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Pregnancy

      Morning sickness

      Morning sickness

      Read time: 6 minutes

      Morning sickness is considered a normal part of pregnancy and affects up to 80% of mums-to-be in their first trimester1. It can strike at any time of the day or night and is characterised by bouts of nausea and occasional vomiting. For a small number of women, this can extend into their pregnancy longer than others.

      An even smaller number of women will experience extreme symptoms requiring hospital admission. This is known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

      There are lots of things you can do to help manage your symptoms and you’ll be glad to hear that regular morning sickness usually gets better when you’re around 16 - 20 weeks pregnant2.

      Morning sickness symptoms

      The most common signs and symptoms of morning sickness are nausea and vomiting. It can be accompanied by other symptoms of early pregnancy, such as tiredness and fatigue.

      Talk to your doctor or midwife if you have any of the following symptoms, as they may indicate you have Hyperemesis Gravidarum and need medical attention:

      • You feel very nauseous nearly all the time, and it’s stopping you from eating and/or drinking.
      • You lose more than five percent of your pre-pregnancy weight.
      • You vomit more than three times a day for more than three days.

      Will morning sickness affect my baby?

      As long as you’re able to eat and drink normally, morning sickness won’t affect the health of you or your baby3.

      Remember, folic acid plays a really important role in your baby’s development during your first trimester, so if you’re struggling to keep your folic acid supplements down, talk to your doctor or midwife.

      Common questions about morning sickness

      Doctors aren't entirely sure exactly what causes morning sickness, but it’s thought to be caused by an increase in the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)4, which is produced in high levels during your first trimester.

      Morning sickness isn’t a prerequisite of pregnancy. Many women enjoy a healthy pregnancy with no symptoms of morning sickness at all.

      Morning sickness usually starts during your first trimester, when you’re four to six weeks pregnant5. Often, it’s one of the first indications that you’re pregnant.

      Symptoms peak around week 9, when your levels of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, are at their highest2. For some, pregnancy sickness can continue as long as 20 weeks, and acid reflux from the second trimester onwards can also cause nausea and vomiting.

      As with many things in pregnancy, this can be different for everybody. It could last for days or it could last for months. However, if your pregnancy sickness symptoms last beyond 12 weeks, talk to your midwife or doctor.

      Despite its name, morning sickness can come and go at any time of the night or day. You may find it’s worse at particular times of the day, and you may even experience it on and off throughout your pregnancy.

      Some women feel constantly nauseous throughout the day which can make day-to-day life a challenge. There are lots of things you can do to help manage your symptoms, and of course, if you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to speak to your midwife or GP.

      As with lots of early pregnancy symptoms, this is different for everybody. Some women expecting twins or multiple babies experience a lot of morning sickness, others don’t experience any at all6.

      Morning sickness remedies and relief

      No two mums experience pregnancy sickness in the same way, so what relieves the symptoms for one person may not work for another.

      If you’re experiencing mild morning sickness, self-help remedies may be enough to help you manage your symptoms. But if you’re suffering from more severe symptoms, you may need medication.

      How to cope with morning sickness

      While it may not be easy, especially if you have other children and/or a full-time job, it’s important that you lie or sit down when feeling sick until your nausea’s passed.

      Look for a pattern of symptom-free times of day and then aim to eat, drink and be active during these times. For regular ‘morning sickness’ most women will find their pattern if they keep a diary. However, if you have continuous moderate to severe symptoms this won’t be possible.

      If you normally manage two slices of toast for breakfast, try half a slice every 15 minutes to spread it over an hour. This isn’t always practical if you’re busy, but with a bit of preparation, and a bag full of healthy snacks, it really can help.

      These can often result in acid reflux, leading to an increase in nausea and vomiting.

      Watch our video for more helpful tips on managing morning sickness.

      Which foods help with morning sickness?

      There’s no hard and fast rules about which foods will help, as everyone’s experiences of morning sickness are different. The best thing to do is experiment and find what works for you.

      • You may prefer to eat bland foods like dry toast, nuts or crackers that are easy to digest.
      • Foods that are high in carbohydrates and low in fat, such as wholegrain bread, rice, and pasta, can help satisfy your appetite and help regulate your blood sugar levels.
      • If the smell of hot meals makes you feel queasy, try eating cold foods rather than hot ones. Raw vegetables like carrot sticks can help you top up on key vitamins. Or why not try a handful of berries?

      As always aim for a healthy, balanced pregnancy diet whenever possible. Or why not try these nutrient dense superfoods?

      Expert advice

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       Is ginger good for morning sickness?

      If you mention you’re experiencing morning sickness someone’s bound to suggest ginger. There’s anecdotal evidence that mild-to-moderate nausea and vomiting may be helped by taking 1,000 mg of pure ginger root extract each day7.

      However, in practice, many find ginger can make their symptoms worse due to its strong taste. Ginger can also increase acid reflux, leading to further discomfort.

      Ginger-flavoured products don’t usually have enough ginger in them to have any effect, and sweet things like ginger biscuits can have high sugar content, which is best avoided while pregnant.

      Which foods make morning sickness worse?

      There’s not a definitive list of foods that make morning sickness worse as everyone has different triggers. Common triggers are spicy foods, oily foods, and foods with a strong smell and caffeine.

      Morning sickness and your mental health

      Pregnancy sickness can take a toll on your mental health, especially if it’s severe and you find yourself stuck indoors for a few weeks.

      Try to remember that it’s not your fault if you’re sick, especially if you’re diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum which requires you rest as much as possible.

      If you’re feeling too queasy to move or sit up, listening to the radio, podcasts or audiobooks are all great ways to take your mind off things and keep yourself occupied.

      1. Lee NM, Saha S. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2011;40(2):309–vii.
      2. NHS. Vomiting and morning sickness in pregnancy. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/morning-sickness-nausea/ [Accessed October 2020]
      3. Koren G et al. The protective effects of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy against adverse fetal outcome – a systematic review. Reprod Toxicol 2014;47:77-80.
      4. NHS Start 4 Life. Week-by-week guide to pregnancy. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/1st-trimester/week-9/ [Accessed October 2020]
      5. NHS. Signs and symptoms of pregnancy. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/signs-and-symptoms-pregnancy [Accessed October 2020]
      6. NHS. Your healthy twin pregnancy. 2019. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/twins-healthy-multiple-pregnancy/ [Accessed October 2020]
      7. Pregnancy Sickness Support. Ginger is ineffective for hyperemesis gravidarum, and causes harm: an internet based survey of sufferers. 2015. [Online] Available at: https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/documents/research%20papers/ginger-article.pdf  [Accessed October 2020]

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      Hyperemesis Gravidarum

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