So are you feeling excited to have a baby? Well, that’s probably not all you’re feeling…

Morning sickness. The dreaded pregnancy symptom that many women know and experience. 

What Is Morning Sickness?

Just as the name suggests, morning sickness is the feeling of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Believe it or not, more than half of pregnant women deal with morning sickness during their first trimester. Odds are, it can happen to you too - possible during your first trimester or later in your pregnancy. 

Unlike the name suggests however, it doesn’t only happen in the morning; you can feel nauseous and the need to vomit during any time of the day. 

When Does Morning Sickness Start?

This symptom normally starts during the start of your pregnancy. In fact, up to 80 percent of expecting women experience nausea and vomiting during their first trimester. 

There’s no set time period for when this symptom starts to come into play, but most women will start to feel sick and queasy after six weeks of pregnancy. Late-pregnancy nausea is also a very common occurrence as your baby pushes down on your stomach and intestines to create this effect.

Now for what you’re truly worrying about - when does it end?

Most women happily report that the feelings of sickness and nausea start to go away by week 16. A small number of pregnant women (about 10 percent) experience it throughout their entire pregnancy term. 

If your morning sickness is ongoing, talk to your doctor about easing the nausea, as there are things you can do to relieve morning sickness. 

Why Do Women Get Morning Sickness?

Rest assured, feeling sick isn’t because your baby is feeling sick. The main cause of morning sickness is not accurately pinpointed. However, the changes in your hormones surely do play a role. 

However, if you persistently feel nausea or vomit, it may be caused by an underlying medical condition unrelated to your pregnancy. 

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of morning sickness that many women feel during their pregnancy. This is caused by dehydration which leads to nausea and vomiting. This can lead women to lose 5% of their body weight. 

What Are The Symptoms Of Morning Sickness? 

Some common symptoms of morning sickness would include:

• Nausea with or without committing in the morning during the first trimester of your pregnancy (often feels like motion sickness)
• Feeling nausea in the morning and sporadically throughout the day again 
• Certain smells (for example, food) triggering the feeling of sickness
• Feeling nausea after eating 
• Nausea and vomiting triggered by heat 

Although morning sickness is usually common and extremely normal, be sure to call your doctor if you feel the following symptoms:

• Severe vomiting and nausea 
• Feeling dizzy when you stand up 
• Racing heartbeat 
• Flu-like symptoms 
• Having trouble keeping fluids and foods down 

How To Treat Morning Sickness?

If you are feeling the symptoms of morning sickness, try these remedies: 

• Vitamin B6 
• Over-the-counter drugs like doxylamine (Unisom)
• Prenatal vitamins 
• Prescribed anti-nausea medication 
• Antacid to prevent acid reflux 

Natural remedies:

• Ginger 
• Eating multiple meals a day (5-6 meals rather than just 3)
• Eating saltine crackers or plain cereal before going to bed
• Drink plenty of fluids; water, tea, ginger ale
• Get some fresh air 
• Find relief in essential oils 
• Avoid: fatty foods, spicy foods, fatigue, dehydration, triggering smells

Make sure to speak with your doctor before trying any medication as a form of treatment!