Morning sickness is a symptom of pregnancy experienced by 75% of expectant mothers and is characterized by nausea and occasional vomiting. Despite its name, morning sickness can cause discomfort at any time of the day. The cause of morning sickness isn’t clear, but the hormonal changes of pregnancy are the most likely culprit. In this post, we’ll explore the symptoms of morning sickness, when you should expect it to arise, and what to do when it does.

What Are The Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of morning sickness include nausea and vomiting, sometimes triggered by distinctive odors, spicy foods, heat, excess salivation, sometimes by no triggers at all.

When Does Morning Sickness Start?

Morning sickness arises for most women around the six to eight-week mark. That said, it can vary from person to person- some women feel awful from the onset of pregnancy while others feel no symptoms whatsoever.

When Does Morning Sickness End?

Again, the cessation of morning sickness is highly individual. But most women start feeling better around twelve to thirteen weeks into pregnancy. There will be no distinctive demarcation between suffering and not, no one day you can point to when the symptoms vanished. Rather, they will gradually fade away until, eventually, you can eat whatever you want without the nauseating consequences.

When To Worry

If you find that your morning sickness is particularly bad, you may be suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) and you should speak to a medical professional. You should also seek medical guidance if your morning sickness appears for the first time late in your pregnancy as it may be symptomatic of gallbladder issues.

What Can You Do About It?

To help relieve morning sickness:

• Choose foods carefully. Prioritize foods that are high in protein, low in fat, and easy to digest. Avoid greasy, spicy, and fatty foods. Bland foods, such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast may be easy to digest. Salty foods are sometimes helpful, as are foods that contain ginger — such as ginger lollipops.
• Snack often. Before getting out of bed in the morning, eat a few soda crackers or a piece of dry toast. Nibble throughout the day, rather than eating three larger meals so that your stomach doesn’t get too full.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Sip water or ginger ale. Aim for six to eight cups of non-caffeinated fluids daily.
• Pay attention to nausea triggers. Avoid foods or smells that seem to make your nausea worse.
• Breathe fresh air. Weather permitting, open the windows in your home or workplace. Take a daily walk outdoors.
• Take care with prenatal vitamins. If you feel queasy after taking prenatal vitamins, take the vitamins with a snack or just before bed. If these steps don’t help, ask your healthcare provider about other ways you can get the iron and vitamins you need during pregnancy.
• Rinse your mouth after vomiting. The acid from your stomach can damage the enamel on your teeth. If you can, rinse your mouth with a cup of water mixed with a teaspoon of baking soda. This will help neutralize the acid and protect your teeth.

Morning sickness is one of the nastier aspects of pregnancy, but hopefully, after reading this post, you know what to expect and how to deal with it when it arises.

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