Pregnancy is supposed to be a happy time for a couple expecting a baby.  But when the telltale signs of morning sickness become evident the sweet anticipation of newborn life can take a sour turn.

Up to 85% of expectant mothers may experience morning sickness.  The term “morning sickness” is a misnomer.  Even though the symptoms can be worse in the morning for some women, it can strike at any time of the day with some women experiencing it all day long. The typical symptoms primarily are queasiness or nausea along with sometimes vomiting with the intensity of symptoms varying from woman to woman.

It commonly begins around the sixth week of pregnancy with about half of women getting complete relief around the second trimester or 14 weeks along.

Possible causes of morning sickness

The exact cause of morning sickness is a mystery but there are many possible reasons for it:

·        Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – this hormone rises right around the time when nausea peaks so it is possible this could be a cause for some women.

·        Estrogen – This hormone also rises rapidly during early pregnancy and could be a contributing factor.

·        Sense of smell and sensitivity to odors enhanced – Many pregnant report feeling overwhelmed by smells – it could be anything from their laundry detergent, to food, to even the smell of their house.

·        A sensitive stomach – Some women may simply be very sensitive to the changes of pregnancy.  The stomach bacterium called Helicobacter pylori may cause some women to have increased sensitivity resulting in morning sickness.

·        Stress – It’s possible some women may be psychologically predisposed to morning sickness while pregnant even though there is no conclusive evidence of this.  However, feeling blah with nausea and vomiting will make anyone stressed out.

There are a small percentage of women (3%) who get a more severe form of morning sickness called severe hyperemesis gravidarum. This type usually results in severe nausea and vomiting to the point of excess weight loss and dehydration in the woman with possible nutrient deficiencies and may require hospitalization using intravenous fluids to bring relief.

Suggestions for relieving morning sickness

Depending on the severity of morning sickness, will determine what may or may not work for a woman.  Each pregnant woman is different and what remedy works for one may not necessarily work for another.  Here are some suggestions that a pregnant may try to help get through the struggle of morning sickness:

·        Eat small, frequent meals and snacks during the day.  Keeping something in the stomach can help prevent nausea.

·        Eat high-protein foods and more fruits and veggies at each meal.

·        Avoid lying down right after a meal as this can slow down digestion

·        Nibbling on crackers first thing in the morning may help some women

·        When waking up in the morning, rise slowly, sitting on the side of the bed for a few minutes before bounding out of bed.

·        Avoid foods and smells that trigger nausea. 

·        Keep your home well-ventilated – open windows to let in fresh air if possible.

·        Avoid fatty spicy, acidic, and fried foods which take longer to digest and can be irritating to the digestion system. 

·        Brushing teeth and rinsing the mouth can help a woman with any bad tastes

·        Take small sips of fluids throughout the day preventing dehydration as opposed to drinking a large quantity all at once. 

·        Avoid nonfood triggers of nausea – an overheated room or car, the smell of perfume, a car ride, visual stimuli like flickering lights that could cause nausea.

·        Fresh air or being outdoors may help ease nausea.

·        Get plenty of sleep and rest. 

·        Ginger is well-known for treating nausea whether pregnant or not.  Drinking ginger ale made with real ginger is a plus or grate fresh ginger or place crystallized ginger into hot water to make ginger tea.