The Maternity Glow Guide To Morning Sickness

Morning sickness comes in many forms, but it’s mainly nausea that comes in the first trimester of pregnancy (though it can occur at any point throughout pregnancy).

Yikes!

Would you believe that no one really knows for sure what causes morning sickness?

Doctors believe that it’s a combination of several things, though. 

When you get pregnant, you have an increase in hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin)—and when you get a positive pregnancy test, these levels are heightened, so this is when nausea peaks the most (I know, fun, right?) 

Estrogen is another key hormone that surges at this time, which could also make you not feel well. 

Next, some doctors believe that when you become pregnant, you have a heightened sense of smell and this leads you to be more sensitive to odors.

So, certain food smells may make you gag (like meats and tuna).

If you’re affected by smells, you may want to stay clear of confined spaces (like office cubicles or faculty lounges) that can be filled with various smells around lunch time during your work day.

Some women are very stressed and anxious when they first get a positive pregnancy test, or when they leave their initial ultrasound.

This, on top of hormonal changes, can also cause sickness.

Finally, some doctors believe that there are some lucky ladies that are just more prone to having a sensitive stomach, which doesn’t fare well with all the changes going on during initial pregnancy, so it leads to nausea and vomiting.

Morning sickness typically begins around your sixth week of pregnancy, or right about when you’d get a positive pregnancy test. Some women don’t experience sickness until the eight to ten week marks.

Although, some unlucky mommies-to-be can experience it well into their second trimester!

Morning sickness feels like you’ve just stepped off a carnival ride that has spun you around repeatedly.

You’re a bit sweaty, clammy, warm, nauseous, dizzy, and full of slight panic all at the same time.

Sounds amazing, right?

Morning sickness can come in many forms. Here are some of the top symptoms:

Here are ten things you can try in order to feel better, sooner:

Morning sickness is all about managing the discomfort! So if none of the 10 things above work, keep these tips on mind too:

While you may try to eat more frequently throughout your day to avoid sickness, there are some foods you should definitely avoid, as they may make you feel more sick. 

They include:

Bland foods will be your best friend. Load up on foods like:

These foods coat your stomach and help you keep your liquids down.

Cold foods also soothe a sore throat, which you can get from vomiting. Watermelon is a great, cold snack that is loaded with water and is easy to digest.

Some women keep electrolyte popsicles in their freezer, or they make their own out of Gatorade after a bad bout of sickness. 

Some women suffer from morning sickness so badly that it interferes with their day and ability to work.

While work will most likely be understanding, things can get pretty miserable.

This is when some women seek out medical help from their Ob/gyn. Most of the time, they’ll prescribe a prescription to help with symptoms.

As always, you should take these scripts with lots of caution, and be sure to have a serious discussion with your doctor about side effects and overall effectiveness.

Among the most popular prescriptions written are:

You may wish to take the over the over the counter route, which tends to be safer, more convenient, and at times, more effective. 

Moms-to-be love Seabands (especially for the nausea) and also something called Unisom. You can take it at night before bed, and downed a dose of B6 in the morning. 

Always remember to consult with your doctor!

A positive pregnancy test means your body is about to go through some major changes.

Whether you get hit hard with morning sickness, or whether you bypass it completely, at least you’ll know what to expect and how to handle it in order to make it more manageable until it passes.