PREGNANCY
Morning Sickness: Your Feel-Better Guide
Riding nausea waves? Peep these puke prevention pointers. 🤮
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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PREGNANCY
Written by
Happiest Baby Staff
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While waves of nausea and vomiting do not usher in all pregnancies, research shows that anywhere from 70% to 90% of pregnant individuals experience these common tummy-turning early pregnancy symptoms. But before you start to stress—or recruit a designated hair-holder for pukey mornings—take a few minutes to learn all you can about morning sickness—including when morning sickness starts, what it feels like, and—importantly!—how to get some relief.
Nausea and vomiting that occurs in the first few months of pregnancy is called morning sickness…and for good reason. A 2020 report shows that 82% of pregnancy-related nausea strikes between 9 and 10am. Of course, as most morning-sickness sufferers have probably experienced, you are actually very likely to experience morning sickness throughout the day, researchers went on to note. Some may feel nauseated for a brief window each day and vomit once or twice, but in more severe cases, morning sickness can last several hours at a time.
Morning sickness generally kicks in between your 5th and 10th week of pregnancy. A 2020 report found that your probability of experiencing nausea is at its highest during weeks 5, 6 and 7 of pregnancy, with week 7 also being prime time for vomiting. But morning sickness is said to feel the worst between weeks 8 and 10 weeks of pregnancy.
While some experience morning sickness throughout their second trimester, for most, morning sickness fades by the time you are 14 weeks pregnant, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In rare cases, however, morning sickness can last throughout pregnancy.
Everyone knows that nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of morning sickness, but they are not the only ones.
Doctors do not know for sure what causes morning sickness, but new research suggests that it may have something to do with a pregnant person’s sensitivity to a specific hormone (GDF15) that the placenta produces. Nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy may also be caused—or worsened—by…
Most of the time, morning sickness symptoms are mild and manageable, but for up to 3% of pregnant people, the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy becomes excessive. This severe type of morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum and it can lead to dehydration and weight loss. What's more, a report in BMJ Open found that those with hyperemesis gravidarum are about eight times more likely to suffer prenatal depression and four times more likely to have postnatal depression than those who are not dealing with extreme morning sickness.
You may be diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum if…
Morning sickness can occur in any pregnancy, but there are certain factors that may increase your chances of severe morning sickness, such as…
Cue the sigh of relief: Morning sickness usually does not harm babies-to-be, according to ACOG. That said, if you are unable to keep food or liquid down and become dehydrated and lose weight as a result, it is important to see your healthcare provider. That is because when you leave severe nausea and vomiting unmanaged, you risk having a low-birth-weight baby.
From the foods you eat (and avoid) to lifestyle tweaks and medications, there are several strategies you can take to help treat morning sickness symptoms.
Learn more about what to eat to help quell morning sickness.
If diet and lifestyle changes are not quelling the queasies, your healthcare provider may recommend medication or supplements as a morning sickness treatment. (Always connect with your provider before taking any OTC meds during pregnancy.) Some options include:
If you have been diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum and you have already tried home interventions—and a combo of vitamin B6 and doxylamine—your healthcare provider may move onto medications such as cyclizine prochlorperazine, chlorpromazine, or promethazine. And if you are dehydrated, IV fluids and vitamins may be in order.
Marijuana and CBD products are not recommended to relieve morning sickness symptoms. ACOG, the NHS, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise folks to refrain from using marijuana during pregnancy and breastfeeding for any reason! Not only is there very limited research on the matter, the studies that have been done show that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, quickly and easily crosses the placenta. Plus, other data shows that using pot while pregnant may even increase risk for low birth weight, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and miscarriage.
If your morning sickness interferes with your everyday life, do not hesitate to reach out to your doc or midwife for guidance and relief. And definitely call your healthcare provider if…
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
