Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. For some pregnant women, these symptoms worsen in the morning and get better during the day, but they can start at any other time and continue throughout the day.
Pregnancy nausea and vomiting
The severity of these symptoms varies from woman to woman. This condition affects many pregnant women during the first trimester. Some women only have nausea, but some experience nausea and vomiting together. This problem usually starts around the sixth week of pregnancy, but some women may have this problem from the fourth week, and the symptoms will be more severe in the following months.
Some women may get a little better by week 10, but some may have this symptom by the end of week 15. Nausea may stop during pregnancy and then continue again. A small percentage of women also have these symptoms by the time they give birth. Morning sickness, although common and usually does not last more than a few months, is annoying, and you may be bothered, even with mild nausea, so it is better to use strategies to reduce morning sickness.
Causes of pregnancy nausea and vomiting
The cause of nausea during pregnancy is not entirely clear, but some physical and chemical changes in your body may be the cause. Some possible causes of morning Sickness include:
- Human placental gonadotropin or hCG: This hormone increases quickly in early pregnancy. Nausea increases with the hCG hormone; increasing the level of this hormone can be considered one of the reasons for nausea. Women who have higher hCG levels, such as when they have multiple pregnancies, will also have higher nausea and vomiting rates.
- Estrogen: Increased levels of estrogen in early pregnancy can cause nausea.
- Increased sense of smell: During pregnancy, the sense of smell increases, which may increase nausea.
- Sensitive stomach: Some women with highly irritated gastrointestinal tract may have more severe symptoms in early pregnancy than nausea.
- Stress: Nausea in some pregnant women may be an abnormal response to their stress.
Risk factors
Morning Sickness occurs with an increase in hormone levels for many mothers during pregnancy, but other factors increase the likelihood of its occurrence, including:
- Had nausea or vomiting from motion sickness, certain smells or tastes migraines before pregnancy
- Had morning sickness during a previous pregnancy.
- Have a family history of vomiting during pregnancy.
- Pregnant with twins, triplets, or other multiples.
Ways to treat morning sickness
Anti-nausea medications are commonly used to relieve pain that may have side effects such as drowsiness. Here are some ways you can reduce morning sickness naturally.
Eat ginger
Ginger is a popular natural remedy commonly used to treat nausea. Experts believe that the compounds in ginger may work similarly to anti-nausea drugs. Chop a 3 cm piece of ginger and dissolve it in boiling water or tea. Other drinks made with real ginger may help but avoid carbonated ginger. You can use ginger candy, but note that they are high in sugar. If you do not have fresh ginger, use ginger tea bags.
Peppermint aromatherapy
Aromatherapy with Peppermint can reduce nausea. People exposed to the scent of Peppermint have a lower rate of nausea than those exposed to anti-nausea or placebo medications. Drinking a cup of Peppermint tea may have anti-nausea effects.
Lemon
The smell of citrus, like a freshly chopped lemon, may reduce nausea in pregnant women. Crushing a lemon or simply peeling it may work the same way because it helps release essential oils into the air.
Control breathing
Slow and deep breathing can help reduce nausea. Aromatherapy and breathing control both relieve nausea independently. Special controlled breathing techniques are a free and effective home remedy for reducing nausea.
Eat smaller, more frequent meals
Not eating can make nausea worse. Eat more but smaller meals instead of three high-volume meals. To reduce nausea in the morning, try putting some simple crackers, dry bread, or cereal next to your bed so you can eat a small amount as soon as you wake up.
Skip certain foods
Avoid high-fat, very sugary, spicy, and fizzy foods. But High-protein, high-carb, salty, low-fat, and dry foods may reduce nausea.
Time your prenatal vitamins right
Iron in many vitamins during pregnancy can aggravate nausea. Instead of taking iron in the morning on an empty stomach, try to take your pregnancy vitamins before bed.
Get physically active
Exercise can help reduce the symptoms of morning sickness. Try walking, swimming, or taking a yoga class. Just talk to your obstetrician about the type and amount of exercise.
Take a vitamin B6 supplement
Vitamin B6 is an alternative method for pregnant women who prefer not to take anti-nausea medications. Vitamin B6 supplements, also known as pyridoxine, reduce nausea during pregnancy. Intake of vitamin B6 up to 200 mg daily is generally considered safe during pregnancy and causes almost no side effects.
Raw apple cider vinegar
Mix one teaspoon of vinegar with about 8 ounces of water. Take a sip during the day and one hour before meals. Low stomach acid causes heartburn. Drinking this solution increases stomach acid, thus relieving nausea. Make sure the apple cider vinegar is completely natural.
Stay hydrated
It’s especially important when your body is raising a baby. If you vomit, make sure you drink enough fluids to lose fluids. Also, look for signs of dehydration, such as the dry mouth and skin, lightheadedness, and muscle cramps. Lack of water can increase nausea.
Avoid lying down after eating
Lying down, especially on the body’s left side, slows digestion. Avoid lying down after eating anything.
Balance your blood sugar
Severe fluctuations in blood sugar are another trigger for nausea. When you can tolerate a small number of carbohydrates, try to follow it with a small portion of the protein or high-fat foods to stabilize your blood sugar. Protein in breakfast is especially useful for maintaining blood sugar balance throughout the day, which can reduce nausea.
Get plenty of sleep
Generally, nausea increases with fatigue and stress because your body uses its energy reserves to stay active and relax. Therefore, we recommend getting plenty of sleep to deal with nausea and fatigue.
Listen to your body
Listen to what your body needs to treat morning sickness. Your body tells you what foods, smells, and drinks you can tolerate and what you cannot tolerate. Listen to your body for more food, drink, or rest.
Is morning sickness dangerous?
While it may be very upsetting and disruptive to daily life, the good news is that morning sickness is rarely harmful to you or your baby. It is interesting to note that women who experience morning sickness are less likely to have an abortion. morning sickness results from a sudden increase in hormone levels released during pregnancy.
A very small percentage of women have a severe morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition can cause severe, uncontrollable nausea and vomiting, leading to weight loss, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition, and dehydration, which can harm the mother and baby if left untreated.
When to see your doctor
Few pregnant women experience hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes persistent vomiting leading to severe dehydration that requires medical attention. If you have any of the following symptoms, talk to your obstetrician.
- Inability to store food and drink for more than 12 hours
- Symptoms of dehydration, such as decreased and dark urine and dizziness when standing
- Persistent vomiting during the day
- Weight loss of more than 5 pounds
Nausea can occur in many pregnant women and can be very annoying. Here are some ways you can reduce your morning sickness without medication. When morning sickness bothers you, remind yourself that the condition is temporary. Be sure to consult your obstetrician about using these home remedies and medications.
Dr. Arjang Naim provides pregnancy care for women and helps reduce the symptoms of morning sickness. You can ask your questions through the communication channels listed on the site.
Additional questions
- What week does morning sickness start?
For most women, morning sickness starts around the fourth week of pregnancy and resolves between the 12th and 14th weeks. However, 1 in 5 women experience nausea and vomiting during the second trimester of pregnancy, and a few experience nausea and vomiting throughout their pregnancy.
- What makes morning sickness worse?
Spicy or fatty foods, citrus juices, milk, coffee, and caffeinated tea often make nausea worse.
- Can dehydration cause miscarriage?
Moderate or severe dehydration may cause miscarriage. Severe dehydration during pregnancy can cause serious complications such as blood clots, neural tube defects, and seizures.
- How normal is weight loss during pregnancy?
It is common for some women to lose 2 to 3 pounds during the first trimester due to morning sickness, nausea, or through adopting a healthier lifestyle. A small unwanted weight loss in early pregnancy will not harm the baby.
- How many hours should a pregnant woman sleep?
Sleep is a necessity, especially for pregnant women. Most doctors recommend eight to 10 hours a night.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/morning-sickness/symptoms-causes/syc-20375254
https://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/morning-sickness-pregnant
https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/dealing-with-morning-sickness