When does morning sickness start? Pregnancy advice from doctors

Are you pregnant? Statistics show that up to two thirds of pregnant Australian women will experience morning sickness, particularly in the first trimester. For the majority of women, morning sickness is unpleasant, but the symptoms tend to go away. In some instances, women suffer severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum), and hospitalisation may be required. 

What is morning sickness?

Nausea, queasiness, vomiting, strong aversions to certain smells and foods, loss of appetite, a seasick feeling followed by hunger pangs during pregnancy… the symptoms of morning sickness can be extremely debilitating. So much so, that it can also have psychological side-effects, like depression and anxiety. And despite its name, morning can strike at any time, day or night.   

What causes morning sickness?

There are around 300,000 births a year in Australia alone, but the exact causes of morning sickness remain a mystery. What we do know is that it’s likely a combination of factors, including:

• The rise in pregnancy hormones (HCG), as well as oestrogen
• Lowered blood sugar levels
• Fluctuations in blood pressure
• The enormous physical and chemical changes pregnancy triggers. 

We also know it can be worsened by factors such as stress, being overtired, certain foods or motion sickness.  

When does it start?

Morning sickness is most common during the first trimester of pregnancy, and normally between the first six to nine weeks of pregnancy – at nine weeks, it is usually at its peak. 

When does it end?

Symptoms improve for most expectant mothers by the mid- to late-second trimester (weeks 16 – 18). Only a small number of women (around 10 per cent) experience morning sickness for their entire pregnancy. If your morning sickness doesn’t ease by around week 18, let your doctor know – you could be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum.

Relief for morning sickness

There are a number of ways that you can relieve the symptoms of morning sickness. Many related to diet, including:

• Eat small meals on a regular basis throughout the day (an empty stomach can trigger nausea).
• Eat plain, dry crackers first thing in the morning. High-carb meals are usually well tolerated. 
• Consume protein-rich foods, like nuts and cheese.  
• Avoid spicy or fatty foods. 
• Avoid eating foods that might make you nauseous.
• Avoid cooking foods that might make you nauseous. Ask for help preparing meals for your family. 
• If the smell of foods makes you queasy, opt for cold foods as they produce less odour than hot foods.  
• Keep your fluids up. In addition to water, beverages that are usually well tolerated include flat lemonade, diluted fruit juice, weak tea, ginger and peppermint tea and clear soup. Suck ice cubes if all else fails.  

Besides diet, other ways to reduce the symptoms of morning sickness include:

• Wearing loose clothes that don’t constrict your abdomen.
• Consider acupressure or acupuncture on the wrist. 
• Rest whenever possible. Moving around and over-tiredness may aggravate morning sickness.
• Breathing or relaxation exercises. 

If you are experiencing symptoms, you should speak to a doctor to find out the right treatment for you. You can request a telehealth consultation with one of our Australian-registered doctors from anywhere in Australia, seven days a week.

This article is written by Natasha Dragun, who has been writing about health and wellness for more than 20 years.