By Donna Maurer
Pregnancy may be a natural process, but that doesn’t mean it’s always comfortable. Some women deal with food aversions… like strong reactions to specific tastes or smells. Others experience the queasiness periodically, especially in the morning. And then there are the unfortunate few who have an overwhelming feeling of nausea that never completely goes away.
The nausea that many women experience during the first trimester of pregnancy is often called morning sickness. It’s a completely normal reaction to the rising hormone levels that come with creating a new life. At least half of pregnant women experience it to some degree. It’s also completely unpredictable; some women never notice it at all, and others have to be hospitalised to get relief.
What causes morning sickness?
Although no one knows for sure, most experts believe that the nausea is brought on by surging pregnancy hormones. Many women experience a heightened sense of smell and digestive issues during pregnancy that also contribute to the problem.
How long does nausea last?
Many women begin to notice nausea before or around the fifth week of pregnancy, with the worst of it at the beginning of the third month. The symptoms usually disappear by the beginning of the second trimester, but some women do experience them longer.
Natural ways to relieve morning sickness
Thankfully, there are some things you can do to get relief for nausea without harming your baby. Here are the best home remedies for morning sickness.
Change the way you eat
Food may be the last thing you want when you’re feeling nauseous, but the truth is, having an empty stomach can make you feel even worse. To keep nausea away, try to eat several small meals each day instead of three large ones.
If your nausea is worse in the morning, stick to something plain and easy to digest, like crackers, plain cereal, or toast. You might even want to keep a plain snack next to your bed that you can nibble on if you wake up feeling nauseous.
