Morning Sickness

What is it?

It is from the devil…ok seriously

So, what is morning sickness? Despite the name, it can happen at any time of day! Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. It affects a majority of pregnant women and can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

What causes it?

It’s thought to be caused by hormonal changes during early pregnancy, like rising levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen. These hormones are helping your body adjust to pregnancy, but they can also trigger that nausea we know all too well.

As your body adjusts, you might experience nausea and vomiting, particularly in the morning, but honestly, it can strike at any time. And it’s totally normal—though it doesn’t feel that way, right?

How to manage it?

One of the easiest ways to manage morning sickness is by keeping your stomach from getting empty. Try eating small, frequent meals throughout the day—like crackers, toast, or dry cereal. Also, sipping on fluids like water, ginger tea, or even electrolyte drinks can help.

Speaking of ginger—it’s known to help with nausea, so ginger tea, ginger ale, or even ginger candies might work wonders. And peppermint can also be soothing for some women.

If you're finding that smells are making your nausea worse, try to avoid strong odors or opt for scent-free or mild options. Fresh air can also be a huge help—take a little walk outside when you can.

And don't forget to rest! Fatigue can make nausea worse, so take breaks when you need them, and get as much sleep as possible at night.

If your morning sickness is severe and lasting longer than expected, or if you're struggling to keep food or liquids down, it's important to talk to your doctor. There are treatments available for more intense cases, like medications or hydration therapy, to make sure you’re staying healthy.