Understanding What Morning Sickness Is

One of the first signs that you’re pregnant is a feeling of nausea and vomiting that comes on typically in the morning, but could last throughout the day. Morning sickness is unpleasant but harmless, and typically eases up after the first trimester. Find out more about it and how you can get relief.

When morning sickness strikes it can leave you feeling miserable. Although no-one’s really sure exactly what causes it or why, there are a number of tried-and-tested ways to ease your feelings of nausea. Read on to find out more.

As yet, no single cause of morning sickness has been identified, and it doesn’t always strike in the morning. Experts point to a range of factors; from high levels of oestrogen causing changes in your body to stressful emotions. Some even believe that the heightened sense of smell many women experience which often set off their nausea may be down to biological instincts to protect an unborn child from foods which may pose a threat.

Although it can make many a mum-to-be miserable, if you’re still managing to eat and drink a reasonable amount, it shouldn’t affect your baby. If you’re really struggling to hold food or liquids down, speak to your doctor.

How Long Can Morning Sickness Last?

For most mums, morning sickness fades by the end of the first trimester, although queasiness can come and go throughout pregnancy. Simple things like the smell of something you’re not keen on can cause nausea, but every mum is different when it comes to what sets them off.

Some mums suffer from morning sickness throughout their entire pregnancy. If you’re past your first trimester and still feeling queasy, it may prove comforting to know that morning sickness is thought to be a sign of a healthy pregnancy. But if you’re pregnant and haven’t felt any sickness, there’s no need to worry – each mum is different and you’re just one of the lucky ones!

There are lots of reported remedies for morning sickness; what works for one mum might not work for another, and what works one week might not work the next. Experimenting with a range of the following remedies may help.

Ease morning sickness by:

• Keep plain, dry crackers or ginger biscuits by your bed. Eat one as soon as you wake and rest for 20-30 minutes before getting out of bed.
• Eat little and often – try a couple of bites of a cracker and some water as often as you can throughout the day.
• Stick to foods with a high protein or carbohydrates content – a well cooked egg on toast is a perfect meal to ease your sickness
• Drink lots of fluid – water, juice, milk, fruit teas. Ginger is renowned for soothing morning sickness, so try ginger ale or a slice of fresh ginger in your tea.

As stress is often cited as a cause of morning sickness, remember to make time to relax. If you’re feeling nauseous, rest. It can be hard if you’re working, but don’t feel you have to go into work if you’re not up to it.

If you’d like to speak to someone about your morning sickness, our Careline team is here to listen and give advice where they can; call 800 6458 6262 (UAE)/ +971 4 420 9489 (Other countries) between the hours of 9am and 6pm Saturday to Thursday.