Waking up feeling dizzy, nauseous and can't stand the sight and smell of everything, even your favorite food; fighting with your husband or partner to not chew so loud, stop using that soap/perfume/aftershave or even lotion; you can't stand to brush your teeth; - does this describe your mornings/afternoon/night ?

Welcome to the world of Morning sickness - we are yet to find out who decided to call if that since it can happen at anytime of the day; beautiful right.

One good thing though is that it is confirmation your body is working well to support your pregnancy by producing the hormones necessary to sustain your pregnancy. I know it can be annoying and frustrating dealing with this but the good news is it doesn't always last through out the pregnancy journey, though some women have it all though, ouch; and there are ways to manage it so you can go about your everyday life with some ease.

Does morning sickness happen only in the morning?

This pregnancy symptom got the name morning sickness because it usually happens in the morning but most pregnant women don't always experience it in the mornings. Some may have it all day and it gets worse at night for most women. I had it all day, everyday and it wasn't just the nausea or dizziness, it was accompanied by headaches and light sensitivity, I mean I couldn't even bring myself to drink water except it was extremely cold - almost to the point of freezing.

Although there is no specific cause for it, most doctors say it could be a result of the changes in hormonal levels during pregnancy. It is sometimes an indicator that your body is producing the right hormones for the growth of your baby and there's a reduced chance of a miscarriage thanks to this.

When do morning sickness symptoms start?

In some rare cases, morning sickness could start as early as 2 weeks after conceiving. But most women start experiencing it in their 6th week of pregnancy.

Morning sickness is very common for most women during the first trimester since this is the time your body is working extra hard and producing more hormones for the growth of your baby.

It usually comes and goes at any time during the day. You may experience nausea and vomiting that will last for a couple of hours

When does morning sickness get better or worse?

According to the findings of Cornell University, the peak of morning sickness happens when the fetus starts developing its organs and that may cause chemical disruption between week 6 to week 18.

Image: Cornell University

Week 9 and 10 is also usually the time high levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)are present in most women and that contributes to the peak of morning sickness during that time.

When does morning sickness stop?

Most women start to feel better once they cross weeks 12 to 14, just at the beginning of the second trimester. Normally during this time, your body has adapted to the hormonal changes making it easier for you to go about your daily activities without feeling nauseous.

To be able to get through this phase of your pregnancy, it's important to notice what works best for you.

Some home remedies may be helpful but always speak to your doctor before trying something new especially if it is to be eaten or drank. Speak to other mothers, family and friends, they can be your support through this period. Get as much rest as possible, ask for permission from work if you need to and always stay hydrated as much as possible.

Remedies for morning sickness

● Avoid strong smells as much as you can since this is the most common trigger for nausea and vomiting. Strong perfumes, certain foods, and cigarette smoke, cleaning products, sweat, or any smell you identify as your trigger

● Vitamins and some OTC drugs: This over-the-counter combination of an antihistamine and vitamin B6 has proven to work for most pregnant women with morning sickness. But it is advisable to consult your doctor or midwife first.

https://youtu.be/9XR7JzGhhfk

● Ginger tea, ginger candy, and anything made with ginger can be very effective for nausea and vomiting. Do not over do this as it may give you issues if you have heartburns and or react to spicy foods. Pepper was my savior, for some reason after a few days of using ginger, I couldn't stand it again. I added fresh blended pepper to everything i ate, even bread

● Cold foods and smoothies: are also recommended by some experienced mothers. From experience, water almost at the point of freezing helped me stay hydrated. Remember, sip, don't gulp it down

● Get fresh air: Fresh air and some exercise can help you feel better

• Weak Tea: this has been known to help calm the stomach and also help prevent reflux when you can't seem to hold anything down - this was recommended by my doctor and it helped greatly.
• Sometimes hospitalization maybe necessary especially if you are unable to hold down anything. Please seek medical help when you need to. It doesn't make you a weak mother to ask for help. Strong women recognize their limits and ask for help.
• Eat smaller meals as against 3 main meals.
• Crackers or sugar free biscuits can help calm the queasiness. You can have some by your bed and take it first thing when you wake up

Remember to always stay hydrated, rested and all will be well. Join us on the app for more discussions.