Morning Sickness Survival

Just remember you’re not alone! Nine out of ten women experience some form of morning sickness, so grab the bucket and let’s talk about how to get through this.

Morning sickness may develop 4 – 6 weeks after your last period and peak between 9 – 16 weeks. It can hit you at any time during the day, not just mornings.

Symptoms

• Nausea
• Vomiting or dry retching
• Food smell or sight sensitivity

What can you do?

• Eat plain crackers as soon as you wake up
• Try brushing your teeth later on in the day when your tummy feels more settled
• Snack on carbohydrates throughout your day, this will help blood sugar levels
• Cold meals may go down easier than hot ones
• Drink plenty of water, small amounts but often (suck on crushed ice if you find it difficult drinking water)
• Avoid tight waistbands
• Sleep and rest. Don’t try to keep the same schedule or level of activity as you did before your pregnancy
• Drink ginger tea or eat food containing ginger – ginger can reduce nausea and vomiting for some women, although not all

You are wonderfully unique, so what might work for one person may not work for you. Try different things and don’t worry, normal morning sickness will not harm your baby’s health.

Abnormal morning sickness

If you vomit more than 4 times a day, or notice your wee is darker, or you start to lose weight and you struggle to keep your fluids down then it’s time to call your midwife or doctor. If this is happening to you then you might have something called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), though it occurs in less than 2% of pregnant women. HG is serious and if you are at all concerned it’s best to consult your midwife or doctor immediately as it can affect you and your baby’s health if ignored.