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Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we find useful to our readersPregnancy for a women comes as a blessing (well, for the most part). While a pregnant woman would happily describe their gestational period as an exceptional experience, none of them are every fond of morning sickness. That sudden surge of nausea along with urhurling the contents of the stomach is definitely not a nice feeling.
Morning sickness varies from person to person, the severity, the timings, and every single aspect of it. While one woman might experience it only in the mornings of the first trimester, someone else might experience these symptoms in the later stage of their pregnancy.
In this article, we are going to be focusing on providing with comprehensive information about everything that one needs to know about morning sickness during pregnancy – from the common signs and symptoms to the causes and remedies.
What is Morning Sickness?
Nausea Gravidarum, otherwise commonly known as morning sickness is a very common symptom that accompanies pregnancy. It often leaves the would-be mother feeling dizzy, nauseous and uneasy throughout or through certain stages of the pregnancy.
The severity, time interval and even the type of morning sickness varies from person to person and doesn’t come with a set rule book. But the aftermath is all the same – tiring and taxing on the person.
When Does Morning Sickness Start?
If you go to Google and look through the tags concerning pregnancy and morning sickness, this is probably the most frequently asked question. So, why is that? Primarily because the pregnant women want to be ready for this beforehand and that is well and good.
How Early Can Morning Sickness Start?
According to gynaecologists and experts, it is believed that the signs and symptoms of morning sickness start imbibing and worming its way through right at the 6 weeks mark of your gestation period (two weeks after you have missed your periods).
That being said, there are even possibilities that you may be hit with your morning sickness right in the two to three weeks mark of your pregnancy. Sounds shocking, doesn’t it? It is often considered as the first signs of your pregnancy. But, the signs and symptoms relating to pregnancy and morning sickness always vary from woman to woman and no two is the same.
How Long Does Morning Sickness Last?
It is believed and seen (for the most part) that the common duration of this signs of morning sickness lasts and prolongs till the end of the first trimester. But, even that varies from person to person. So, even that is not something constant.
But, on common and generalized medical terms, you are expected to get rid of morning sickness by the time you attain the 12-15 weeks mark in your pregnancy. But if you are cursed with a bad luck, there are chances that the morning sickness can extend up till the second trimester as well.
What Causes Morning Sickness?
You know that you feel like the earth is going to shatter when you are hit with the wave of nausea because of morning sickness but the worst part? There is a very little reasoning behind why the same actually does happen.
While doctors suggest that it is the haywire of hormonal levels in the body that causes this feeling of nausea, there is very little concrete evidence to back those claims up.
That being said, some of the common causes behind the morning sickness during pregnancy include:
Level of Estrogen: It is believed that the sudden surge in the estrogen levels in the body during pregnancy (which is 100 times more than normal) is what causes the would-be mother to feel nauseous and uneasy during the early stages of pregnancy. But there are little to no evidence to actually back those claims up and find a correlation between the two.
Levels of Progesterone: Much like the levels of estrogen, even the levels of progesterone are high during the pregnancy which sure does contribute to morning sickness. The heightened levels of progesterone in the body often tends to relax the muscles of the stomach and small intestine, thereby causing distension and enabling the excess secretion of stomach acids.
Hypoglycemia: Pregnancy is a very taxing phase in a woman’s life which takes a toll on her own health. That being said, it is believed that sometimes the lowered glucose levels in the mother’s body, caused by the draining of the energy by the placental attachment often contributes to weakness and dizziness that one feels as a symptom of their morning sickness.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): This hormone is yet another possible connection for the inception of morning sickness in a pregnant woman. It is secreted by the embryo following conception and then by the placenta. The heightened levels of this hormone are often considered as a common cause behind the morning sickness during pregnancy.
Heightened aversion to certain smells: Smell and certain odour are yet another common causes of morning sickness. What you might have liked during the normal days might be something you hate he smell of when you are pregnant. This unpleasant smells also sometimes contribute to making you feel nauseous.
What are the Symptoms of Morning Sickness?
Don’t let the name fool you, morning sickness doesn’t just attack a person in the morning, rather can be anytime throughout the day. For the most part, it is believed that for the most part, it inflicts its paws during the morning, hence the name.
That being said, morning sickness hits you and it hits you hard. The signs of morning sickness are not something you’d normally skip out on.
Some of the common symptoms of morning sickness include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Incontinence
- Urine is sometimes dark in colour
- It becomes hard to stomach the liquids
- Dizziness on suddenly standing up
- Possible signs of fainting if too much exertion is endured
- Palpitations and increased heart rate
- Vomiting blood (in severe cases)
Home Remedies for Morning Sickness
- Lemon Water
- Ginger
- Curry Leaves
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Fennel Seeds
- Peppermint
- Ginger Tea
- Red Raspberry Leaf tea
- Vitamin B6
- Proper Hydration
- Coconut Water
- Colloidal Silver
- Cheese
- Barley Water
- Coriander
- Cloves
- Cumin
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Zinc
1. Lemon Water for Morning Sickness
The consumption of lemon water for morning sickness is one of the, if not the most, effective remedies to prevent morning sickness. Doctors suggest drinking 8 ounces of water eight times throughout the day and the consumption of lemon water should compensate in between that said limit.
Make sure that you are using fresh lemons, instead of the pre-packaged store bought ones because there are chances that they might contain preservatives and other additives.
What To Do?
- Squeeze out the juice of half a lemon
- Add it to a glass and pour 8 ounces of water to it
- Mix in some natural sweetener to better the taste if the taste of just lemon water is a way to overbearing for you to stomach
2. Ginger Ale for Morning Sickness
Carbonated drinks are yet another amazing morning sickness home remedy that helps suppress the signs and symptoms of it easily. The extract of ginger in the same helps combat nausea and the fizziness from the drink aids in combating the unnecessary cramps and pain that is caused because of the accumulation of gas in the GI tract.
What To Do?
- Sip on a glass of ginger ale slowly and don’t just chuck it down in one go
3. Curry Leaves for Morning Sickness
What To Do?
- Take 20-25 curry leaves and crush them to extract the juice
- Add that to a glass and add some honey and lemon to better its taste
- Add water to the mixture and drink that to stop nausea during pregnancy
4. Apple Cider Vinegar for Morning Sickness
Apple Cider Vinegar has amazing benefits in the treatment of stomach aches, indigestion and even combats nausea. That being said, it is believed that the pasteurized version of the apple cider vinegar might hinder with some of the medications and the unpasteurized vinegar is completely unsafe for pregnant ladies.
What To Do?
- Mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and add a tablespoons of honey to it
- Drink this in small sips to get rid of the morning sickness
Side Note: Apple Cider Vinegar is deemed as a negative impact for the pregnant ladies which is why you should consult a doctor before consuming it.
5. Fennel Seeds for Morning Sickness
Make sure to never overdo how much fennel you are consuming because the overconsumption of it often tends to increase white discharge in females which is definitely a downside and side effect you don’t want to endure.
What To Do?
- Drink the water soaked with fennel seeds whenever you are feeling queasy or know you are about to be hit with a wave of morning sickness.
- You can also make fennel tea and drink that in small sips for an effective result to combat morning sickness
6. Peppermint for Morning Sickness
That being said, the consumption of peppermint tea is deemed unsuitable for women who suffer from heartburns because it aggravates the situation. Chew on some peppermint candy instead with less sugar content for similar results.
What To Do?
- Steep some peppermint in warm water and add some tea leaves if you want.
- Add some lemon and honey to enhance the flavor.
- Drink this multiple times throughout the day.
- Chew on peppermint candies if the tea is not something you like
7. Ginger Tea
What To Do?
- Brew some ginger tea and take small sips of it throughout the day to keep nausea at bay
- Chew on the store bought ginger candies throughout the day
Side Note: the excess consumption can often even impact negative impacts on the pregnancy which is why it is always best to consult a doctor and eat or drink the remedies with ginger in moderation.
8. Red Raspberry Leaf tea for Morning Sickness
Not just for morning sickness, the consumption of red raspberry leaf tea is also effective in boosting the blood circulation in a pregnant woman along with improving their immune system, which is definitely an added bonus.
It also helps tone the pelvic muscles and the uterine walls (R) to prepare the mother’s body for delivery. Apart from it all, it is also beneficial for the breast milk as it boosts it with extra nourishment.
What to do?
- Start off with drinking 1-2 cups during the first or second trimester
- 3-4 cups are permissible in the third trimester
- Brew the leaves properly to extract the optimum nutrition out of it
9. Vitamin B6 for Morning Sickness
Vitamin B6 (R), otherwise known as pyridoxine, is a very important pre-natal vitamin that most of the doctors prescribe as a morning sickness treatment. Not only is it an important remedy for the treatment of morning sickness but is also beneficial for the overall development of the brain nervous system.
Even though there are evident results in the effect of Vitamin B6 for morning sickness relief, there is not much of an explanation as to how or the same works.
What To Do?
- Consume the Vitamin B6 supplements as prescribed by the doctor
- Increase the consumption of Vitamin B6 rich food in your diet for the healthier development of the baby
10. Proper Hydration to Relieve Morning Sickness
Hydration (R) is one of the most important factors to maintain during pregnancy. There are chances that drinking less water might contribute to constipation during pregnancy or even cause indigestion and sour stomach which is definitely what contributes further to morning sickness.
Drinking plenty of water during pregnancy helps relieve the signs and symptoms of bloating and morning sickness that can root from several conditions of upset stomach and dehydration.
What to do?
- Drink 8 ounces of water at most eight times throughout the day
- If drinking just water is becoming monotonous, switch it up with some recipes of infused water (safe for pregnancy) and even sparkling water
Side Note: Consult your doctor before you are opting for any kind of infused water or sparkling water.
11. Coconut Water for morning sickness
Both coconut oil and coconut water have amazing benefits to stop morning sickness. Many pregnant women are always iffy if or not the consumption of coconut water is actually safe for one’s health. But the presence of essential vitamins and minerals in the coconut water has proven benefits in the treatment of dehydration and infection that is common in pregnancy.
The coconut water (R) is also loaded with amazing diuretic properties which impose beneficial effects in the frequent urination to flush the infection out of the body that could be the possible reason behind morning sickness.
What To Do?
- Sip of coconut water whenever you feel dehydrated or feel like a wave of nausea hitting you
12. Colloidal Silver for Morning Sickness
Yet another effective remedy as a cure for morning sickness includes colloidal silver. Although there is not much to back the claims up, it is believed that the people who suffer excessively from the infection caused by Helicobacter pylori can witness amazing benefits with the consumption of colloidal silver.
What To Do?
- Consult a doctor before administering the colloidal silver solution
Side Note: Silver is not something that our body can easily metabolise on its own which is why it is necessary to never over consume it because the same can be toxic for the day, especially if you are pregnant because that puts two lives at stake.
13. Cheese for Morning Sickness
Aversion to food and water often leaves a pregnant woman dehydrated and undernourished. While eating full heavy meals might seem like a lot, try out small portioned snacks with cheese and crackers.
This helps to keep you well nourished, fed and even combat morning sickness to some extent which is definitely an added bonus. There are instances when several pregnant women don’t really enjoy the smell of cheese too, so it is advised to eat the kind of cheese that you like and can keep down because at the end of the day, that is what that matters.
What To Do?
- Snack on cheese and crackers in between meal timings to keep yourself nourished
14. Barley Water for Morning Sickness
Barley water doesn’t have one but multiple benefits. It has amazing benefits in promoting digestion and in relieving the signs of constipation. It is also believed to ease the issues with morning sickness that several would be mothers face during their pregnancy.
It regulates water retention during the stages of pregnancy and even the diuretic property of this remedy helps flush the toxins out of the body for a healthier well being of both the mother and the baby.
What To Do?
- Soak 1-2 tablespoons of barley in a glass of water
- Leave it for a few hours or even overnight, if necessary
- Strain the liquid out and add some lemon juice to it
- Drink this in small sips to curb nausea during pregnancy
15. Coriander for morning sickness
What To Do?
- Soak a tablespoon of coriander seeds in a glass of water
- Let it steep overnight
- Drink this to prevent morning sickness
16. Cloves for Morning Sickness
What To Do?
- Chew on 2-3 cloves after meals
- Alternatively, add some clove to your tea and let it steep for some time and drink for effective results
17. Cumin for Morning Sickness
What To Do?
- Steep one teaspoon of cumin seeds in a glass of warm water
- Drink this whenever you are hit with a wave of morning sickness
- Alternatively, take a liter of water in a vessel; add a tablespoon of cumin seeds and a pinch of nutmeg. Bring this to a boil and let it steep for a few hours. Strain the liquid and drink it in small sips throughout the day.
18. Eucalyptus Oil for morning sickness
What To Do?
- Pour a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief and inhale the scent whenever you are hit with a wave of nausea
19. Zinc for Morning Sickness
Zinc, not only helps with the signs and symptoms of morning sickness but is also beneficial in the overall development of the fetus. It promotes the proper construction of the cells of the baby along with their DNA. It has an overall impact in the cell division along with the tissue growth of the developing fetus.
What To Do?
- Increase the intake of food rich in zinc
- Take supplements as suggested and prescribed by the doctor
When to Worry Regarding the Morning Sickness During Pregnancy?
While morning sickness during pregnancy is a very common occurrence, there comes concern when the situation gets worse that what one would normally anticipate.
There is a special type of morning sickness known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum which is a matter of concern and needs required medical help to ensure that both the mother and the baby are safe.
In this condition, the morning sickness is in the worst condition, imposing threats of dehydration and consistent nausea and vomiting almost either throughout or majority of their pregnancy. This situation is often very taxing on the mother, and in turn, on the baby as well.
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton suffered with the signs and symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum during both of her pregnancies. The condition often calls for immediate medical attention so as to ensure that the pregnancy is not hampered.
The condition is so severe that there are possibilities of the would-be mother to throw up even more than 10-20 in a day which leaves them dehydrated and weak. Many even talk about throwing up blood while purging which is definitely terrifying.
Morning Sickness is a very common happenstance in every healthy pregnancy. Look out for the signs and symptoms and combat the same with these above mentioned easy remedies. If the conditions deteriorate, it is always advised to consult a doctor.