Is morning sickness only for pregnancy

Morning sickness | March of Dimes

Morning sickness is when you have nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Even though it’s called morning sickness, it can happen any time of day.

Morning sickness usually starts at about 6 weeks of pregnancy and goes away in the second trimester.

Lots of pregnant women have morning sickness. It usually doesn’t cause harm to you or your baby.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe nausea and vomiting that needs treatment (sometimes in a hospital) to help you get better.

If your morning sickness is severe or if it goes into your fourth month of pregnancy, tell your health care provider right away.

What is morning sickness?

Morning sickness (also called nausea and vomiting of pregnancy) is nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting that happens in the first few months of pregnancy. Even though it's called morning sickness, it can last all day and happen any time of day.

At least 7 in 10 pregnant women have morning sickness in the first trimester (first 3 months) of pregnancy. It usually starts at about 6 weeks of pregnancy and is at its worst at about 9 weeks. Most women feel better in their second trimester, but some have morning sickness throughout pregnancy. If you have morning sickness, tell your health care provider.

Mild morning sickness doesn’t harm you or your baby. But if nausea and vomiting becomes severe (called hyperemesis gravidarum), it can cause serious problems during pregnancy. You may need to stay in the hospital for treatment.

What is hyperemesis gravidarum?

About 3 in 100 women may have hyperemesis gravidarum. This is extreme, excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It can cause you to lose weight and become dehydrated (not have enough water in your body). It can start early in pregnancy and last the entire pregnancy. If you have hyperemesis gravidarum, you need treatment to help keep you and your baby safe.

You may be at risk for hyperemesis gravidarum if you:

Are pregnant for the first time.
Are pregnant with a girl.
Are pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more). Being pregnant with more than one baby may increase your risk for severe morning sickness because you may have a large placenta and increased pregnancy hormones. The placenta grows in your uterus (womb) and supplies your babies with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.
Had mild or severe morning sickness in a previous pregnancy, or your mother or sister had severe morning sickness during pregnancy. Take your family health history to help you find out about health conditions that run in your family.
Have motion sickness or migraines. A migraine is a severe headache that may make you sensitive to bright lights and sound.
Are overweight.
Have trophoblastic disease, a condition that leads to abnormal cell growth in the uterus (womb).

Signs and symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include:

Vomiting more than 3 to 4 times a day
Vomiting that makes you dizzy or lightheaded
Vomiting that makes you dehydrated. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include feeling thirsty, dry mouth, a fast heart beat or making little to no urine.
Losing more than 10 pounds in pregnancy

If you have hyperemesis gravidarum, your provider may treat you with medicine to help relieve your nausea and vomiting. You may need treatment in a hospital with intravenous (also called IV) fluids. IV fluids go through a needle into your vein. They help you stay hydrated and can give you nutrients that you usually get from food. If you continue to lose weight, you may need a feeding tube to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients for you and your baby.

What causes morning sickness?

We don’t know for sure what causes morning sickness. It may be caused by low blood sugar or increased pregnancy hormones. Morning sickness may be worse if you’re stressed or overly tired, if you eat certain foods or if you’re traveling (if you often have motion sickness).

Can you prevent or relieve morning sickness?

Yes. Here’s what you can do to help you feel better and even prevent morning sickness:

Take a prenatal vitamin before you get pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about which one to take. Sometimes vitamins can upset your stomach, so take it with a snack.
Keep snacks by your bed. Eat a few crackers before you get up in the morning to help settle your stomach.
Eat 5 or 6 small meals each day instead of 3 larger meals.
Eat foods that are low in fat and easy to digest, like cereal, rice and bananas. Don’t eat spicy or fatty foods.
Eat healthy snacks between meals. This can help keep your stomach from being empty and helps prevent nausea. Try snacks that are high in protein, like milk or yogurt.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
Avoid smells that upset your stomach.

You may have heard about these ways to prevent or relieve morning sickness. Talk to your provider before trying any of these:

Acupressure and acustimulation (also called electrical nerve stimulation) wristbands. These involve putting pressure on or stimulating certain points of the body (called pressure points) to help prevent nausea.
Acupuncture. This is a kind of treatment in which thin needles are put into your skin. If you’re thinking about acupuncture to help with morning sickness, tell your provider and find an acupuncturist who is trained to work with pregnant women.
Ginger. Ginger is an herb (plant) used in cooking and medicine. Ginger ale, tea or candies may help relieve morning sickness.

Even if it’s legal where you live for either personal or medical use, it’s not safe to use marijuana to treat morning sickness. No amount of marijuana has been proven safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re thinking of using marijuana to help with morning sickness, talk to your provider about other treatments that are safer for your baby.

Is there medical treatment for morning sickness?

Yes. If you can’t relieve morning sickness on your own or if you have severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, your provider may treat you with these medicines:

Vitamin B6 and doxylamine. Your provider may treat you with these medicines separately or together. You can get vitamin B6 and doxylamine over-the-counter (OTC), which means you don’t need a prescription for them from your provider. Doxylamine is found in some OTC sleep aids (medicines that help you sleep). Or your provider may prescribe you a medicine that combines them.
Antiemetic drugs. These are drugs that help prevent vomiting. If Vitamin B6 and doxylamine don’t work, your provider may prescribe an antiemetic drug for you. Not all are safe to use during pregnancy, so talk to your provider to make sure the medicine is a good choice for you.

Talk to your provider before you take any medicine during pregnancy, even medicine to help treat morning sickness.

When should you call your health care provider about morning sickness?

For most women, morning sickness is mild and goes away over time. But call your provider if:

Your morning sickness continues into your 4th month of pregnancy.
You lose more than 2 pounds.
Your vomit is brown in color or has blood in it. If so, call your provider right away.
You vomit more than 3 times a day and can’t keep food or fluids down.
Your heart beats faster than usual.
You’re tired or confused.
You’re making much less urine than usual or no urine at all.

Last reviewed: September, 2020

When does morning sickness start?

Nausea is a well-known symptom of pregnancy, affecting at least 70% of expecting mothers. Also called morning sickness, nausea usually begins at around six weeks, peaks between weeks 8-11, and typically fades near the end of the first trimester. However, some women experience nausea as both a second trimester and third trimester symptom.

The early weeks of pregnancy can be an exciting and confusing time. You’re beginning a journey that involves many physical and emotional changes,, and you don’t always know how you’ll feel from one day to the next. But we’re here to help you understand the changes you’re going through, and morning sickness can be one of the most noticeable.

Below, we cover what to expect and what you can do to find some relief from this common pregnancy symptom.

What is morning sickness and what are the symptoms?

Morning sickness is a feeling of nausea, sometimes also accompanied by vomiting. It can be one of the earliest signs of pregnancy for many women, appearing a couple weeks after a positive pregnancy test.

Despite being called morning sickness, nausea in pregnancy can happen at any time of day. Women often feel the most nauseous on an empty stomach, which is most apparent when you wake up after not eating all night, hence how it got its name.

Symptoms of morning sickness frequently occur on their own, but can also be triggered by certain foods, smells, heat, stress and other factors. The feeling can range from slight queasiness, like being a little carsick, to more intense nausea and vomiting.

Can you be pregnant and not have morning sickness?

Morning sickness is made out to be very common in movies and television, and it is. But it’s also possible to be pregnant without experiencing it. Three out of 10 pregnant women don’t experience morning sickness, so it’s not rare or concerning if that’s the case.

The same goes for aversions to certain foods or smells. Every pregnancy is unique, so not every pregnant woman will experience the same symptoms. If you think you could be pregnant but aren’t experiencing morning sickness or other symptoms, taking a pregnancy test is the only way to find out for sure.

What causes morning sickness?

While the exact cause isn't well understood, many doctors believe morning sickness happens because of hormones. The pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) reaches its highest level around the same time morning sickness is most severe. And, increases in the hormones estrogen and progesterone can make it harder for your body to digest food, adding to stomach discomfort.

When does morning sickness start?

If you’re one of the many pregnant women who experience morning sickness, you may start feeling nauseous somewhere around the sixth week of your pregnancy, typically two weeks after your first missed period. Symptoms may appear gradually or seem to happen overnight.

Is it normal to be nauseous all day when pregnant?

Don’t be fooled by the name. Morning sickness doesn’t only happen in the morning, and it’s very normal for it to last all day. No two women experience it in the same way. Also, some women who had morning sickness in their first pregnancy may not have any nausea at all in their second, and vice-versa.

When does morning sickness end?

Morning nausea usually peaks between weeks 8-11, and typically fades by the end of the first trimester. However, some women can experience nausea in their second trimester, and some even notice nausea near the end of pregnancy.

If your morning sickness lasts beyond your first trimester, you may be more sensitive to the effects of hormonal changes during pregnancy. Or you may just have a more delicate stomach. But it’s a good idea to bring up your morning sickness with your doctor or midwife to learn about your options for relief.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)

If you’re throwing up more than two to three times a day and aren’t able to keep anything down, you may have hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a form of severe morning sickness. Some cases can be treated with pressure-point wristbands, like those worn to prevent motion sickness. In other cases, you might need medication, bed rest or intravenous (IV) fluids to help reduce or eliminate symptoms.

Many women tolerate morning sickness because they know that nausea in pregnancy is very common, however they may not realize that severe vomiting is not as normal and requires attention. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of HG. Talk to your care provider right away if you are vomiting so much that you:

Become persistently dehydrated
Can’t keep any foods or liquids down for 24 hours
Feel weak, dizzy or faint and/or lightheaded
Lose three or more pounds in a week

It’s important to know what’s normal and what’s not. If you have any concerns about your morning sickness, our experienced team of OB-GYNs and midwives can help you get personalized care that’s right for you.

Is morning sickness bad for the baby?

It’s natural to wonder about whether your nausea and loss of appetite could be harmful to your baby. But rest assured, if you’re still able to eat and stay hydrated, your baby will still get all their needed nutrients. In rare and severe cases of morning sickness, your doctor or midwife will work to ensure that you and baby are getting the necessary nutrition and hydration to stay healthy.

What can I do to find relief from pregnancy nausea?

You don’t have to tough it out and wait for the day your morning sickness subsides. There are plenty of simple, safe and effective strategies you can try to combat nausea.

Eat smaller meals throughout the day

Having an empty stomach for too long can make anyone feel sick. Eating small snacks throughout the day in between larger meals can keep you from feeling queasy. But remember, eating too much can make you feel just as nauseous. It’s all about finding a balance that will keep you feeling good.

Avoid trigger foods

Some food and drinks are difficult to digest and may make you feel sicker. Try to stay away from caffeine, acidic foods such as tomatoes, and greasy or spicy foods.

Iron supplements can also contribute to nausea and constipation, so talk to your doctor or midwife if you’re taking one.

Try the B.R.A.T. diet

If you can’t seem to find anything that agrees with you, try these foods that are bland and easy to digest: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

Stay hydrated

Drink a lot of fluids. In addition to water, sports hydration drinks, broth and juice can help replace nutrients that you may lose from vomiting.

Consume ginger

Eating and drinking foods with ginger can help calm the feelings of nausea. Easy options include ginger ale, ginger hard candy, ginger lollipops or ginger tea.

Take a vitamin B6 supplement

Though it may already be present in your prenatal vitamin, taking additional vitamin B6 has shown to be effective in reducing nausea during pregnancy. You can take up 25 to 50 mg of vitamin B6 per day, but it’s best to talk to your care provider before taking additional supplements.

Wear a wristband

As mentioned above, there are a variety of wristbands available over the counter that are designed to prevent motion sickness. They work by applying pressure to specific pressure points that can help ease nausea.

Experiment with different temperatures

You may have an easier time eating or drinking cold foods and beverages, or your stomach may feel calmer after a hot meal. Room temperature or warm food and drinks can sometimes cause nausea.

Keep a morning sickness record

What time of day does nausea strike? What are you doing when it does? By tracking your symptoms, you just might identify triggers that make you queasy – like certain foods or smells – so you can avoid them going forward.

Pack the essentials

If morning sickness does end up causing you to vomit, you can make it easier by carrying a few supplies with you. Feeling prepared by bringing a toothbrush and toothpaste, mouthwash, a backup shirt and even a plastic bag can give you peace of mind and make morning sickness feel more manageable.

Ask your doctor or midwife about finding relief from pregnancy nausea

These remedies may not work for everyone, and there are other solutions for more persistent symptoms. Talk to your care provider about anti-nausea medications that are safe to take while pregnant.

While morning sickness can be a challenging part of any pregnancy, it’s also a sign that your body is doing what it needs to support your growing baby. That said, you shouldn’t have to suffer through pregnancy nausea that interferes with your daily life and your ability to be present at work or with family.

Fortunately, there’s help available to make your pregnancy a bit smoother and more comfortable. If you’d like to explore your options for improving symptoms of pregnancy nausea, our women's health experts are here to help.

How to get rid of morning sickness during pregnancy?

Morning sickness often occurs during pregnancy. This is usually associated with an increase in estrogen levels, a decrease in blood glucose levels, and an increased sensitivity to odors. In most cases, morning sickness stops by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. In order to minimize this unpleasant symptom, the following rules can be observed:

1. Get more rest. Make sure you get quality sleep throughout the night. You can also get some sleep during the day and avoid doing strenuous activities after eating. nine0003

2. Do not rush to get out of bed abruptly after waking up.

3. Avoid certain foods. Avoid fatty and/or spicy foods and avoid caffeine.

4. Eat small meals. It is important that there is always a small amount of food in the stomach, this will reduce the risk of developing nausea or reduce the severity of symptoms, if any. You can eat some salty crackers or protein foods before you get out of bed in the morning. For breakfast, you can eat cold applesauce, a pear, a banana, or any citrus fruits to reduce your hunger. Potassium-rich fruits can help prevent morning sickness during pregnancy. At night, you can eat something high in protein, this will help normalize blood glucose levels. nine0003

5. Turn off the computer. Fast, almost imperceptible flickering of a computer monitor can cause toxicosis.

6. Be physically active.

7. Drink plenty of fluids. The more dehydrated the body is, the more nausea will be felt. If drinking water is hard, try adding apple cider vinegar and honey. Moreover, the colder the drink, the easier it will be to consume. Sucking on ice cubes made from water or fruit juice is also a good method for reducing nausea. nine0003

8. Eat ginger. Adding a piece of raw ginger to water or tea, or drinking a cold ginger drink can help soothe the stomach and eliminate nausea.

9. Engage in mental activity. It is important to try to distract yourself from the feeling of nausea, for this you can read a book, solve puzzles, watch TV or take a short walk outside.

10. Wear loose and comfortable clothing. Clothing that restricts movement or tight clothing can aggravate the symptoms of morning sickness. nine0003

11. Consider replacing prenatal vitamins with baby vitamins, they tend to be easier to digest.

12. Avoid irritating odors. Since pregnant women are often noted for increased sensitivity to odors, strong odors, such as perfume, can trigger the development of nausea. In turn, the smell of lemon or rosemary extract will help calm the stomach.

13. Avoid triggers - factors that provoke the development of an attack of nausea.

nine0002 14. Eliminate reflux if present. Antacids can help with this. Consult your doctor before taking them.

15. Talk to your doctor about taking iron supplements or iron-containing vitamins. There is evidence that the use of iron supplements can provoke the development of nausea in pregnant women.

16. Do acupressure. Pressing on certain points on the body to control nausea can help reduce or eliminate this symptom. nine0003

According to www.medicalnewstoday.com

Fighting toxicosis - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Alexandrova Anna Evgenievna

Embryologist

Clinic "Mother and Child" South-West

rest more

Very often in the first trimester, the expectant mother feels weak, drowsy, she wants to lie down to rest, and sometimes she simply does not even have the strength to move. This, of course, is not toxicosis, but if such sensations arise, then they must be indulged so as not to inadvertently provoke another attack of nausea. Get plenty of rest and do not make any sudden movements, because even if you just fail to get up from a chair, you can provoke an attack of nausea. nine0003

Sleep with the windows open: the air in the bedroom should be fresh and cool. Go to bed on time, do not sit at midnight in front of the TV or at the computer, eliminate all irritating factors: an uncomfortable mattress, blanket, pillow, hard bedding - lack of sleep can respond with morning sickness.

Eat right

Eat in fractions, 5-6 times a day, or even more often, and always in small portions. When you wake up, don't get out of bed right away. One of the most effective methods against toxicosis is breakfast in bed. In the evening, put crackers, yogurt, or any product that you can tolerate well next to your bed. Eat it before you get up, and then lie down for a while. Most likely, morning sickness will either not appear at all, or will be very weak. nine0003

Usually, in case of toxicosis, it is not recommended to eat fatty, smoked, salty, pickled, drink soda (the usual set of food hazards). But it is likely that some not very healthy product will now be well tolerated, and something from healthy food, on the contrary, will cause nausea. "Pregnant whims" - a cake with herring or pineapples at night - these are the requests of the body that it needs one or another component in food. For example, the desire to chew chalk is a sign of calcium deficiency. So eat what you like and what you want, within reason, of course. And if you don’t feel like something, even if this product is extremely useful and necessary, don’t eat it. If you feel sick from some dish, it means that the body signals you: I don’t need this now! nine0003

drink more often

Toxicosis may not be limited to nausea, some may also vomit. This means fluid is lost. Therefore, between meals, drink more often: a sip or two of mineral water or tea with lemon will help to cope with nausea and replenish lost fluids. But drink in small sips. Also, you should not drink food and you should give up soups for a while - a large amount of food drunk and eaten, on the contrary, only provokes nausea and vomiting.

breathe fresh air

Outdoor walks are good for everyone, but especially for toxicosis. Firstly, when walking, the blood of the expectant mother and baby is saturated with oxygen, which is very important for health, and secondly, walking calms the nervous system. Together, this helps to reduce the unpleasant symptoms of toxicosis. You need to walk at least two hours a day - but not just along the street, but in the place where the air is really fresh: in the forest, park, square, and best of all outside the city. Before you go out, think over the route: go away from gas-polluted highways, street cafes, food stalls and other "fragrant" places. nine0003

exclude fragrances

Taste and smell preferences change during the first trimester. Now even your favorite perfumes can cause nausea, headaches and allergic reactions. Therefore, put away all fragrant cosmetics that irritate you: perfumes, deodorants, creams, and so on. You will have to stop using your favorite perfume for both your husband and loved ones. Explain to others that this is not a whim, but a temporary measure, very soon everything will return to normal. nine0003

And do not worry that now you will be left without your usual beauty products. Both the cosmetic store and the pharmacy are full of different creams, tonics, shampoos without fragrance or with a minimal smell.

work with yourself

Psychologists believe that the cause of toxicosis is not only in hormonal changes, but also in the psychological state of a woman. The more a woman experiences, the more anxieties and fears she has, the more pronounced toxicosis can be. Ideally, it is better to limit yourself during pregnancy from any stress. Of course, it’s not always possible to eliminate nervous work or crowding in public transport, but watch less TV, don’t read negative news and various pregnant “horror stories” on the Internet, and don’t react to minor or even major everyday troubles everyone can do. Therefore, if you are worried about toxicosis, create your own comfortable world during pregnancy. If you can’t cope on your own, contact a specialist (psychologist). Toxicosis is really well treated with psychotherapy. The main thing is that the expectant mother should want to get rid of her own anxiety. nine0003

No matter how unpleasant toxicosis is, it does not last forever. It is necessary to suffer until the beginning or (less often) the middle of the II trimester. And very soon all the unpleasant symptoms of toxicosis will remain in the past!

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