Ah, morning sickness, that one pregnancy symptom that no mom wistfully misses as she rocks her newborn to sleep. With its sudden oncoming throughout the day, not just the morning, and intense waves of nausea that seem never-ending, this tortuous pregnancy symptom seems to linger longer than others.

It can be quite the nuisance; let’s figure out just how early morning sickness can start and how to combat it.

Pregnancy symptoms can begin or end differently depending on the person; no pregnancy is exactly the same. With that said, some women can experience morning sickness as early as two weeks into their pregnancy, while others notice it beginning around six to nine weeks. 

A classic early pregnancy symptom is a missed period, but some women might notice morning sickness before they realize that their period has gone AWOL.

Pregnancy hormones are the cause of a lot of changes in your body; they are responsible for so many tasks when it comes to growing a baby. Even though we know hormones may be the one to blame for our constant queasiness, let’s talk about how it causes us to be nauseous.

In the beginning stages of pregnancy, your body works hard to create the placenta, an organ responsible for giving oxygen and nutrients to your baby, which is vital for your baby.  Your body releases hormones to the cells to create this organ. However, some of these hormones from this can result in you feeling nauseous and possibly vomiting — this is why women usually report feeling morning sickness during their first trimester.

The most popular hormones that are usually the culprit behind feeling sick are human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), progesterone, and estrogen. Studies have found that HCG, when released by the placenta, is linked to mainly causing nausea and vomiting.

Other causes that can lead you to experience nausea also include prenatal vitamins, hormone and vitamin imbalances, motion sickness from being in vehicles, aversions to foods and smells, and certain medical conditions.

Although most pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness, a smaller percentage, unfortunately, might have to deal with severe morning sickness.

Severe morning sickness is known as hyperemesis gravidarum. It is believed to be caused by pregnancy hormones, HCG to be specific. 

Some risk factors of severe morning sickness include:

Women who have hyperemesis gravidarum usually experience severe nausea, vomiting multiple times at any time of the day, constant nausea, weight loss, and severe dehydration. If you have these symptoms, book a chat with your healthcare provider. They can help make sure you stay hydrated and get enough calories/

Most women report feeling relief when they enter their second trimester. Around this time, your body’s hormones are beginning to balance out and get used to the whole growing and carrying a child for the first time or rowing and carrying a child again if it’s not your first. 

Even most women with hyperemesis gravidarum find relief in their second trimester as their hormone changes start to ease up. However, it’s still possible to experience nausea and vomiting at any point of your pregnancy, even in your third trimester when you’re getting closer to heading to the delivery room.

Thankfully, you can do many different things you can do about this unwelcome guest. From over-the-counter products to natural medicines to lifestyle changes, we can try to show morning sickness to the door.

This herb is known for having properties that help ease the feeling and cause of nausea. There are so many ways to take this herb including candies, ginger tea, ginger ale, gummies, raw and more.

This natural method to find relief from nausea is safe and extremely effective. If you happen to experience motion sickness regularly, try sucking on a ginger candy while you’re in the car or before going to an event catered with your pregnancy food aversions (like a seafood buffet wedding).

For many expecting mamas, taking a prenatal vitamin on an empty stomach or at a certain time of the day can cause that unwanted sickness. If you notice nausea coming on shortly after taking your prenatal vitamin, eat something before taking it. Or you can try taking it at a different time of the day to see if it makes a difference.

Sometimes eating larger meals or having an empty stomach can trigger nausea for women; eating smaller portions multiple times a day can help tremendously. Having snacks on hand and in your bag at all times can be really helpful so that your stomach doesn’t get empty.

If you have an empty stomach or you notice you’re beginning to feel nauseous, try eating some plain crackers. A lot of times, having something in your stomach, especially early in the morning, can help prevent or alleviate that morning sickness.  Crackers are great since they’re simple and usually easier to get down.

Motion sickness can often come on or get worse if you are a passenger in a car (and not the one driving). Motion sickness could be improved if you’re driving.

If you’re not able to drive, try sucking on a ginger candy to alleviate any nausea you might end up experiencing. Other tactics might include opening the window, drinking water, sitting in the front passenger seat, and avoiding reading (books or your phone).

If you haven’t already, you might notice that certain foods and smells will not be pleasant and even make you sick. It can literally be anything. As you notice what smells and tastes you don’t like, take note and try to avoid them to prevent any unnecessary sickness.

If your deodorant suddenly smells awful, try opting for a new one. Our Fresh Mama natural deodorant has a citrus and chamomile scent that is easy on your senses and will keep you smelling fresh.

If you notice that cooking raw meat makes your stomach turn, try getting your protein needs from other food sources or see if someone else can cook that part of the meal for you. Taking whatever steps you need to to ensure you’re not going to feel sick will be so worth it.

Even if drinking water makes you nauseous, it’s important that you get plenty of fluids and stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to feeling nauseous and vomiting, which leads to further dehydration. Your body needs extra daily fluids to function properly, especially for a healthy pregnancy. Make sure to try a variety of drinks if you have to so you’re getting enough fluids.

Research suggests that acupressure may be good at relieving specific symptoms, depending on where you apply pressure. For nausea, you’re going to want to apply pressure to your inner wrist, about an inch or two from the wrist on your inner forearm.

Another spot is on your hand between your thumb and index finger. Also on your hand, beneath your pinky finger, past your knuckle can help relieve nausea and vomiting. 

Certain vitamins are known for helping women experiencing morning sickness. Vitamin B6 is known for helping alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness, especially nausea. If you take a prenatal vitamin that does or does not have a B6, consult your doctor or midwife to see if you can add a B6 supplement to your diet. Always hit up your healthcare team before changing your supplement plan. 

Being tired can make us feel nauseous; being pregnant can make us feel tired — you can see where this is going.

If you have a very intense episode, lay down (if you can) and rest your eyes. Get in your favorite pajamas and log some quality rest.

We know this pregnancy symptom is hard to get through when you’re going through it, but we are here to help. Hopefully, these tips can help send these symptoms packing. If not, you can take it up with your baby when they arrive. 

And, as always, reach out to your healthcare team if things become tricky to manage. Moms need our communities — from the first trimester to the fourth and well after that. 

Sources:

Am I Pregnant? Early Symptoms of Pregnancy & When To Test | Cleveland Clinic 

What Causes Nausea & Vomiting of Pregnancy | Pregnancy Sickness Support 

Hyperemesis Gravidarum | Stanford Children’s Health

9 Pressure Points for Nausea, Including Pregnancy and Anxiety | Medical News Today