Many pregnant Mamas struggle with morning sickness in the first trimester. Despite its name, it’s important to know that morning sickness can happen at any time of the day. Characterised by nausea, gagging and even vomiting, its severity can vary greatly between different Mamas.
What causes morning sickness?
In the first trimester, your surging hormones can cause you to feel unwell – to the point you may vomit. This is most commonly experienced in the first trimester, and can sometimes persist to around 16 weeks, after which morning sickness typically starts to fade away.
How can I cope with morning sickness?
For some Mamas, it’s just a case of managing to get some food down – but for others, it can be really hard to cope with. There are a few tried and true remedies that can help:
- Eat little and often
- Take your time eating – there’s no rush.
- Go for simple, plan snacks (plain toast, crackers etc)
- Stay hydrated – especially important if vomiting to avoid dehydration.
- Take your prenatal at night – if you take it on an empty stomach in the morning it may irritate your tummy.
- Avoid strong smells – these can be triggering
- GINGER – tea, candies, biscuits. So soothing (and delicious)
- Acupuncture – some mamas absolutely swear by this!
- Stay active – it can really boost those endorphins and help you feel energised.
- Suck on mints – or other candies! @_birthwithbeth suggested fruit tingles/lifesavers!
- Prioritise rest – enough said.
If you’re really struggling, it’s important to chat to your provider. It’s thought that around 1 in 100 women may suffer from a more extreme form of morning sickness called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. If your morning sickness is more severe, there may be options that your Dr or Midwife can chat through with you to help you feel better.
If you’re struggling with HG – a great page to check out is @hyperemesisaustralia they have some fantastic information that you may find helpful.
Pregnant Mamas make sure you check out our FREE Prenatal class that 8 out of 10 new mothers say they wish they took before birth to ease their stress and worries. You can even watch it at your own pace from the comforts of your own home! Sign up here
It’s important to note this blog is general education only. For any personal based advice regarding you or your baby please seek advice from your own healthcare professional.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins — Obstetrics. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2018;131:e15.
- Dean, C., Shemar, M., Ostrowski, G. a. U., & Painter, R. C. (2018). Management of severe pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. BMJ, k5000. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k5000
- Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ126. Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy. Accessed Apr. 21, 2023.
- Healthdirect Australia. (September 2021). Morning sickness. Healthdirect. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dealing-with-morning-sickness
- Ozgoli, G., Goli, M., & Simbar, M. (2009). Effects of ginger capsules on pregnancy, nausea, and vomiting. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(3), 243–246. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2008.0406