After trying for a baby for 14 months, Naomi Hurley, 31, from Lincoln, was thrilled to be pregnant. But her enthusiasm waned when, at five weeks, she began to suffer from morning sickness. ‘Although whoever came up with that name should be shot – it’s 24/7,’ she complains.
Naomi, now 12 weeks pregnant, is one of the 45% of mums-to-be who experience both nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Another 25% suffer from nausea alone.
‘I’m physically sick three or four times a day, and constantly nauseous,’ says Naomi. ‘I had to tell my work colleagues that I was pregnant at seven weeks, because I kept rushing to the loo.
I asked my midwife about it, but she just told me it was normal and would ease around the end of the first trimester. I’m praying it stops soon, so I can start to enjoy my pregnancy.’
What causes morning sickness?
Morning sickness is a misleading term, as nausea and vomiting can occur at any time of the day. Of all the mums-to-be who suffer, eighty-five per cent have two episodes a day, and 55 per cent have three or more. But frustratingly, no-one knows exactly what causes it.
‘The most likely theory is that it’s related to the pregnancy hormone beta-HCG,’ explains Anne Deans, obstetrician and M&B expert. ‘Sickness tends to be worst in the early weeks of pregnancy, when this hormone is increasing most rapidly.’
It’s unclear why beta-HCG causes sickness, although some scientists believe it may lower your blood sugar, making you feel nauseous. ‘Often, when I test a pregnant woman’s blood sugar, I’m surprised by how low it is,’ confirms Anne. ‘Certainly, many women find that eating little and often – which keeps blood sugar stable – helps stave off nausea.’
Other theories, however, are less reliable. Some studies have suggested that sickness is nature’s way of stopping women eating anything potentially harmful in the first trimester – a crucial time for fetal development.
Others report that eating less in the early weeks makes the placenta work more efficiently. But Anne Deans is sceptical. ‘A lot of the research is spurious,’ she says. ‘The truth is, no-one really knows what causes it.’
So will I get it?
Scientists have looked at whether factors like age, marital status, ethnic origin and pre-pregnancy weight make you more likely to suffer from morning sickness. But no definite link has been found in any of these cases.
‘Some studies have suggested that young mums-to-be and older women are more affected, but it’s more likely that these women just find it harder to cope with,’ says Anne. ‘If you’re very young and don’t have a good support network, or are an older career woman working long hours, sickness can come as a shock.’
What is known, however, is that women expecting twins or triplets suffer more. ‘They have higher levels of hormones in their bodies, and often feel sicker than other mums,’ agrees Anne.
So, if you’re expecting twins, you could be in for a rough ride. But what if there’s just one in there? Can you predict whether you’ll be affected? Although there’s no definite way of telling, Anne has noticed certain indicators.
‘Women who feel sick on the Pill are often sick in pregnancy, which backs the theory that morning sickness is caused by sensitivity to hormones,’ she says. ‘I also have a theory that if you get travel sick, you’ll suffer with morning sickness.’ So, if you’re a ‘sicky person’ generally, it might be worth preparing for a miserable few weeks.
When will it end?
The end of the first trimester is often hailed as the magical moment when all pregnancy ailments disappear. And yes, that includes sickness. ‘It often gets better between 12 and 14 weeks, when beta-HCG levels out,’ agrees Anne.
Weeks seven to 10 are usually the toughest – although about 10 per cent find their symptoms get worse after week 10. ‘Occasionally, women suffer throughout pregnancy,’ Anne adds.
‘Get checked out by your midwife or GP, but there’s rarely anything to worry about – you’re probably just particularly sensitive to pregnancy hormones.’
Some women’s sickness returns during labour, but that’s a different phenomenon altogether, says Anne. ‘This isn’t morning sickness – it’s because your body is so busy concentrating on giving birth that it forgets to process the contents of your stomach, so anything you eat may come straight back up.’
Will my baby be okay?
If you’re throwing up constantly or too nauseous to eat, it’s hard not to worry about your unborn baby. But morning sickness doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your baby, or cause him any harm.
‘You would have to be very severely malnourished before it would affect your baby,’ says Anne. ‘The fetus takes all the nutrition it needs from the mother.’
In fact, morning sickness could be a positive sign, with some studies linking it to a reduced risk of miscarriage. ‘Anecdotally, many midwives would agree – sickness indicates that high levels of pregnancy hormones are present, which suggests that the embryo has implanted well,’ Anne says.
That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s a bad sign if your sickness disappears. ‘In rare cases, women report that their sickness stops suddenly just before a miscarriage, but it’s not a reliable sign,’ says Anne.
Fading sickness is more likely to be a sign of your body adjusting to pregnancy hormones – but talk to your midwife if your symptoms change suddenly.
Neither does it mean that, if you’re among the 25 per cent who don’t experience sickness, you’re going to lose your baby. ‘Sickness isn’t a scientific way of predicting a good or bad outcome,’ says Anne. ‘It’s simply your response to pregnancy hormones – and some people are just lucky!’
13 ways to beat sickness
1. Eat little and often – blood sugar dips can make you feel nauseous. For energy, try bland, high-carb food like toast or crackers. Avoid rich, spicy and fatty foods.
2. Wear acupressure bands – they’re designed for travel sickness, but work for morning sickness, too, and are available from most pharmacies.
3. Try some lemon aid – replace your morning cuppa with hot water and lemon, and keep a fresh lemon wedge in a plastic bag to sniff when you feel nauseous.
4. Keep a diary of your symptoms. It’ll help you spot any patterns to your sickness, so you can be prepared for attacks of queasiness and plan your meals for nausea-free intervals.
5. Get some rest – lying down, if possible. Like travel sickness, pregnancy sickness is often triggered by motion, so stop rushing around and avoid travelling whenever you can.
6. Drink ginger ale, grate fresh ginger into a glass of hot water, or nibble ginger biscuits – this common spice is a popular remedy for morning sickness.
7. A heightened sense of smell is common in early pregnancy and is linked to nausea. Hot foods tend to smell more, so eat cold meals and avoid cooking for the rest of the family.
8. Set your alarm half an hour early so you can get up gradually. Keep a packet of crackers and a glass of water on your bedside table and have something to eat and drink before you get up, to settle your stomach.
9. Peppermint is renowned for its digestive powers, so drink peppermint tea or suck minty sweets. Just brushing your teeth may help quell a bout of nausea.
10. Try vitamin B6 – used to treat morning sickness since the 1940s. Ask your doctor before taking a supplement, or get it from bananas, avocados, brown rice, fish, lean meat and nuts (if you can keep them down…).
11. Acupuncture can be very effective – to find a therapist, contact the British Acupuncture Council (020 8735 0400, acupuncture.org.uk).
12. Don’t drink with meals. You’re less likely to vomit if you avoid fluids for half an hour before and after eating.
13. Finally, don’t go anywhere without a supply of sick bags. Vomiting into your handbag will just add insult to injury.
About hyperemesis gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), or extreme pregnancy sickness, is characterised by recurrent vomiting, dry lips and mouth, dark, concentrated urine, and even weight loss. Around one per cent of pregnant women suffer from HG, and one in 150 need hospital treatment.
Carly Poyser, 26, from Sheering, Herts, suffered from HG in both of her pregnancies. ‘Both times, it started almost as soon as I tested positive,’ says Carly, mum to Alfie, 21 months, and Oscar, 10 months. ‘With Alfie, I threw up small amounts throughout the day, whereas with Oscar, I couldn’t keep any food down at all.
‘My midwife told me all the usual self-help tips, but nothing worked – I’d throw up as soon as I lifted my head off the pillow in the morning,’ Carly continues. ‘My husband put on more weight than I did at first, because he’d end up eating my dinner. It lasted until 24 weeks with Alfie and 20 weeks with Oscar. I managed to keep down enough fluids to avoid hospital treatment, but I felt so drained.’
Although your baby is unlikely to be affected by HG, you may become severely dehydrated, so it’s essential to talk to your midwife or GP. ‘We usually admit women to hospital and give them fluids by drip for 24-48 hours,’ Anne Deans explains. ‘Often, once a woman is rehydrated, she turns a corner and feels much better. We can also prescribe tablets, although they’re not always effective.’
M&B help for you
Pregnancy Sickness Support 02476 382020, pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
30%The number of women who have to take time off work with morning sickness
Naomi, now 12 weeks pregnant, is one of the 45% of mums-to-be who experience both nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Another 25% suffer from nausea alone.
I asked my midwife about it, but she just told me it was normal and would ease around the end of the first trimester. I’m praying it stops soon, so I can start to enjoy my pregnancy.’
What causes morning sickness?
Morning sickness is a misleading term, as nausea and vomiting can occur at any time of the day. Of all the mums-to-be who suffer, eighty-five per cent have two episodes a day, and 55 per cent have three or more. But frustratingly, no-one knows exactly what causes it.
‘The most likely theory is that it’s related to the pregnancy hormone beta-HCG,’ explains Anne Deans, obstetrician and M&B expert. ‘Sickness tends to be worst in the early weeks of pregnancy, when this hormone is increasing most rapidly.’
It’s unclear why beta-HCG causes sickness, although some scientists believe it may lower your blood sugar, making you feel nauseous. ‘Often, when I test a pregnant woman’s blood sugar, I’m surprised by how low it is,’ confirms Anne. ‘Certainly, many women find that eating little and often – which keeps blood sugar stable – helps stave off nausea.’
Other theories, however, are less reliable. Some studies have suggested that sickness is nature’s way of stopping women eating anything potentially harmful in the first trimester – a crucial time for fetal development.
Others report that eating less in the early weeks makes the placenta work more efficiently. But Anne Deans is sceptical. ‘A lot of the research is spurious,’ she says. ‘The truth is, no-one really knows what causes it.’
So will I get it?
Scientists have looked at whether factors like age, marital status, ethnic origin and pre-pregnancy weight make you more likely to suffer from morning sickness. But no definite link has been found in any of these cases.
‘Some studies have suggested that young mums-to-be and older women are more affected, but it’s more likely that these women just find it harder to cope with,’ says Anne. ‘If you’re very young and don’t have a good support network, or are an older career woman working long hours, sickness can come as a shock.’
What is known, however, is that women expecting twins or triplets suffer more. ‘They have higher levels of hormones in their bodies, and often feel sicker than other mums,’ agrees Anne.
So, if you’re expecting twins, you could be in for a rough ride. But what if there’s just one in there? Can you predict whether you’ll be affected? Although there’s no definite way of telling, Anne has noticed certain indicators.
‘Women who feel sick on the Pill are often sick in pregnancy, which backs the theory that morning sickness is caused by sensitivity to hormones,’ she says. ‘I also have a theory that if you get travel sick, you’ll suffer with morning sickness.’ So, if you’re a ‘sicky person’ generally, it might be worth preparing for a miserable few weeks.
When will it end?
The end of the first trimester is often hailed as the magical moment when all pregnancy ailments disappear. And yes, that includes sickness. ‘It often gets better between 12 and 14 weeks, when beta-HCG levels out,’ agrees Anne.
Weeks seven to 10 are usually the toughest – although about 10 per cent find their symptoms get worse after week 10. ‘Occasionally, women suffer throughout pregnancy,’ Anne adds.
‘Get checked out by your midwife or GP, but there’s rarely anything to worry about – you’re probably just particularly sensitive to pregnancy hormones.’
Some women’s sickness returns during labour, but that’s a different phenomenon altogether, says Anne. ‘This isn’t morning sickness – it’s because your body is so busy concentrating on giving birth that it forgets to process the contents of your stomach, so anything you eat may come straight back up.’
Will my baby be okay?
If you’re throwing up constantly or too nauseous to eat, it’s hard not to worry about your unborn baby. But morning sickness doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your baby, or cause him any harm.
‘You would have to be very severely malnourished before it would affect your baby,’ says Anne. ‘The fetus takes all the nutrition it needs from the mother.’
In fact, morning sickness could be a positive sign, with some studies linking it to a reduced risk of miscarriage. ‘Anecdotally, many midwives would agree – sickness indicates that high levels of pregnancy hormones are present, which suggests that the embryo has implanted well,’ Anne says.
That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s a bad sign if your sickness disappears. ‘In rare cases, women report that their sickness stops suddenly just before a miscarriage, but it’s not a reliable sign,’ says Anne.
Fading sickness is more likely to be a sign of your body adjusting to pregnancy hormones – but talk to your midwife if your symptoms change suddenly.
Neither does it mean that, if you’re among the 25 per cent who don’t experience sickness, you’re going to lose your baby. ‘Sickness isn’t a scientific way of predicting a good or bad outcome,’ says Anne. ‘It’s simply your response to pregnancy hormones – and some people are just lucky!’
13 ways to beat sickness
1. Eat little and often – blood sugar dips can make you feel nauseous. For energy, try bland, high-carb food like toast or crackers. Avoid rich, spicy and fatty foods.
2. Wear acupressure bands – they’re designed for travel sickness, but work for morning sickness, too, and are available from most pharmacies.
3. Try some lemon aid – replace your morning cuppa with hot water and lemon, and keep a fresh lemon wedge in a plastic bag to sniff when you feel nauseous.
4. Keep a diary of your symptoms. It’ll help you spot any patterns to your sickness, so you can be prepared for attacks of queasiness and plan your meals for nausea-free intervals.
5. Get some rest – lying down, if possible. Like travel sickness, pregnancy sickness is often triggered by motion, so stop rushing around and avoid travelling whenever you can.
6. Drink ginger ale, grate fresh ginger into a glass of hot water, or nibble ginger biscuits – this common spice is a popular remedy for morning sickness.
7. A heightened sense of smell is common in early pregnancy and is linked to nausea. Hot foods tend to smell more, so eat cold meals and avoid cooking for the rest of the family.
8. Set your alarm half an hour early so you can get up gradually. Keep a packet of crackers and a glass of water on your bedside table and have something to eat and drink before you get up, to settle your stomach.
9. Peppermint is renowned for its digestive powers, so drink peppermint tea or suck minty sweets. Just brushing your teeth may help quell a bout of nausea.
10. Try vitamin B6 – used to treat morning sickness since the 1940s. Ask your doctor before taking a supplement, or get it from bananas, avocados, brown rice, fish, lean meat and nuts (if you can keep them down…).
11. Acupuncture can be very effective – to find a therapist, contact the British Acupuncture Council (020 8735 0400, acupuncture.org.uk).
12. Don’t drink with meals. You’re less likely to vomit if you avoid fluids for half an hour before and after eating.
13. Finally, don’t go anywhere without a supply of sick bags. Vomiting into your handbag will just add insult to injury.
About hyperemesis gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), or extreme pregnancy sickness, is characterised by recurrent vomiting, dry lips and mouth, dark, concentrated urine, and even weight loss. Around one per cent of pregnant women suffer from HG, and one in 150 need hospital treatment.
Carly Poyser, 26, from Sheering, Herts, suffered from HG in both of her pregnancies. ‘Both times, it started almost as soon as I tested positive,’ says Carly, mum to Alfie, 21 months, and Oscar, 10 months. ‘With Alfie, I threw up small amounts throughout the day, whereas with Oscar, I couldn’t keep any food down at all.
‘My midwife told me all the usual self-help tips, but nothing worked – I’d throw up as soon as I lifted my head off the pillow in the morning,’ Carly continues. ‘My husband put on more weight than I did at first, because he’d end up eating my dinner. It lasted until 24 weeks with Alfie and 20 weeks with Oscar. I managed to keep down enough fluids to avoid hospital treatment, but I felt so drained.’
Although your baby is unlikely to be affected by HG, you may become severely dehydrated, so it’s essential to talk to your midwife or GP. ‘We usually admit women to hospital and give them fluids by drip for 24-48 hours,’ Anne Deans explains. ‘Often, once a woman is rehydrated, she turns a corner and feels much better. We can also prescribe tablets, although they’re not always effective.’
M&B help for you
Pregnancy Sickness Support 02476 382020, pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
30%The number of women who have to take time off work with morning sickness
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