Nausea and vomiting are extremely common in pregnancy. Here are some practical tips for how to deal with morning sickness.
So What Is Morning Sickness In Pregnancy?
Morning sickness is quite often the first sign of pregnancy. It’s also the most common symptom with up to 9 out of 10 women suffering from nausea and vomiting while they are pregnant.
The severity and symptoms of morning sickness will vary. Some women will just have a bit of nausea, while others may vomit several times a day.
Most women will not just suffer in the morning, the nausea and vomiting can happen at any time of the day. Usually with little warning. In fact it is very common to get morning sickness at night.
It may may feel like it’s taking over your life but if you know how to deal with morning sickness things can be easier.
As long as you can keep some food and water down then morning sickness will not affect your baby.
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Why We Get Nausea And Vomiting In Pregnancy
Although there is no definitive cause, there may be several reasons why it women have morning sickness when pregnant.
In the first trimester there are an awful lot of hormones kicking around that our bodies aren’t used to. So the vomiting may be a reaction to the hormone hCG, which is extremely high during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
It is also thought that morning sickness may be there to serve as warning to things that may be harmful to us. This would explain why certain smells and tastes seem to trigger nausea vomiting.
So when does morning sickness end? Well in most cases morning sickness is nothing to worry about and for a lot of people will stop after the first trimester. Although some may continue to have vomiting and nausea throughout the whole pregnancy.
What Will Make You More Susceptible To Morning Sickness?
Again, this is not an exact science but there may be certain factors which will make you more likely to have nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
- You regularly suffer from travel sickness.
- It’s your first pregnancy.
- It’s a multiple pregnancy.
- You are prone to migraines.
- You have suffered from severe morning sickness with a previous pregnancy.
- Oestrogen based contraceptives make you nauseous.
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Tips For How To Deal With Morning Sickness
What To Carry With You
There are several practical items that it would be helpful to keep on hand during this time. I quickly learned through experience that these things are an absolute must especially when dealing with morning sickness at work. You never know when or where morning sickness is going to strike.
- A bottle of water.
- A packet of tissues and hand wipes.
- Perfume or body spray.
- A hair tie (if you have long hair).
- Toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash.
- Breath mints.
- Not a nice one to think about but a disposable plastic bag is probably a good idea.
- A plain snack like dry crackers.
Morning Sickness Remedies
Anti nausea wristband – Acupressure wristbands work by putting pressure on certain points of the wrist which gives relief from nausea and sickness. The great thing about these is that they are completely natural and drug free.
Ginger – This helped me a lot with my morning sickness. Ginger is perfect for calming your stomach. I found thatGinger tea and biscuits were particularly helpful and practical to carry with me.
Vitamin B6– A small dose of this vitamin has been known to ease morning sickness.
Magnesium – A magnesium supplement may help with nausea but consult your Doctor before taking this.
Exercise – A bit of light exercise each each day, like walking or swimming will release endorphins which can help reduce nausea.
Hand lotion – This is a weird one but if you wear hand lotion with a citrus or minty smell and you smell something that could trigger your morning sickness, then a quick whiff of your hands will help disguise the offending odour.Lemonand peppermintsmells are also known to have a calming affect.
Essential oils – Use these essential oils to help relieve your nausea.
It is advised that ginger essential oil is not used during pregnancy.
Ice – Ice chips, ice pops and frozen soft drinks can soothe your stomach and help with hydration.
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Other Ways You Can Deal With Morning Sickness
- Try to relax – Stress levels have been known to make morning sickness worse. Go for a lie down, read a book or try some guided meditations.
- Get as much fresh air as possible – Try to take regular trips outside and as much as you can stay near an open window.
- Get lots of rest – Try your best to get a good nights sleep. Take naps throughout the day if necessary.
- Don’t get up on an empty stomach – Try to eat a light breakfast before you get out of bed.
- Think about what you eat – Avoid spicy and fatty foods as these can increase nausea. Although not very exciting, bland foods are much better for your stomach.
- Distract yourself – Watch some TV, read, listen to some music, do a crossword puzzle or even organise your closet. Try any activity that will help take your mind off the sickness for a while.
- Drink plenty of fluids – Sipping water little and often can help prevent nausea.
- Wear comfortable clothing – Try to wear comfortable loose fitting clothing. Tight clothing around your abdomen may aggravate sickness.
When To Seek Medical Help
If you are suffering from constant unrelenting vomiting, headaches, dehydration, severe nausea and weight loss then please consult your Doctor.
This may be a condition called Hypermesis Gravidarum and you may need treatment such as anti sickness medications or intravenous fluids.
Of course it will never completely go away until it’s ready but knowing how to deal with morning sickness effectively will help you to be more comfortable during your pregnancy.
