the day.

Many women are affected by morning sickness up until 14 weeks, at which point the feelings will completely disappear. Others are not so lucky, whilst for some the nausea may temporarily wain,but it may return at times throughout their pregnancy.

Why do women experience nausea and vomiting?

The cause of morning sickness is unknown but it is likely to be as a result of all of the changes, physical and chemical, happening in the body at the time of pregnancy.

Possible causes of sicknesss may be  a result of an increase in the levels of hormones such as, Estrogen and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). Both these hormone levels rise rapidly during early pregnancy.

Pregnancy brings with it a certain amount of stress, sensitive stomachs and often with a heightened sense of smell. The combination of these factors alone may result in nausea and vomiting.

Some women may experience much higher levels of morning sickness if they are pregnant with twins or multiples, since hormone levels will be higher. One study found that there was a link between carrying a girl and  increased sickness.

Can morning sickness affect my baby?

As long as you are managing to hold most food down and your diet is healthy and balanced there should be no complications as a direct result of morning sickness. In some very rare cases severe vomiting for long periods might affect the weight of your baby.

How can I get relief from morning sickness?

There are a number of ways in which women can get relief from nausea. Here are some do’s and don’ts:

Eat little and often

Get up slowly in the mornings

Eat food that is cold or warm

Avoid using perfumes and fragrances that may cause nausea

Eat simple snacks like crackers between meals

Avoid eating fatty and oily foods

Stay away from smelly foods that may cause nausea

Don’t lay down after eating

Take lots of small sips of water throughout the day and night

Drink peppermint and ginger infused waters or teas

Consider trying anti-nausea medication