Morning sickness is a common symptom that 75-85 percent of women experience during pregnancy [1]. Even though it’s not a severe health condition, morning sickness can be extremely unpleasant. In general, a woman dealing with morning sickness in pregnancy can experience tiredness and nausea along with occasional vomiting.
After consulting with our team of gynecologists at ‘Hera’, an initiative to help women live a healthier lifestyle, we have put together a detailed guide on morning sickness, its causes, symptoms, and effective method to reduce the nauseated feeling.
Is morning sickness common in pregnancy? The answer is yes! Since nearly 80 percent of women experience morning sickness, it’s safe to say that the condition is quite common during pregnancy.
In fact, morning sickness is even considered as a sign of a healthy pregnancy [2] and reduces the risks of stillbirths, miscarriages, and premature birth. However, the severity of sickness can vary in different women.
While many women experience morning sickness during the first trimester [3] (the first four months of pregnancy), in other cases, it can even last until the last month of pregnancy. Moreover, even though it’s called morning sickness, you may experience the symptoms at any time of the day.
Point to Remember - If you don’t experience morning sickness in pregnancy during the first trimester, this doesn’t mean that you are at a higher risk of miscarriages. Lack of morning sickness can also indicate that your body has a high tolerance against hormonal changes. However, it’s still a wise practice to consult your gynecologists and ensure you don’t have abnormal hormone levels..- HERA
As of now, the exact causes of morning sickness are unknown. However, many theories believe that women experience nausea and vomiting due to hormonal changes in the body. During pregnancy, the body tends to increase the circulation of various hormones, which can trigger the symptoms of morning sickness.
Some of the additional factors that may cause morning sickness in pregnancy include:
● Reduced Blood Sugar Levels
● Emotional Stress
● Low Blood Pressure
● High Estrogen Levels
● High Fatigue due to Daily Travel
Fortunately, you won’t need medical assistance to minimize morning sickness during pregnancy. Although, you can simply try various home remedies to make the symptoms less severe.
Many health experts believe that changing the daily diet plan can make a huge difference in alleviating the symptoms of morning sickness.
● Instead of eating 3 large meals, try 4-5 smaller meals. Make sure to include enough protein and carbohydrates in your meals so that your stomach doesn’t feel empty.
● Do not follow a dedicated meal schedule. Immediately eat snacks or fruits when you start feeling hungry.
● Eat crackers or drink a glass of water 10-15 minutes before getting out of the bed. It is also a good habit to eat crackers or drink water every time you get up during the night.
● Eat raw ginger if you frequently feel nauseated. Ginger acts as a natural remedy and reduces both nausea & vomiting [5] during the first trimester. In case you don’t like the odor of raw ginger, you can also take ginger supplements to combat the symptoms. However, make sure to consult your doctor before buying such supplements.
● If the odor of hot food makes you feel nauseated, it’s better to eat cold food.
Our Pro Tip: If you get exhausted more rapidly while cooking, ask someone else to prepare your meals. Since too much fatigue can increase the symptoms of morning sickness, you should not do any physical activity (including cooking) that may exhaust your body..- HERA
Another way to control morning sickness in pregnancy is to drink plenty of fluids so that your body stays hydrated all the time. Sipping a small amount of water or juice more frequently during the day will prevent vomiting.
During the first trimester of pregnancy, your body needs plenty of rest. So, make sure to get at least 7-9 hours of quality sleep each day so that you don’t feel nauseated at all. In addition to this, you should also avoid stress as it can make nausea worse. In case you have any emotional stress, doing meditation and yoga will help.
According to a study [6], applying pressure on the P6 acupuncture point, also known as the Neiguan (located next to the wrist on the inner arm), will reduce vomiting and nausea in pregnancy.
Even after trying all the home remedies, if you still feel nauseated, your doctor may also prescribe different medicines to reduce the symptoms. Usually, the medication for morning sickness includes Vitamin B6 supplements, doxylamine, and antihistamines.
Make sure to consult your doctor before taking any medication or supplements for morning sickness. Why? Because the doctor will suggest the most suitable dosage according to the severity of sickness..- HERA
Even though morning sickness won’t affect your child’s growth, there are cases when women might experience severe nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. This condition is known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum [7], which can cause severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Despite being a rare medical condition, it is important to immediately seek medical care when you start feeling the symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Keep in mind that if left untreated, severe nausea and dehydration can cause poor weight gain and other birth ailments in your baby.
So, if you feel any of the following symptoms, make sure to consult your doctor as soon as possible.
● Severe Vomiting and Nausea
● Dark Urine, Weakness, Dizziness, or any other signs of dehydration
● Blood in the Vomit
● Sudden Weight Loss
● Inability to digest food or fluids
● Severe Headache and Frequent Fever
As soon as you visit the doctor, he’ll ask you to perform different medical tests to check the severity of the sickness. In many cases, Hyperemesis Gravidarum can also occur when the mother is expecting twins, which means you may even have to undergo a pregnancy ultrasound.
Based on these test results, the doctor will then prescribe appropriate medication to reduce the symptoms.
Since morning sickness is a crucial stage of pregnancy, there’s no way to completely prevent it. However, you can follow certain tips to minimize morning sickness during pregnancy.
● Avoid Spicy and Fatty Food
● Avoid Sweets and Foods With Strong Odor
● Drink Enough Fluids and Stay Hydrated
● Avoid Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
● Do not Stay Hungry for a Longer Time Period
● Eat Vitamin B-6 Supplements (Only After the Prescription of a Doctor)
Morning sickness is one of the less-enjoyable perks of being pregnant. However, that doesn’t mean you should be scared of experiencing morning sickness symptoms. As we mentioned earlier, these symptoms indicate a healthy pregnancy. However, if the symptoms are severe, make sure to visit a doctor so that you can immediately take the required precautionary measures to reduce the sickness.