Morning sickness is a term that refers to symptoms that pregnant women may experience during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Common symptoms of morning sickness in early pregnancy, which can occur at any time of the day, include:

• nausea and
• vomit

How does morning sickness feel? When does it begin?

Morning sickness usually starts around the 9th week of pregnancy. Nausea can occur at any time of the day, not just in the morning. It may be triggered or exacerbated by a particular smell or food, and may or may not have a particular trigger. Most women experience remission in the second trimester, but some women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Treatments for Morning Sickness

1. Eat less, more often.

If you don't eat, nausea may get worse. Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of three large meals a day to avoid hunger. To reduce morning sickness, put plain crackers, dry bread, or cereal by your bed and eat small portions as soon as you wake up.

2. Soothe your stomach with ginger.

Studies have shown that ginger can help calm the stomach. Make ginger tea, ginger churros, ginger preserves, or ginger ale with real ginger. Taking 250 mg of ginger capsules 4 times a day may also help.

3. Skipping meals.

Avoid greasy and fatty foods, very sweet foods, spicy foods, and gas-producing foods. Now is not the time to try new Indian restaurants! Women reported that foods high in protein, carbohydrates, salty, low-fat, bland, and/or dry (such as nuts, crackers, toast, and cereal) were less likely to cause nausea. You can also prevent nausea during meals by separating food and drink (don't drink while eating).

4. Avoid strong smells.

One of the best ways is to avoid environmental factors, especially strong smells. Avoid cigarette smoke, perfumes, and other things that can affect you. When it comes to cooking, make sure someone else can cook. When cooking, open the window to reduce the cooking smell.

5. Try aromatherapy.

On the other hand, mint, lemon, or orange peel can help relieve nausea. Place a cotton pad or tissue moistened with aromatic oil under the nose. (Many people prefer to exhale the scent with a tampon, as it can quickly throw off the noodles and their smell if it causes nausea.)

6. Take prenatal vitamins at the right time.

Iron found in many prenatal vitamins can make nausea worse. Take prenatal vitamins before bed, not on an empty stomach in the morning. If that doesn't help, talk to your healthcare provider about using iron-free prenatal vitamins. Iron needs to increase later in pregnancy, so if you have these problems, it's best to skip the iron but tell your provider so they can monitor your iron levels.

7. Switch to another version.

Many women report the help of wristbands sold at many pharmacies to treat motion sickness and reduce nausea by pressing acupressure points on the inside of the wrist. Whether this is due to the bracelet or the placebo effect is unclear, but this affordable option is still worth investigating. Some women have also found relief from acupuncture, and studies have found that hypnosis can reduce nausea symptoms.

8. Stand on your feet.

Some women find that exercise helps with their symptoms. Try walking more, swimming, or attending prenatal yoga classes throughout the day. Remember: Exercise is highly recommended during pregnancy, but always check with your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise routine or dramatically increasing your fitness level.

When all else fails...

Most nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can be treated using the suggestions above, but if it doesn't get better, you may want to consider safe over-the-counter medications.

For unclear reasons, vitamin B6 supplements may reduce nausea. Take one 25 mg tablet three times a day, without exceeding 200 mg per day. Prenatal vitamins contain B6, so keep your daily dose in mind.

Doxylamine, an antihistamine, is marketed as a sleep aid under the brand name Unisom and can be safely taken during pregnancy to reduce vomiting. Take 1/2 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet at bedtime, but be careful before driving as it may cause drowsiness. Research shows that vitamin B6 and doxylamine are most effective when taken together, so it is recommended to use both for maximum symptom relief. Another antihistamine, Benadryl, is safe to reduce nausea and vomiting. Take 1 tablet of 25 mg 4 times a day. It can also make you sleepy.

When should I see a doctor?

A small number of pregnant women experience a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, in which persistent vomiting causes severe dehydration that requires medical attention. In the hospital, women are given intravenous fluids and medications.

For the following symptoms:

• Inability to tolerate food or drink for more than 12 hours
• Signs of dehydration, such as frequent urination, dark urine, and lightheadedness in the legs
• Vomiting a lot per day, especially if there is blood in the vomit
• Abdominal or pelvic pain or cramps
• Lose more than 5 kilos