Morning sickness is one of the best-known symptoms of pregnancy. What causes it, and how long does it last?
Pregnancy is both a beautiful and tiring process. As well as sore nipples, cramps and tiredness, you're likely to have morning sickness morning sickness. In fact, 70-80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness and, whatever you call it, it can occur at any time of the day (not just in the morning) and last for weeks.
Change in hormones causes morning sickness
There's no concrete answer to the question of what causes them, but some theories involve an increase in the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Others claim that the combination of progesterone and estrogen may play a role. It is likely that a combination of factors contributes to the severity of symptoms.
What does nausea look like and how long does it last?
They may vary depending on the pregnancy. Some women feel nauseous all day and have the urge to vomit, others have an occasional urge to vomit and still others feel nauseous all day without vomiting.
They don't usually manifest themselves beyond the first trimester, and although some women experience symptoms in the second and third trimesters, most cases only last a few weeks (I know, I know, it still seems like an eternity!).
Can morning sickness only occur in the morning?
How does nausea know the time? Does the vomiting stop at midday? Although it would be nice to have a timetable for morning sickness, it doesn't follow any rules and can occur throughout the day. Some women only feel uncomfortable in the morning, others in the evening, still others on an empty stomach and between meals.
How do you stop them?
Morning sickness is one of the difficult parts of pregnancy that many women endure. Although you can actively manage the symptoms, there is no magic cure for nausea, and often the progression of pregnancy brings spontaneous improvement. Despite feelings of absolute misery, in most cases nausea is self-limiting and ultimately safe for you and your unborn baby. That said, there are some cases where you should contact your doctor, such as the inability to eat or drink for 24 hours, significant weakness and drastic weight loss.
To better manage nausea, you should :
- Eat frequent small meals or snacks throughout the day.
- Take tea, supplements, and ginger candies that can help calm your stomach: try our Anti-Nausea Herbal Tea made with ginger and peppermint.
- Take a prenatal vitamin. Many gynaecologists and obstetricians claim that prenatal vitamins can reduce the risk of severe nausea and vomiting.
- Change your mealtimes.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid smelly foods that can act as triggers, such as hard-boiled eggs, tuna, etc.
- Try the BRATT diet, which contains bland, low-fat, easy-to-digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and herbal teas.
What foods should I avoid if I suffer from morning sickness?
Avoid all extremely spicy, acidic, smelly or gas-producing foods, including dairy products. It's best to stick to bland, boring foods. This dull diet may prove difficult, but it's worth the sacrifice to control nausea.
Is there anything that can help morning sickness and heartburn?
Yes! Discover our herbal tea anti-nausea !
What to do when all these tips fail?
There are safe supplements and medications that can help treat nausea and vomiting when diet and lifestyle changes are ineffective. The most common over-the-counter supplements are ginger, peppermint and vitamin B6. Anti-nausea tea combines peppermint and ginger to gently relax the digestive tract and aid digestion. If these measures bring only incomplete relief, it's best to contact your obstetrician to discuss prescription medication that may prove beneficial.
Anti-nausea tea is an excellent gift for mums-to-be who suffer from morning sickness.
On the bright side
Pregnancy is a wonderful process that often brings with it some not-so-pleasant side effects, not least nausea! Fortunately, for most people, morning sickness and vomiting last only a few weeks and disappear after the first three months of pregnancy. While they can't necessarily be predicted, prevented or cured, changing what and when you eat can help you manage your symptoms.
