How To Cope With Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness is a condition that is marked by nausea or vomiting in the early stages of pregnancy. It usually occurs in the morning that settles down by the afternoon. However, it can happen at any time in the day. It is not an illness. It is caused due to increased levels of pregnancy hormones like human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and estrogen in the body. It may cause high sensitivity towards the smell of food and loss of appetite. It is a harmless condition for both pregnant women and the baby. It does not require specific treatment and goes by the onset of the second trimester.

The ways that can help to cope with morning sickness are-

Get Rest– morning sickness brings a feeling of sickness that may the pregnant lady feel ill. It is time to avoid work and take proper rest. Resting reduces the intensity of morning sickness, calms down stress and the upset stomach, and she feels better and energetic.

Use Fresh Scent– a fresh scent or room freshener can help to avoid the smell of food that triggers nausea. It may relieve nauseating feeling caused by the smell of certain food and help cope with morning sickness.

Avoid Cooking– it is better to avoid cooking certain foodstuffs whose smell can cause nausea. This is because high estrogen levels cause high sensitivity to the smell of food.

Drink Plenty Of Water– stay hydrated to avoid dehydration. Frequent nausea or vomiting may cause loss of water. Hydration can be maintained by drinking enough water, fruit juices, soups or porridges.

Avoid Food That Trigger Nausea– the pregnant ladies should avoid those foods that are spicy or highly flavored or that have strong smell. Moreover, spicy food or highly flavored food can upset the stomach.

Take The Food Items That Suit You– switch to food items that make you feel better in morning sickness. Drinking lemon water, ginger tea or chamomile tea can keep up hydrated and calms down morning sickness.

Take Small Meals– take small meals frequently in a day. Six meals in a day in two to three hours instead of three large meals can reduce the intensity of morning sickness. Consume biscuits or ginger crackers in between the meals can relieve nausea and help cope with morning sickness.

Indulge In Activities That Can Distract You– keep yourself busy in doing certain activities such as reading a book, drawing, painting or other activities that can distract you and relief your stress and anxiety levels. This will help in reducing nausea and help cope with morning sickness.

Perform Exercises– light exercises or yoga or meditation encourages relaxation of body and mind. This also leads to diversion and helps pregnant women to overcome morning sickness.

Morning sickness as the name suggests a condition that happens usually in the morning. It is represented by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. It itself is a symptom of pregnancy. It starts in the first trimester (first three months) and ends at the start of the second trimester (second three months). However, it can continue to rest of the trimesters in the pregnancy in a few cases.

Almost 90 percent of pregnant ladies develop morning sickness in their pregnancy. In the majority of pregnant women, it starts near the sixth week of pregnancy, roughly three weeks after conception or two weeks after the missed period. It cannot start earlier than six weeks of after menstrual period. It ends in 12-15 weeks of pregnancy.

The symptoms of morning sickness include

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Intolerance to the smell of food
• Breast tenderness

Morning sickness is a sign of early pregnancy that appears in the first trimester and ends with the start of the second trimester. It is usually felt in the morning. It does not require treatment or medicines. It can manage with home remedies discussed above.

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Also Read:

• Home Remedies For Morning Sickness
• Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Treating Morning Sickness
• What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum & How is it Treated?|Difference Between Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
• Morning Sickness at Night: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment