Morning Sickness: Symptoms and Remedies

Morning sickness. The dreadful nausea and vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy. Though there’s nothing fun about it, it may comfort you to know that morning sickness is quite common, affecting around 75% of all pregnant women. Also, women who experience moderate morning sickness early in their pregnancy appear to have better pregnancy outcomes according to researchers. So, it’s not all bad! 
 

Who does morning sickness affect? 

While some women are more likely to get it worse than others, experts still aren’t exactly sure who it affects and why it affects them. There are a few indicators that lead to higher chances of developing morning sickness, such as being pregnant with multiples, having a history of nausea and vomiting before pregnancy, and having other women in your family with morning sickness. 
 

Why does morning sickness happen? 

There is no one cause of morning sickness occurring during pregnancy. The most common cause of morning sickness is elevated hormone levels early on in pregnancy. Lowered blood sugar is also a common culprit.

 
How long does it last? 

The length of morning sickness depends on the person. Some women experience morning sickness in the mornings only, while others experience it throughout the day. For this reason, the term “morning sickness” is quite misleading. Despite its title implying that it happens in the morning, pregnancy sickness can happen at any time of day. 

While vomiting and nausea can last all day, it is not normal. Pregnant women should be able to keep some food and liquid in their stomach, so if you are unable to keep food and drink down, consult your doctor. 
 

What exacerbates morning sickness? 

Morning sickness can be made worse when in motion (motion sickness) and when there are strong odors present. Emotional stress, fatigue, frequently traveling and having twins or triplets are also factors that can make morning sickness worse. 
 

How can I cope with morning sickness? 

There are several ways to cope with morning sickness. You don’t have to suffer through it! There are a variety of strategies that may work for you, though it may take a bit of trial and error before you find what helps you relieve your morning sickness. 

While medicine may be the best course of action for you personally, experts recommend that you start with at-home treatments, such as the following:

1. Eating bland foods in the morning, such as crackers or cereal, to alleviate nausea. 


2. Eating small and frequent meals throughout the day is also helpful so that your stomach isn’t empty at any point. Having too much or too little food at once can exacerbate symptoms. 


3. Avoid exercising on an empty stomach. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends eating bland foods in the morning before moving around. 


4. Try ginger tea or capsules. Ginger is known for its ability to speed up the stomach’s emptying process, which may help reduce nausea. 


5. Stay hydrated. Drink cold water as it’s good for digestion and will help settle your stomach. 


6. Utilize a nausea band. We suggest these two packs that were created specifically for morning sickness. 


In addition to the above strategies, it’s extremely important to make sure you have adequate emotional support. Since morning sickness is seen as a normal part of pregnancy, it oftentimes goes undertreated. If you need to take time off work, that is ok. Be sure that you’re giving yourself what you need, and that your partner, doctor and workplace are doing their best to support you in this trying time. 
 

When should I seek medical assistance for morning sickness? 

If none of the at-home strategies work for you, getting medication to alleviate morning sickness symptoms is helpful for those that cannot cope through home treatments alone.  

If you have severe morning sickness and are losing weight or are dehydrated, speak to a doctor immediately. Rarely, morning sickness can turn into a severe condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. If you are vomiting persistently and feeling faint or dizzy while standing, contact your doctor as you may require additional treatment.