Nausea / Morning Sickness ─ Symptoms of Pregnancy

Nausea / Morning Sickness Symptom Overview

Nausea or morning sickness is a feeling of being sick in the stomach and can be accompanied by vomiting. The feeling of been sick and vomiting frequently occurs during long periods without food, such as when you wake up in the morning. Most commonly nausea / morning sickness starts between week 3 to week 6 of pregnancy and continues until about week 12. Although the exact cause of nausea is unknown, most literature suggest it is do to low blood sugar and the increase of hormones which irritate the stomach. The good news is that by the second trimester of pregnancy nausea / morning sickness frequently subsides.

Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting Facts

  • First trimester moms can also experience morning sickness in the evening. Almost half experience morning sickness at random times throughout the day but some women experience it as a 24/7 sickness.
  • About half the population of pregnant women suffer 4 or more hours of morning sickness symptoms every day.
  • 44% of first time pregnant women say that symptoms of nausea and vomiting actually provide reassurance that pregnancy is healthy -- and it's true: the same surging hormones that trigger morning sickness also help protect a pregnancy.
  • 4 in 10 pregnant women say that morning sickness has adversely affected their performance at work as well as their relationships, leisure time, and social life. One quarter have missed workdays due to nausea / morning sickness.
  • 6 in 10 pregnant women say that nausea / morning sickness takes an even greater toll on their emotional health because they worry about keeping them a secret.
  • First-time pregnant women are 42% more likely than pregnant women with other children to say that nausea / morning sickness gives them permission to rest and take care of themselves when they're home, while more than half of pregnant moms struggle to "be there" for their family and feel that nausea / morning sickness gets in the way of everyday life.


How to Alleviate Nausea / Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

  • Eat 4 to 6 smaller meals on a regular schedule and plan to have healthy snacks in between.
  • Avoid having an empty stomach.
  • Try to keep yourself from overheating by avoiding warm places.
  • Make sure you are getting enough sleep and take short naps during the day when you are tired.
  • Keep your windows open to allow fresh air to enter your living space.
  • Avoid foods which are greasy, fried or spicy.
  • Avoid drinking coffee.
  • Drink mint and ginger teas.
  • Make sure you are always hydrated with water.
  • If you are taking supplements, do so after a meal later in the day.