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Introduction
One of the first things many women who are pregnant for the first time will wonder is whether they will experience morning sickness....morning sickness does not just happen in the morning!
If you’re asking yourself this question, unfortunately the answer is probably yes! 8 in 10 pregnant women experience morning sickness, making it perhaps the most common pregnancy symptom – or complaint!
You are highly likely to experience morning sickness, especially if you’ve experienced it in other pregnancies, but what isn’t guaranteed is the time at which you will experience morning sickness.
Most women experience morning sickness when they are around halfway through the first trimester (around the 6 week mark) ....but can pregnancy nausea strike earlier?
Here we debunk the myths, get the facts straight and help you see clearly in the often dizzying and sometimes isolating experience of early pregnancy symptoms.
A brief overview of morning sickness
Morning sickness, also known as nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), is a common symptom experienced by many pregnant women. It refers to the nausea and vomiting that can occur during pregnancy, typically in the first trimester.
Morning sickness can vary in severity from mild nausea to frequent vomiting and can have a significant impact on a pregnant person's daily life. Morning sickness manifests itself differently for every woman who experiences it, and the time it starts and how long it lasts will fluctuate greatly from person to person.
It's relatively rare for morning sickness to begin as early as week however with that said some women may experience feelings of nausea in early pregnancy, perhaps even just two weeks after conception.
Research and expert opinions
Keeping up to date with the latest research surrounding morning sickness can be both illuminating and reassuring.
Check out the links below to keep in the know about morning sickness:
Common symptoms of morning sickness
Don’t be fooled, early pregnancy symptoms can be a real challenge, suffering from morning sickness doesn’t mean that you will experience all these symptoms, but these are some of the most common.
Nausea and vomiting... Nausea is a feeling of queasiness that can interfere with your daily life and make you feel uncomfortable, but some women will experience actual vomiting when they experience morning sickness.
Fatigue... Prolonged periods of morning sickness will often result in fatigue, likely due to disturbed sleep and the negative impact on your sleeping patterns. It’s important to prioritise sleep and make time for naps when you are dealing with morning sickness.
An aversion to certain smells... Often referred to as triggers, many women will find that certain smells, particularly when cooking hot food, can spike or worsen nausea.
When does morning sickness usually start?
Typically, morning sickness begins around the sixth week of pregnancy, but it’s not entirely uncommon for it to happen before this. It’s thought that hormonal changes that occur during the early stages of pregnancy are the cause of morning sickness, which explains why it tends to start during the first trimester.
Morning sickness: a ‘typical’ timeline
When discussing and considering a morning sickness timeline, it’s important to recognise that every woman's experience is entirely unique and your experience might not align with others you speak to.
Everyone is unique and it can be that perhaps your mum experienced pregnancy sickness for a short period of time in the first trimester, but your closest friend unfortunately suffered all throughout her whole pregnancy. Seeking support from those friends & family who have dealt with morning sickness can be helpful.
In terms of what is typical, most women’s morning sickness tends to begin around the six-week mark, with symptoms reaching their peak between 8 and 11 weeks. Most women will notice their symptoms subside by the end of the first trimester, but for the unfortunate, pregnancy sickness can continue throughout the whole of pregnancy.
Causes of early morning sickness
While the exact cause of pregnancy sickness are not fully understood, several factors and theories have been proposed that may contribute to the development of morning sickness.
Early morning sickness, which typically begins in the first few weeks, is thought to be primarily triggered by hormonal changes in pregnancy, particularly the increase in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and oestrogen levels. These hormonal shifts can affect the gastrointestinal system and trigger nausea and vomiting.
What to Do If You Experience Early Morning Sickness
Developing morning sickness at any stage of your pregnancy is never desirable, but if you are suffering with morning sickness in the early stages of your pregnancy, you’ll be glad to know there are steps you can take to manage your symptoms.
Consider morning sickness remedies and adjustments to your daily life to help you conquer the challenges associated with morning sickness in early pregnancy.
Eat little and often... Because an empty stomach can make nausea worse, you’re best to adopt a little and often approach when it comes to your meals. Instead of three large meals, opt for several small, balanced meals throughout the day and avoid greasy fatty foods.
Add ginger to your daily diet... Ginger has anti-nausea properties, making it one of the most popular morning sickness remedies. You can try ginger tea, ginger sweets, or ginger capsules.
Our Nausea Busting 'Ginger Gins Sweets' are a natural solution, formulated with Vitamin B6, gluten free and delicious – not to mention portable, making them ideal for popping them in your handbag when you’re on the go.
Preparation is key...If you are in the early stages of your pregnancy, the likelihood is that you are still working fulltime and juggling the responsibilities of daily life.
Because of this, ensuring you are prepared and ready for the day ahead is crucial, as this will help you manage your symptoms regardless of what else you have going on.
Pack snacks in your bag and ensure you have water to sip on throughout the day.
Acupressure wristbands...Some women find relief from morning sickness by wearing acupressure wristbands, which stimulate pressure points that may reduce nausea.
Myrtle & Maude Acupressure Wristbands offer a discreet, all-natural solution to pregnancy sickness, nausea and travel sickness.
Severe Morning Sickness: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)
The risk of suffering from severe morning sickness is rare, it is not impossible. It's thought to affect around 1 to 3 in every 100.
Excessive nausea and vomiting is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and often requires hospital treatment.
It’s important to be aware of symptoms that require urgent medical attention. Being aware of when to consult a doctor for morning sickness could potentially help you avoid complications during your pregnancy.
Be sure to consult with a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Conclusion
For some women morning sickness can be the first sign of pregnancy, for others an unwelcome symptom that occurs later and in some cases persists throughout their pregnancy.
Whenever or however you experience pregnancy sickness, it’s reassuring to know that support is out there, remedies are available, and when it comes to pregnancy nausea, you certainly are not alone in your struggle.
