What is Morning Sickness?

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Morning sickness is pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, typically occurring between weeks 5 and 20. Despite the name, the symptoms of morning sickness can present themselves at any time of the day, and some women may feel sick throughout the day.

The condition affects roughly 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women. It is generally mild and usually poses no risk to the developing baby, unless it develops into a more severe and longer lasting condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which may affect the baby’s birth weight.^[1] However, morning sickness can cause discomfort and significantly interfere with the day-to-day lives of pregnant women. There are a range of treatment options available to help manage the condition.

Causes of morning sickness

The specific cause of morning sickness is not clear, though it is likely to be due to the hormonal changes the body undergoes during pregnancy.

There are, nonetheless, certain things that can make morning sickness more likely. These include:^[2][3]

• It being a first pregnancy
• Having a female baby
• Having twins or multiple babies
• Having a history of motion sickness
• Having a history of migraines
• Having had nausea when taking the combined contraceptive pill
• Family history of morning sickness
• Stress
• Obesity
• Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Symptoms of morning sickness

The key symptoms of morning sickness are nausea and vomiting. Symptoms typically come and go throughout the day and last for between one and four hours. Some women, however, may feel sick throughout the day.

The symptoms of morning sickness usually begin during weeks 5 to 6, peak during week 9 of pregnancy and disappear by week 16 to 20. Morning sickness can, however, in rare cases, last for the entire duration of a pregnancy. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms that may be linked to morning sickness, Check List of Doctors for a symptom assessment.

When to see a doctor: hyperemesis gravidarum

Although it can cause significant discomfort and interfere with everyday life, morning sickness is a typically mild condition. If the condition is severe, this could be a sign of hyperemesis gravidarum – a more serious form of morning sickness.

Hyperemesis gravidarum can lead to serious complications for mother and baby, including dehydration and a low birth weight. If any of the following symptoms are experienced, a doctor should be contacted as a matter of urgency.

Signs and symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include:^[1][4]

• Severe and prolonged nausea and vomiting
• An inability to keep fluids down
• Signs of dehydration such as infrequent urination because of not producing much urine, dark urine and dizziness due to low blood pressure
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Weight loss of more than five pounds (2.3 kg)
• Fever and diarrhea

If treated effectively, hyperemesis gravidarum is unlikely to cause any harm to the baby.

Treatment for morning sickness

Treatment for morning sickness is aimed at providing as much relief from the symptoms of the condition as possible and avoiding any loss of weight or deficiency of any vitamins or minerals. There is no specific treatment method that works for all women. Instead, women are encouraged to try a variety of methods to see what works for them.

To help manage mild cases of morning sickness, simple lifestyle changes may be recommended. These include:^[5]

• Getting plenty of rest
• Avoiding smells, foods or anything else that may trigger nausea, which could include stuffy and/or noisy rooms, heat and humidity
• Eating small and frequent meals, perhaps every one to two hours and high in carbohydrates and low in fat
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Eating food or drink containing ginger, which, evidence suggests, is a natural antiemetic (vomiting suppressant)

If lifestyle changes do not help to remedy the morning sickness, a doctor may prescribe pregnancy-friendly anti-sickness medication (antiemetics). Often, this will be a form of vitamin B6 called pyridoxine, which may be used in combination with a specific antihistamine – doxylamine – which is usually used to treat allergies, but which can also be effective at preventing sickness. The medication will generally be in tablet form, though an injection or suppository may be used if the individual is unable to keep down fluids.^[5]

The medications used to treat morning sickness are safe for use in pregnancy and will have no effect on the development of the baby. However, before taking any type of medication, always seek the opinion of a doctor.

In a small number of cases, those that resemble hyperemesis gravidarum, morning sickness may need to be treated in a hospital. This will only be necessary if the individual does not respond to treatment and is consequently losing weight and becoming dehydrated. In the hospital, fluids will be administered intravenously (through a drip) to prevent dehydration.

Alternative morning sickness treatment methods

There are a number of alternative treatment methods for morning sickness.

Acupuncture and acupressure have become particularly popular. The first is a technique derived from ancient Chinese medicine involving the insertion of fine needles into certain points on the body; the latter is a technique similar to acupuncture, involving the application of pressure to certain points on the body, often using a specially designed wristband.

Both techniques can be self-administered and do not require a prescription, making them easily accessible to most women. Although neither technique is medically proven beyond doubt to be effective besides the possibility of a placebo effect, both are considered to be safe during pregnancy and may help on an individual basis.^[6]

Hypnosis is also considered safe and may be helpful in the relief of symptoms for some patients. Psychotherapy, likewise, can also be useful and supportive for some women, especially those whose symptoms are exacerbated by anxiety and stress surrounding the pregnancy.^[6]

Most other alternative treatment methods have not been studied comprehensively and should therefore be avoided. This includes marijuana, which is not considered safe for consumption during pregnancy by most medical professionals.^[6]

Morning sickness prognosis

The majority of women who experience morning sickness will recover completely and experience no further problems related to the condition. Some women may not gain weight in the first half of pregnancy as a consequence of morning sickness, but this is only cause for concern if the individual is already significantly underweight.^[1]

If there is any concern about morning sickness, contact a doctor or midwife for help and advice.

Morning sickness FAQs

• Ginger: Research suggests eating or drinking foods containing ginger can act as a natural antiemetic.
• Relaxation: Taking steps to relax can help to reduce stress, something that may contribute to morning sickness.
• Vitamin B6: Eating foods rich in vitamin B6, such as bananas, avocado and chicken, may help ease morning sickness.
• Peppermint: Tea or other drinks containing peppermint may help ease morning sickness.

Always talk to a doctor or midwife before beginning to use any morning sickness remedies.

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1. UpToDate. “Patient education: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (Beyond the Basics).” January 5, 2018. Accessed May 16, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

2. Patient. “Morning Sickness in Pregnancy.” August 11, 2017. Accessed May 16, 2018. ↩

3. Amboss. “Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.” June 20, 2018. Accessed July 4, 2018. ↩

4. NHS Choices. “Severe vomiting in pregnancy.” September 14, 2016. Accessed May 16, 2018. ↩

5. NHS Choices. “Vomiting and morning sickness in pregnancy.” March 5, 2018. Accessed May 16, 2018. ↩ ↩

6. UpToDate. “Treatment and outcome of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.” May 25, 2018. Accessed July 4, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

7. Babycentre. “Morning sickness (natural remedies).” January, 2017. Accessed May 17, 2018. ↩

8. Center For Clinical and Translational Science. “Sleep Disturbances and Sleep-Related Disorders in Pregnancy.” 2010. Accessed September 13, 2018. ↩

9. Babycentre. “Nausea (pregnancy sleep).” August, 2017. Accessed September 5, 2018. ↩

10. National Institutes of Health. “NIH study links morning sickness to lower risk of pregnancy loss.” September 26, 2016. Accessed September 5, 2018. ↩

11. Tommy’s. “If you don’t get morning sickness, there’s no need to worry.” Accessed September 5, 2018. ↩

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**Question: What is Morning Sickness?**



**Answer:**



Morning‍ sickness is a common pregnancy symptom that typically develops during the first trimester. ‍It⁣ is characterized by⁢ nausea, vomiting, ⁢and possible food aversions.⁤ While it is commonly referred ⁢to as “morning‍ sickness,”⁤ symptoms can occur at any‍ time of day‍ or ⁤night.



**Causes:**



The exact cause of morning sickness is unknown, but several factors ⁢are believed to contribute:



* **Hormonal changes:** Increased ​levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are thought ⁢to ⁤play a⁣ role.

* **Sensitive stomach:** Pregnancy causes ‌the stomach‍ to ​empty slower, ‌making​ pregnant‌ women more susceptible⁤ to⁣ nausea.

* **Psychological factors:** Stress ⁤and anxiety‍ can worsen symptoms.



**Symptoms:**



* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Food ⁤aversions or cravings

* Fatigue

* Hypersalivation (excessive salivation)



**Treatment:**



While⁢ there is no cure for morning sickness, there are several measures that can help alleviate symptoms:



*‌ **Small, frequent meals:**‍ Avoid large meals‌ that can trigger‌ nausea.

* **Ginger:** ‌Consuming ginger tea, ​ginger candy, or ginger capsules can help reduce nausea.

* **Acupressure:** Applying pressure to the Nei-Guan (P-6)​ acupressure​ point on ⁣the wrist⁢ can help.

* **Vitamin B6:** Supplements of vitamin B6 have been shown to reduce nausea.

* **Over-the-counter ⁤(OTC)‌ medications:** Prescription-strength ⁤anti-nausea medication may‍ be necessary for⁤ severe cases.



**When to Seek Medical Attention:**



Most cases of morning sickness are mild and do not require medical attention. However, seek medical advice if:



* Vomiting is ‍persistent and severe (hyperemesis gravidarum)

* Symptoms are accompanied by dehydration (dark ‍urine, dizziness)

* Symptoms are accompanied ⁢by abdominal pain, fever, or blood in vomit



**Additional Tips:**



*⁢ Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.

* Get⁤ enough‌ rest.

* Avoid⁤ foods and smells that trigger nausea.

* Exercise regularly to improve overall well-being.

*​ Join a support​ group to connect with others experiencing⁢ morning sickness.



**Remember:**



Morning sickness is a common and temporary pregnancy symptom. While ‍it⁤ can be challenging, it usually resolves by the second or third trimester. If you are concerned about your ​symptoms, ⁣always consult with your healthcare provider.