All You Need to Know About Morning Sickness

Do you know 50% of women face morning sickness in their first trimester or initial 12-14 weeks of pregnancy? So, you are not alone if you are also feeling this way in the early days of your pregnancy. 

Morning sickness, commonly known as ‘nausea’ or in severe cases ‘hyperemesis gravidarum’, is one of the first symptoms of pregnancy, which you may face in the initial weeks. There are three trimesters in your pregnancy, and the first seems to be the one where these symptoms peak.

But don’t lose heart by thinking about the morning sickness you’re facing because it usually eases off after 14 weeks. Most pregnant women tend to feel normal once the second trimester begins.

 

Symptoms of Morning Sickness

 

Loss of Appetite and Heartburn

During pregnancy, your digestion becomes slower, and your abdominal muscles become relaxed,which can cause your food to come back up your esophagus. This is a common symptom that many pregnant women experience. You can experience these symptoms at a certain stage of your pregnancy but some women are unlucky enough to experience it the whole way through their pregnancies.

Nausea

Morning sickness is actually not always felt in the morning time. It hits many women around mid afternoon and is usually made worse by fatigue. The hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is usually the hormone that is accountable for this unpleasant queasy feeling.

Heat in Hurry

During pregnancy, your body goes through various changes. Your blood volume increases slowly but surely and you may feel symptoms due to this happening. This increased volume of blood causes your heart to beat faster, putting pressure on your whole circulatory system and you may feel breathless at times or even experience hot flashes..

Dark and Cloudy Urine

Passing more colored than opaque urine is also a symptom of morning sickness during pregnancy. The reason for this darker urine is dehydration, which could be from excessive vomiting, which is why it’s so important to stay hydrated throughout your pregnancy.

Agonizing Anxiety

One out of ten women face anxiety issues during the first trimester. Anxiety is common during pregnancy, but it can be frustrating if you’re a person who has never felt anxious before. Or if you are prone to anxiety, you may find these symptoms a little worse than usual. Your body is going through a tremendous amount of hormonal and chemical changes. Be kind to yourself and take one day at a time.

 

Causes of Morning Symptoms

 

Increased hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) 

One of the significant causes of morning sickness is the hCG hormone, which increases during the first trimester. Because of this hormone, one faces morning sickness, usually in the morning, or at any stage of the day, really! 

Rise in Progesterone Level

Progesterone is another hormone that may be accountable for morning sickness. Although progesterone may cause you morning sickness, this is a good thing. Increased progesterone levels help the lining of the uterus to thicken, which enables the process of implantation. Also, it prevents early childbirth by relaxing the muscles of the uterus..

Rise in Estrogen Level

During the first 12-14 weeks, the estrogen level is at its peak, which causes symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Estrogen is essential too as it helps to enlarge breasts, preparing your milk ducts for breastfeeding. Estrogen is vital in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

 

Now, you’re aware of the symptoms and the causes of morning sickness; it’s time for you to know some easy and effective ways to tackle this. Here are some ideas which you can try on your own to avoid the troublesome morning sickness.

 

Tips to Ease Morning Sickness Naturally

 

Rest, rest, rest

Your early pregnancy symptoms will be much worse if you are pushing yourself too hard and not getting enough rest. If you feel tired, allow yourself to take a nap (if possible) or try to get to bed at a reasonable time at night so that you have a decent long stretch of sleep overnight.

Stay Hydrated!

Keeping well-hydrated helps your body prevents nausea. Hydrating yourself by drinking water or fresh juices is the best way to do this. Ensure you are drinking a minimum of 2.5 litres each day. This will not only help with the nausea but also help in terms of keeping your body running smoothly. 

Eat Less & Keep It Healthy

Having light and frequent healthy meals can also ease your problem of nausea. Because of the slow and steady digestion in pregnancy, it becomes harder to digest heavy meals at once. It’s advised that you eat light meals that are rich in vitamins and nutrients that your body can easily digest.

Avoiding Odors 

Always try to be around fresh and pleasant aromas during pregnancy – outdoors in nature is a good option! All thanks to increased estrogen levels, our nose becomes sensitive to smells. Bad smells can make you feel nauseous and avoid the fish isle in the supermarket and opt for fresh air instead!

Ginger is your Best Friend

Constipation and nausea are both very common in pregnancy Some women experience diarrhea too. Ginger can help your distressed stomach. Chewing ginger or sipping on ginger tea can be very helpful.

 

Conclusion

Morning sickness and the other associated symptoms mentioned above are very common. Try some of the natural remedies that we have suggested. If you are finding that your symptoms are really affecting you severely, do talk to your midwife or GP, especially if you feel that you may be dehydrated or severely anxious.