Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is the worst!!

Nausea and vomiting can be one of the first signs of pregnancy and usually begins around the 6th week of pregnancy. While it’s referred to as “morning sickness” it can occur at any time of the day. For most women, it seems to stop after the 12th week of pregnancy. Morning sickness is not harmful to you or your baby, but if you experience excessive vomiting and cannot manage to keep your food down, you may have hyperemesis gravidarum.

Hyperemesis gravidarum can be harmful to you and your baby if severe and left untreated due to the possible lack of nutrients and electrolyte imbalances. The most important thing is to inform your doctor when these symptoms appear and discuss possible treatment options.

The Facts:

More than 50% of pregnant women experience morning sickness. Morning sickness refers to the nauseous feeling you may have during the first trimester of pregnancy, which is a result of the increased hormones in your body.

Morning sickness can be accompanied by vomiting. Many doctors think morning sickness is a good sign because it means the placenta is developing well. Have no fear, there are several ways to help give you morning sickness relief.

Here are 7 Tips To Help Put Your Morning Sickness To Bed:

Get Enough Sleep!

Go to be at a reasonable time. Take it slow getting out of bed in the morning. You can even have a stash of crackers on your nightstand to nibble on before you get out of bed.

Eat More Frequently

It is best to eat 5-6 meals a day 2-3 hours apart. This will avoid your stomach from being completely empty, helping with nausea.

Take Vitamins At The Right Time

Take the right vitamins at the right time: Use whole-food-derived prenatal vitamins. Don’t take your prenatal on an empty stomach. Taking them at night is a good idea.

Don’t Eat What Certain Foods

Don’t Force Yourself to Eat Certain Foods: Eat the foods that settle best in your tummy vs trying to go all out and eat foods that don’t sit well.

Sip Your Water

Don’t Guzzle Your Water! This will make your stomach feel sloshy and unsettled. Stay hydrated by taking little sips throughout the day.

Anti-Nausea Bracelet

Wear an Anti-Nausea Bracelet: These provide acupressure to a point on your wrist to help with your nausea.

Eat Ginger

You can use ginger chews or tea, or even just cooking with ginger will help. The ginger will help settle your tummy.

You should contact your doctor:

• If you are experiencing excessive nausea and vomiting that prevents you from keeping any food down
• If vomiting is accompanied by pain or fever
• If nausea and vomiting persist well into the second trimester (after the 12th week)

Note From Your Doula

If your morning sickness gets to be too much for you to handle be sure to let your provider know how you are feeling.

For information on Birth Doula Support.