How to handle morning sickness

Approximately 70-80% of pregnant women experience morning sickness to some degree. For most women, symptoms are relatively mild. However, vomiting and nausea can be severe for around 3% of pregnant women who experience it, particularly in the first trimester. This is called hyperemesis gravidarum. If you are experiencing morning sickness (or nausea/vomiting at any time of the day), let your midwife or GP know.

As the name suggests, morning sickness is worst early in the day yet it can strike at any time and can affect your daily life. Typically, it starts around nine weeks after conception and usually clears up by weeks 16 to 20 of your pregnancy. Common symptoms include vomiting and nausea, often triggered by heat, certain odours or foods, spicy food. Often, there are no triggers.

We have put together some tips to help relieve morning sickness symptoms:

• Try to get plenty of rest as tiredness can make nausea worse
• Pay attention to nausea triggers and stay away from foods or smells that make you feel ill
• Eat small meals and eat often
• Try to eat foods high in carbohydrate and low in fat
• It is important to stay hydrated so drink plenty of fluids
• Ginger seems to alleviate morning sickness for some women so try eating foods or drinks containing ginger
• Try acupressure – some evidence suggests that putting pressure on your wrist, using a specific band/bracelet, can help relieve symptoms.
• Reflexology can calm down upset digestive and kidney systems through your feet. By applying pressure to a specific ‘reflex point’, a messenger travels to the corresponding area in your body to deliver its’ message, which could decrease your morning sickness and nausea symptoms. Check out our BirthDays reflexology course for more information.

Morning sickness can be an uncomfortable but encouraging reminder that you’re pregnant. The same hormones that make you feel sick are also helping your baby to grow. However, if you have tried the tips above and find your symptoms have not improved, let your midwife or GP know.