Morning sickness normally begins at 7 weeks and can continue to 12 weeks or even the full pregnancy. 

This often makes life difficult for mums-to-be.

Finding ways to lessen the symptoms is important. 

It’s common for women to feel really tired, especially during the first trimester.

The first trimester is also at the highest risk for miscarriage. 

So it’s important to take precautions. 

Creating good physical and mental habits during the first trimester will help with the pregnancy and during recovery. 

Dizzy spells are common in pregnancy and can make you feel nauseous.

They come out of nowhere. 

If you have a dizzy spell, lie down or sit and take deep breaths until it passes. 

During the 2nd Trimester, the placenta takes over and often morning sickness will subside. 

People who tend to get motion sickness (e.g. car sick) are more at risk for morning sickness. 

In this article, we’ll explore the causes and natural ways to stop morning sickness. So that you can find some relief and enjoy your pregnancy. 

How Early Can You Get Morning Sickness & Nausea?

Don’t be surprised if you get morning sickness two weeks into pregnancy, it’s perfectly normal. In fact, for many people, it’s the first sign of pregnancy and can occur before a period is missed. For most people morning sickness will begin 4-6 weeks after conception. Although it’s called “morning” sickness you can feel nauseous at any time of the day or night. Often taking naps can help you deal with it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 70% of pregnant women get morning sickness, so you’re not alone. 

The Causes of Morning Sickness

Morning sickness normally begins during the first trimester. It’s thought to be caused by increased hormone levels and reduced blood sugar. Other things that can make morning sickness worse are emotional stress, fatigue, travelling or having twins or triplets. Morning sickness can cause electrolyte imbalances. Good food sources of electrolytes include nuts, especially almonds, brazil nuts and cashews that are high in magnesium. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are also high in electrolytes. 

Morning sickness can be caused by dehydration. Drinking enough water throughout the day can help. Another cause can be vitamin deficiencies like iron or other vitamins essential for overall health and wellbeing. There’s also a theory that thyroid hormones contribute to morning sickness. People who are obese, with a BMI of 30 or more are more likely to experience morning sickness. Suggesting that it’s a good idea to begin healthy lifestyle practices before conception. 

Is Nausea During Pregnancy a Good Sign?

Despite morning sickness being extremely uncomfortable, studies have shown that nausea during pregnancy (in some cases) can be a good thing. One randomised clinical trial looked at 797 pregnant women aged 28-33. SAdly 23.6% of the pregnancies ended in loss. By week eight there were 443 women left in the trial and 57.3% experienced nausea. Finding that women with one or two pregnancy losses who got morning sickness were at reduced risk for pregnancy loss. 

So nausea could be a good sign for those who’ve experienced a miscarriage.

9 Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness

According to the NHS, “there’s no hard and fast treatment that will work for everyone’s morning sickness. Every pregnancy will be different,” however they do suggest drinking more water and getting more rest to reduce the symptoms. Here are 9 natural remedies that you can try to alleviate morning sickness:

1. Water – because morning sickness can be caused by dehydration, it’s important to prioritise proper dehydration in pregnancy. 

2. Avoid processed, spicy or fatty foods – these foods are not part of the ideal pregnancy diet because they contain too much fat, salt and sugar.

3. Vitamin B-6, B12, D and C supplements – all play an important role in maternal health. Vitamin B-6 in particular has been found to reduce nausea and vomiting.

4. Prenatal vitamins – one cause of morning sickness is malnutrition. Therefore taking daily prenatal vitamins can help reduce nausea.

5. Magnesium supplements or magnesium-rich foods – fluctuating hormone levels can affect magnesium levels. Stress can also play a role in morning sickness and magnesium is great at stabilising cortisol and blood sugar levels. 

6. Ginger products, including ginger ale, ginger tea, and ginger drops – ginger has been used as a natural remedy for nausea and vomiting for thousands of years. 

7. Eat saltine crackers – saltine crackers contain sodium bicarbonate that can settle stomach acids. 

8. Acupuncture/ acupressure – can help remove blockages in your system that could be contributing to feelings of nausea and vomiting. 

9. Hypnosis – can be used to relieve the stress that is part in parcel of morning sickness. Allowing pregnant mothers to cope and reduce pregnancy issues.

In Conclusion

Morning sickness is a normal part of pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. It normally eases off in the second and third trimester, in most cases. There are several lifestyle choices that you can make to lessen the feelings of nausea. Around 3% of pregnancies result in severe cases of morning sickness. Because factors like obesity play a role in morning sickness, it pays to get prepared. Try a few of the natural remedies above to alleviate symptoms. If you experience severe or prolonged morning sickness, it’s a good idea to visit your trusted healthcare provider. 

Related Products.