All About Morning Sickness: Causes and Treatments

As our team at Simple Surrogacy knows there are many wonderful reasons to become a surrogate for loving parents unable to conceive. While you have been pregnant before, you may still have some unanswered questions when it comes to morning sickness. Although it is a common symptom of pregnancy, it doesn’t have to disrupt your life entirely. Let us answer a few questions about pregnancy-related nausea so that you can better relieve and manage it moving forward.

Morning Sickness Basics

Did you know that 80 to 90 percent of pregnant women experience morning sickness during pregnancy? This is also referred to as nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) and usually develops during the first trimester, beginning near the four-week mark and subsides near the 13th week of pregnancy. However, some women may experience symptoms related to NVP throughout the entire duration of their pregnancy. The severity of morning sickness can escalate, causing dehydration, weight loss, and may require medical attention. That being said, most women are able to manage morning sickness successfully with home remedies and by keeping certain precautions and tips in mind.

Causes and Risk Factors

Morning sickness is related to hormonal changes that occur as a result of pregnancy. Anyone who is pregnant may experience nausea and vomiting, which may happen at any time of the day or night, despite commonly being referred to as “morning” sickness. The odds of having issues with NVP may increase due to certain risk factors, such as expecting more than one baby, exposure to estrogen from birth control and other sources, having a history of experiencing other forms of nausea such as motion sickness, expecting a girl, and having a family history of severe nausea and vomiting. In rare instances, NVP occurs as a result of underlying health issues such as thyroid problems or liver disease.

Morning Sickness Diagnosis

Normally, morning sickness is self-diagnosed, and nausea will begin to occur on a regular basis. When the condition becomes more severe though, where nausea and vomiting lead to weight loss and a depletion of electrolytes, hyperemesis gravidarum is the likely culprit. It has a long list of other symptoms, including dehydration, headaches, confusion, fainting, and jaundice. If it’s believed that hyperemesis gravidarum may be contributing to NVP, blood and urine tests may be performed. Additional testing may be done to confirm or rule out other possible underlying issues.

Morning Sickness Treatments

Medical Treatments

If pregnancy-related nausea is mild, no treatment may be necessary. Should it become more of an issue, your health care provider might suggest vitamin B-6 supplements, anti-nausea medication, or antihistamines to help ease nausea. The FDA has approved Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydro-chloride) specifically for use in managing morning sickness symptoms. In some severe cases, it may be necessary to administer intravenous (IV) fluids or stronger anti-nausea medications in a clinic or hospital.

Fresh Air and Light Exercise

Sometimes, all it takes to ease nausea is to open a window and get some fresh air. If the weather permits, consider going for a short walk as light exercise, such as casual walking, can help calm your stomach. For times when you can’t get outside or open a window to get fresh air, controlled breathing may provide similar relief. Certain yoga poses have also been known to alleviate some of the worst morning sickness symptoms. While you might not necessarily feel like it, a little light physical activity might be just what the doctor ordered.

Dietary Adjustments

Changes to your eating habits may make it easier to keep nausea in check. Consider foods that are high in healthy carbs, good sources of lean proteins (e.g., skinless chicken or turkey, beans and lentils, and fish and shellfish), and low in fat. It can also help to stick to foods that are easy to digest, including small snacks like dry toast and soda crackers. As is recommended for other forms of nausea, some women experience relief with foods containing ginger too. Next, we can all benefit from drinking more water throughout the day, and pregnant women are no different. Finally, if you’re looking to eliminate items from your diet, you may want to cut back on excessively greasy, spicy, or fatty foods to limit your nausea.

Prenatal Vitamin Precautions

The purpose of prenatal vitamins is to compensate for nutritional deficiencies as pregnancy advances. Taking these vitamins on a regular basis, though, can sometimes trigger nausea and vomiting. Having a light snack or chewing gum may help soothe your stomach while you take your vitamins. If you continue to have more severe morning sickness when taking your prenatal vitamins, talk to your doctor about other possible sources of the extra nutrients you’ll need while pregnant.

Alternative Remedies

Another option to consider should you experience ongoing issues with nausea while pregnant is various alternative remedies. For instance, some women enjoy meaningful relief with acupressure wristbands. Acupuncture hasn’t been linked to nausea relief, although some women find the strategic placement of sterilized needles beneficial for morning sickness management. While not scientifically proven, other alternative remedies that may help with NVP include herbal ginger supplements and aromatherapy with essential oils.

While morning sickness may not be preventable, you can take comfort in knowing that mild NVP may actually be linked with healthier pregnancies. In fact, one study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that nausea and vomiting may reduce the risk of experiencing a miscarriage in expectant women who have had prior losses. Too much pregnancy-related nausea, however, may present issues. If you experience excessive nausea as your pregnancy advances, talk to your doctor.

At Simple Surrogacy, we strive to provide the highest standard of care in the industry and are committed to making the rest of your pregnancy enjoyable and worry free. Contact us online or by calling toll-free at 1-866-41-SURRO for more information on our services today.