Last updated on December 2nd, 2023 at 08:59 am
Half of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness, so you are not alone! What causes the nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy? Raised hormone levels are the culprit, specifically Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). This is the same hormone that confirms your pregnancy on home pregnancy tests. Rising estrogen and progesterone levels also contribute to the unsettling feeling. Usually these symptoms subside as these hormones level out as you enter your second trimester… usually.
You may read that being pregnant with twins will mean that you will have worse morning sickness, while this is the case for many, after hearing what some mothers have expressed about their twin pregnancies verses their singleton pregnancies that does not seem to necessarily be the case. It just goes to show that each pregnancy is unique.
Increased sensitivity to smells also has a bearing on nausea and vomiting. “I remember when I had morning sickness I couldn’t even open my spice cabinet without losing my cookies!” writes Jill M. You may have to tone down the spices on foods you once loved or ask your significant other to drink their coffee outside, at least for now. Here are some tips from other moms to combat morning sickness.
Drink Water
Water may even make you want to throw up but it is important to keep hydrated. Some moms said adding lemon, mint or another tolerable flavor like fruit juice to their water helps it stay down easier.
Ginger
Ginger seems to be the number one remedy recommended by moms to take the edge off. Ginger comes in many forms; candied ginger, ginger chews, capsules, tea and ginger ale.
Eat, Eat, Eat!
That’s the last thing you want to do right? But often times it helps to not let yourself get hungry in the first place. Eating smaller meals more often helps by not allowing stomach acids to build up and not letting your blood sugar get too low which can worsen your symptoms. Avoid greasy, high fat, high sugar and acidic foods that can irritate your stomach and eat foods easier to digest. Eating before you get out of bed in the morning helps as well, have a tray of crackers ready at your bedside. One of our moms mentioned that the best piece of advice she read was to “always eat what you are craving, no matter how crazy, and you won’t throw it up.”
Candy Store
Some moms have said sucking on hard candies such as cinnamon candies, sour lemon candies, and lifesavers have helped.
Take Vitamins
Vitamin B6 and B12 supplements have also been known to help with nausea and vomiting. Talk to your doctor first to know a safe dosage to take.
Go Slow
Take it slow to avoid sudden changes. Things like getting out of bed or standing up from sitting to fast may bring a wave of nausea back. And beware of elevators!
Avoid Triggers
You may be feeling just fine the suddenly something sets you off! Learn what your triggers are and do your best to avoid those. These can change from week to week, but don’t worry it won’t last forever and you will be back to your normal self.
Prescription Drugs
Zofran is a prescription drug you may want to talk to your Doctor about if your morning sickness persists despite other remedies. Some moms say it only addresses the vomiting not the nausea but for others it helped with all their morning sickness symptoms.
Remember that in a few months this will all be a thing of the past and you will have your bundles of joy that will make all of this worth it. We hope that some of these will work for you! Please share what helped your morning sickness in the comments below.
Here Is Some Additional Reading on the Subject Recommended by One of Our Very Own Moms Claudia R.
- Managing Morning Sickness: A Survival Guide for Pregnant Women by Miriam Erick (great food suggestions that really worked – including categories of similar foods that show what to eat when you get a craving and don’t have that exact food on hand.)
- The Morning Sickness Companion by Elizabeth Kaledin (more humorous than anything but still a good read.)
By contributing writer: Jill Marcum
