Morning sickness refers, simply, to nausea caused by pregnancy. Morning sickness is a fairly common symptom of pregnancy; around 70% of all new moms-to-be will experience morning sickness. Morning sickness can occur at any time of the day, not just during the morning. This nausea may be constant, as it is for some women; or, it may just occur occasionally. The degree to which you feel sick can also vary; you might just feel a little woozy, or you might experience full fledged vomiting.

Nausea is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Nausea can begin as early as the second week of your pregnancy. Most of the time, nausea does not start until between the fourth and sixth weeks of pregnancy. This will typically be between five and seven weeks after the end of the last menstrual period. Nausea during pregnancy typically subsides between the 12th and 14th weeks of pregnancy.

Researchers are not certain what causes morning sickness. It may be that the rapidly changing hormone levels in your body, combined with an enhanced sense of smell and excess stomach acids are to blame. Other theories suggest that nausea during pregnancy is caused by the buildup of hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin). hCG continues to build up in your system until about the 12th week of your pregnancy, at which point the levels of hCG starts to decrease. This theory seems to be most consistent with actual experience.

Unfortunately, many of the medications that are used for nausea cannot be used by a pregnant woman. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help soothe your morning sickness naturally. They can include:

– Avoid foods that are high in fat, especially saturated fats.

– Avoid foods with strong smells that could trigger nausea.

– Sea bands or motion sickness wrist bands may help some women who have morning sickness.

– Eat small, frequent snacks and meals to avoid feeling either hungry or too full.

– Use rice cakes or crackers to counteract nausea.

– Make sure to keep hydrated.

– Many women have had success using a variety of ginger products, such as ginger root supplements or ginger tea to help combat morning sickness.

– Your nausea may be caused by the iron in your pre-natal vitamin. If you believe this is the case, speak with your health care provider about other options.

The good news is that morning sickness will not last forever. Hopefully, some of the natural methods above will help you to get through those first few weeks of pregnancy with less difficulty.

Posted in Pregnancy

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