It is one of the typical signs of pregnancy: morning sickness. Especially in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, many expectant mothers suffer from nausea, vomiting, and a queasy stomach. Particularly after waking up, those affected struggle with pregnancy-related vomiting.
But where does this annoying nausea during early pregnancy come from? And what really helps against it? We have summarized what lies behind the ultimate boss that is morning sickness and how you can counteract the queasy feeling in 13 helpful tips in this article.
Morning sickness - what is behind it?
In 70 to 80 percent of all pregnant women, nausea and discomfort occur as a pregnancy symptom, especially in the first trimester. About every second woman has to vomit regularly. This can even go so far that some women have to rush to the toilet just at the sight of certain foods and can no longer stand the smell of certain foods, let alone eat them. But what are the causes of this queasy feeling during pregnancy? And how can you counteract the annoying nausea in the morning? We have taken a closer look at these questions in the following article.
Nausea in the morning: Possible causes
Exactly how nausea occurs during pregnancy and what the underlying cause is has not yet been conclusively clarified. Science suspects that morning sickness in pregnant women is primarily caused by hormonal changes. During pregnancy, there is an increase in the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. This causes the gastrointestinal tract to empty more slowly, the stomach muscles also slow down, and the stomach entrance is softer, meaning it has less muscle tension. This can cause nausea, but also heartburn, and is one of the possible reasons for discomfort in pregnant women and morning sickness.
The hormones ADH (antidiuretic hormone) and adrenaline are also thought to be involved in nausea and vomiting. Last but not least, an infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori can be a reason for morning sickness. The bacterium colonizes the stomach and duodenum. Studies show that women who carry this bacterium suffer more frequently from vomiting, diarrhea, and especially morning sickness during pregnancy than pregnant women in whom the bacterium cannot be detected.
Stomach problems in pregnant women - not just after waking up
When people think of nausea during pregnancy, they primarily think of morning sickness. But the term is misleading. In fact, the typical queasy feeling can occur at any time of day. The fact that symptoms occur more frequently in the morning is due to an empty stomach, which results in low blood sugar levels. Lying down at night and the preceding sleep also lower blood pressure. If a pregnant woman now throws off the duvet with great enthusiasm when getting up and does not give her body enough time to adjust to the new position, dizziness occurs. In combination with low blood sugar, this can be the trigger for morning sickness.
In fact, there are also many pregnant women who are hit by the nasty nausea out of the blue in the middle of the day. The causes for the symptoms can be varied. Here are some examples:
- insufficient fluids
- low blood sugar levels
- medication
- an overexerted body
Nausea during pregnancy - these home remedies help
Nausea during pregnancy is often very distressing for those affected. While some wonder how they can get through the morning and when it will finally be over, others cannot consume any food and have to struggle with nausea and annoying vomiting throughout the entire pregnancy. Medical treatment is difficult due to the pregnancy, and on some days, getting up is hard. But don't worry: in most cases, the vomiting is history after just a few months, and until then, there are ways and means to combat pregnancy nausea.
When does morning sickness subside?
Morning sickness is indeed nasty and unpleasant, but there is also good news: most women affected by nausea suffer from it exclusively in the first trimester. After that, the symptoms subside quite quickly. In just under 10 percent of those affected, the nausea persists throughout the entire pregnancy. Only a few of them, just one percent, suffer from a particularly severe form of pregnancy nausea (medically known as hyperemesis gravidarum). In these cases, vomiting and diarrhea lead to serious loss of fluids, minerals, and weight.
13 tips on how to get your morning sickness under control
Even if the cause of morning sickness is unclear – as long as the health of mother and child is not at risk, there is no need for medical treatment. However, all sorts of tips and home remedies have been tested by thousands of pregnant women and found to be good and helpful. We have summarized the best 13 tips for you in a clear overview.
#1. Drink plenty of fluids!
Sufficient fluids keep your circulation stable. That's why you should drink a lot throughout the day, preferably in several small sips. Drinking too quickly can irritate the stomach. Incidentally, lukewarm ginger tea or room-temperature still water is ideal for providing your body with the necessary fluids.
#2: Breakfast in bed
Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? And it helps against morning sickness. Because early in the morning, blood sugar levels are particularly low. If you get up too quickly then, you can quickly feel lightheaded and sick. So have your partner bring you a glass of water or a tea and snack on some warm toast with butter or some rusks while still lying down.
#3: Relax sufficiently
This is generally a good idea when you are pregnant – but especially if you suffer from morning sickness. This is because stress and fatigue usually worsen the symptoms. That is why regular chilling during pregnancy is a really good idea. Rest, put your feet up and simply let an audio book wash over you.
#4: Snacks – at any time!
Instead of eating portions that are too large at once, experts recommend several smaller meals for morning sickness. Five to six meals are ideal. Always keep a few healthy snacks ready in case the nausea hits you again, e.g. dried fruit, nuts, muesli bars, a banana or cereal wafers. Dry, starchy foods in particular help many expectant mothers get through pregnancy well.
#5: Protein helps!
Protein-rich foods such as yogurt, hard cheeses, nuts or simply a baked potato with quark are generally more tolerable than curries, burgers and pasta. That's why you should focus more on protein. On the other hand, you should stay away from food that is too heavily spiced or too fatty. Caffeine is also not a good idea for an irritated stomach.
#6: Exercise moderately
Okay, admittedly: we would advise against Kung-Fu and Cross-Fit training. But all moderate and gentle sports such as swimming, walking or pregnancy yoga can work small wonders. This is because movement stimulates metabolic processes. This makes it easier for your body to deal with the hormonal changes – and pregnancy nausea can be alleviated as a result.
#7: Secret weapon ginger
A freshly brewed ginger tea (not too hot!) calms the stomach. At the same time, the metabolism is boosted. A scientifically proven and unbeatable combination against nausea. Incidentally, this also helps with a hangover when you have finished breastfeeding and are enjoying your first glass of wine.
#8: Take a deep breath
When you breathe in consciously and deeply, you stabilize your circulation with the help of the extra portion of oxygen and at the same time distract yourself mentally from the feeling of nausea. There is a great technique from Ayurveda for this. Place your hands loosely on your stomach and breathe in and out deeply – specifically into where your hands are lying. Focus on the movement of your abdominal wall and feel with your hands how your abdominal wall rises and falls. A good method, even for stress in everyday life.
#9: Trick your nose
Regardless of whether it's a colleague's perfume, the organic waste at home or the cheese sandwich you absolutely wanted to eat just a moment ago. Some everyday smells that didn't bother you before can suddenly trigger nasty nausea. This is because the hormone estrogen sharpens your sense of smell. Trick it and, for example, hold a handkerchief soaked in lavender oil to your nose. Sniffing it can provide relief.
#10: Smart combination of pregnancy vitamins
Have your doctor prescribe vitamin B6 or a multivitamin preparation for the nausea. If you already took a similar vitamin complex in the time before your pregnancy, this can make morning sickness milder. However, be sure to consult your doctor before taking the vitamins.
#11: Keep cool, baby!
Food and drinks that are too hot can worsen morning sickness. That's why many expectant mothers turn to cool foods like watermelon or cucumber. This not only provides relief but also increases your fluid intake. A cool washcloth on the forehead or neck can also help a little during bouts of nausea.
#12: Acupressure bands really help!
This is not humbug. In fact, studies show that acupressure can be an effective aid for many problems. The technique has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 4,000 years – including for nausea. Acupressure wristbands, for example, were specifically developed for motion sickness. However, they can also relieve the symptoms of morning sickness. The band is placed on the wrists, with the buttons pressing against the acupressure points. The bands are available for purchase in drugstores or pharmacies.
#13: Alternative therapies can help
For more severe symptoms, it can be helpful to rely on alternative therapies such as aromatherapy. Lemon oil and peppermint oil are said to help with malaise and nausea. However: The reaction to smells is very individual. It is therefore best to seek advice from a qualified and experienced therapist.
Is morning sickness dangerous?
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are undoubtedly an unpleasant side effect and a widespread phenomenon. Even if you hardly gain any weight in the first months of pregnancy or even lose weight in the first few weeks, your baby will not lack anything. The only important thing here is that you stay in constant consultation with your gynecologist and ensure you take high-quality pregnancy vitamins.
As already mentioned, only one percent of all women are affected by a particularly severe form of morning sickness. If you suffer from the following symptoms, it is absolutely advisable to consult your gynecologist.
- You have diarrhea in addition to vomiting
- Weight loss of more than 1 kg per week
- Brown or bloody vomit
- You have to vomit more than three times a day
- You cannot eat or drink anything at all
- Racing heart
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Dark or absent urine
But we can reassure you. This extreme form of morning sickness only occurs in the rarest of cases. So if you are hit by malaise, nausea, and vomiting, you may feel miserable, but you usually don't need to worry.
