Morning Sickness and Nausea: Positive Signs for a Viable Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a beautiful and exciting time, but it can also be challenging, especially when dealing with morning sickness and nausea. Morning sickness, which is nausea and vomiting that often occurs in the morning, is a common symptom of pregnancy, affecting around 70-80% of all pregnant women. While it can be unpleasant, it is often a sign that the pregnancy is progressing as it should. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind morning sickness and nausea, and why they are actually good signs of a viable pregnancy.

What Causes Morning Sickness?

Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day, and it is thought to be caused by the increase in hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen in the body during pregnancy. These hormones can cause the stomach to empty more slowly, resulting in the feeling of nausea. Additionally, the sense of smell and taste can be heightened during pregnancy, which can make certain smells and foods unappealing and trigger nausea and vomiting.

Why Morning Sickness and Nausea Are Actually Good for You

While morning sickness and nausea can be unpleasant, they are actually good signs of a viable pregnancy. Research has found that women who experience morning sickness and nausea are less likely to miscarry, have a stillbirth, or deliver prematurely. This is because the symptoms are a sign that the placenta is developing well and producing adequate amounts of hCG, which is crucial for maintaining the pregnancy.

Coping with Morning Sickness and Nausea During Pregnancy

While morning sickness and nausea are good signs, they can still be challenging to cope with. There are several things that pregnant women can do to alleviate the symptoms, including eating small, frequent meals, staying hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and avoiding foods that trigger nausea. Ginger has also been found to be helpful in reducing nausea, and acupressure bands that apply pressure to specific points on the wrist have also been found to be effective. Understanding the Limits of Morning Sickness and Nausea as Predictors of Pregnancy Health

While morning sickness and nausea are good signs of a viable pregnancy, it's important to understand that they are not foolproof indicators of pregnancy health. Every pregnancy is different, and some women may not experience morning sickness at all. Similarly, experiencing severe morning sickness and nausea does not necessarily mean that there is a problem with the pregnancy. It's important to discuss any concerns with a healthcare provider.

When Should You Expect Morning Sickness To Start and End

Morning sickness typically begins around the 6th week of pregnancy and usually subsides by the end of the first trimester. However, some women may continue to experience symptoms throughout their pregnancy. It's important to note that every woman's experience is unique, and the severity and duration of morning sickness can vary.

Does Morning Sickness Mean You are Having A Girl or Boy

There is a common belief that the severity of morning sickness is linked to the baby's gender, with more severe symptoms indicating that the mother is carrying a girl. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, and the severity of morning sickness can vary greatly between pregnancies.

Is It Normal To Have Morning Sickness Some Days And Not On Other Days?

It's perfectly normal to have morning sickness on some days and not on others. The severity and duration of symptoms can vary day to day, and this is not necessarily an indication of the pregnancy's health. If you have concerns, it's important to discuss them with a healthcare provider.

Nausea and vomiting can be one of the first signs that lets you know that you may be expecting. These signs usually start around the 6th week of pregnancy and can happen at any time during the day, even though it is commonly known as ‘morning sickness’. For the majority of mothers to be, this stops around the 12th week of pregnancy. Now, in general morning sickness isn’t anything that you should worry about too much and it is not harmful to you or your baby. But if you are experiencing excessive vomiting and cannot keep any food or fluid down, you may have a condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum that can be harmful and needs medical help.

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You are not alone

The symptoms of morning sickness can really be irritating and uncomfortable. If you are having your first baby you may even feel helpless, having to spend a good ten fifteen minutes in the bathroom throwing up each morning or battling nausea. But, you are not alone. Studies indicate that over 50% of pregnant women go through morning sickness during pregnancy and that it is a direct result of the hormonal roller coaster your body goes through during pregnancy. Surprisingly, a large number of medical specialists believe that morning sickness is a positive sign to say that your placenta is developing well. But you will, still want ways of relieving your symptoms right? Here are a few things you can try at home.

Things to keep the nausea away

· Eat a few saltine or dry crackers or even a couple of sweet biscuits before you get out of bed in the morning. · High carb meals are generally well tolerated, but try and avoid anything that you think might give you that twisting feeling in your stomach. · Reduce portion size and increase servings. Eat small regular meals about five times a day instead of three big ones. An empty stomach or an overly full stomach can both trigger nausea. · Avoid any cooking because aromas can cause nausea. If there are specific smells that make you want to throw up, such as, frying onions or garlic, ask your family to avoid using them while you are experiencing morning sickness. · Stay hydrated. Water, clear broths and soups and sanitized teas can help. Remember that you should not consume just any tea while you are pregnant and that you should always use only sanitized teas. Secrets of tea is the only tea maker whose teas are sanitized in a unique process. Our mummy magic teas are perfect for morning sickness relieving. Don’t gulp it down, take small sips while drinking them. · Some women take vitamin B6 supplements but this needs to be discussed with your doctor first. · Rest well. Moving around can aggravate the nausea. · Wear loose and comfy clothing that don’t put pressure on your abdomen area. · Don’t let excessive vomiting go untreated. You could be suffering from loss of electrolytes ad your baby will be in danger. · Don’t take any drugs unless specified by your doctor. They may otherwise harm you and your baby.

Things to avoid for relief from morning sickness

· Cooking or eating spicy food. · Exposure to unpleasant odors. Many women carry a small bar of soap with their favorite fragrance always so that when nausea hits, you can take in a deep fragrant breath and distract yourself. · Lying down immediately after a meal.

Severe morning sickness – Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)

This condition of experiencing severe morning sickness can affect about 1 in 1000 pregnant mommies. The symptoms of this condition includes repeatedly throwing up on the same day, sudden weight loss and extreme dehydration. Treatment for this is to usually get hospitalized where you will be administered liquids and nutrition via an IV to restore your body balance. If left untreated, this could lead to; · Electrolyte imbalances · Depression and anxiety · Malnourished fetus · Strain on vital organs like the liver, kidneys, heart and brain.

Ginger to the rescue

Ginger is one of the most tried and tested and successful home remedies for nausea or even an upset and angry stomach. Try our morning sickness tea collection. Remember that during pregnancy you should only drink sanitized teas and Secrets of Tea is the only company that sanitizes all tea. You could also add in a slice of ginger to your water, suck on ginger candy or nosh on anything to do with ginger when the nausea strikes. A little piece will go a really long way. Try out these remedies and let us know whether they worked for you. If you have alternative suggestions that have worked, share them with our community too.