A health condition that causes nausea and vomiting in women, and it happens usually in the morning, is called morning sickness. However, it may occur at any time of the day. Mostly, this condition is treated with dietary changes, but if they do not work, you may need IV fluids and certain medicines.
Moreover, morning sickness affects approximately 70% of women (especially in the first trimester of pregnancy). Generally, there are multiple home remedies that may help with the symptoms of this condition. These include dietary changes, lifestyle changes, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for nausea, and others. In some people, the symptoms may improve on their own by the second trimester of pregnancy.
How Long Does Morning Sickness Last?
Sometimes, the symptoms may improve around the 13th week of pregnancy (it is the end of the first trimester). However, if they do not improve, you may consult with your doctor about ways to reduce them. Rarely, the symptoms of this condition may last until the end of the pregnancy.
What Are The Symptoms of Morning Sickness?
While the most common symptoms of this condition are nausea and vomiting, it may also cause other symptoms. Check some examples below:
- Heartburn or reflux
- Appetite changes
- Motion sickness or seasickness
- Hunger pangs
- A feeling like something is stuck in the throat
However, some women may develop a severe form of morning sickness that causes nausea for hours and vomiting up to 4-5 times per day. This is a disorder known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Check for other symptoms of this disorder below:
- Persistent vomiting
- Weight loss (losing 10 pounds or 4.5 kilograms or more)
- Severe dehydration (that may also cause little or no urination, dark-colored urine, and dizziness)
If any of the previous symptoms occur, immediately contact your healthcare professional. In more severe cases, people get treatment in the hospital, which includes IV fluids for rehydration and medicines to ease nausea.
Causes and Risk Factors
Healthcare professionals do not fully understand what exactly causes this condition. However, they think a combination of physical and chemical changes causes it. These include:
- Blood pressure fluctuations
- Metabolism issues
- Hormonal imbalances (such as increased levels of Estrogen or human chorionic gonadotropin)
- Hypoglycemia (low levels of sugar in the blood)
Furthermore, the following health problems and situations may worsen the symptoms of existing morning sickness. For example:
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Motion sickness
- Taste or smell of certain foods
- Heat or warm weather
Physicians have also identified some factors that may elevate your risk of developing morning sickness. Check some of them below:
- Hormones – During pregnancy, the placenta and fetus produce a hormone called GDF15 that often determines the severity of morning sickness.
- Physical factors (such as stress or motion sickness)
- Sensory triggers – These include the woman’s sensitivity to odors.
- Pregnancy type – there is an increased risk for morning sickness if a woman has twins or triplets.
- Medical history of motion sickness, migraines, obesity (excessive body weight), or severe morning sickness
- Live in a hot climate
- Sleep disorders
- Trophoblastic disease – This is a disorder that causes the growth of certain abnormal cells in the uterus.
In addition, certain studies have shown that women with severe morning sickness are more likely to give birth to girls.
What Are The Long-term Effects of Morning Sickness?
While one of the most common complications of morning sickness is hyperemesis gravidarum, it may also cause other complications. Check some examples below:
- Severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which may negatively affect your blood pressure, heart muscle, and kidneys.
- Physical damage – Persistent vomiting may cause tears of the esophageal tissue (Mallory-Weiss tears), esophageal rupture, or bleeding.
- Vitamin deficiencies – These include a lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine), which may lead to Wernicke’s encephalopathy (a serious neurological disorder).
- Mental health problems – For example, depression, anxiety, and termination of the wanted pregnancy.
- Thrombosis (blood clots)
- Liver dysfunction
- Splenic injury
- Severe weight loss and malnutrition – Loss of appetite may cause weight loss and inadequate nutrient intake, which often negatively affects the maternal health and the developing fetus.
The previous list does not contain a full list of morning sickness complications. Do not ignore the symptoms and visit a doctor if any of them happen.
Diagnosis
Usually, when doctors suspect morning sickness, they refer the patient to an obstetrician for further testing. If they suspect a severe form of morning sickness or hyperemesis gravidarum, you may need to perform urine and blood tests. Sometimes, doctors may also perform some imaging tests to check for damage to the internal organs. For example, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, CT (computerized tomography) scans, or ultrasounds.
Treatment
Usually, physicians recommend the following treatment options to improve the symptoms of morning sickness. For example:
Dietary Changes
These include:
- It is often recommended to eat several crackers or toast in the morning to help the stomach. You can also eat a few crackers next to bed and before getting up.
- Do not eat large meals and avoid skipping them.
- Adopt a balanced diet that includes rice, dry toast, bananas, plain baked potato, gelatin, broth, eggs, or apple sauce. You should also avoid spicy and fatty foods.
- You can also include protein-rich snacks in your diet. For example, peanut butter, yogurt, nuts, and others.
- Drink plenty of fluids (especially water) during the day and avoid caffeinated drinks.
- If you are not home, you should get a bag of snacks with you.
Lifestyle Changes
- Prenatal vitamins that contain Iron – You can take them with snacks and before bedtime.
- Avoid odors, flickering lights, and other things that can trigger your nausea.
- Get enough sleep
- Regularly ventilate rooms
- Smell fresh, pleasant scents, including orange, mint, or lemon
- Do not lie down right after eating
- Rinse your mouth each time you vomit. It helps protect your teeth from the gastric acid.
Alternative Options
The following options may also help reduce nausea. However, you should consult with your doctor before trying them. These include:
- Acupressure wristband – It is used to put pressure on specific points on the wrist to reduce the symptoms.
- Acupuncture – During this procedure, the therapist will place needles in some areas of the skin.
Never use marijuana (cannabis) during pregnancy to relieve the symptoms of morning sickness because there is no evidence that proves it is safe for use during pregnancy.
Medicines
Most of the time, physicians recommend vitamin B6 (also known as Pyridoxine) or Doxylamine, which is a sleeping aid. However, Doxylamine is also used to treat hay fever and other allergies. Both medicines are nonprescription.
In general, there is an approved medicine for morning sickness. It contains a slow-release single pill, and it may be more convenient for some people, but it is available by prescription only. Obstetricians may also recommend antiemetics (medicines to prevent nausea), antihistamines, or anticholinergic medicines to reduce the symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What foods are good for morning sickness?
Usually, a diet high in protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits is beneficial for you and the developing fetus. Highly processed and full of sugar foods may cause symptoms. Check below some foods that are often recommended by doctors for people with morning sickness:
- Fruit smoothies and yogurt
- Bland foods, including toast, crackers, pretzels, or applesauce
- Water or tea
- Veggies and fruits (such as watermelon, celery, or bell peppers)
How soon can morning sickness start?
In most cases, this condition begins in the 6th week of pregnancy, but the exact time varies among pregnant women.
When does morning sickness peak?
Usually, the symptoms are more severe between the 8th and 10th weeks of pregnancy. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any other questions.
