What No One Told You About Pregnancy: Morning Sickness Isn’t Confined to the Morning or the First Trimester

Congratulations! You're embarking on one of life's most beautiful journeys – pregnancy. But it comes with some not-so-beautiful symptoms. One of the first symptoms that could show up during your first trimester is pregnancy nausea, aka morning sickness.

You've probably heard about morning sickness or seen it in a movie where the actress finds out she's pregnant by suddenly throwing up in the bathroom, still looking great of course (thanks, Hollywood). But they don't always tell you that it's not just confined to the mornings, nor is it limited to the first trimester. For many expectant parents, this nausea can persist well into the second trimester – and in some cases, even until the baby arrives. You may cruise through your pregnancy never having any nausea, throwing up only when you smell something you previously loved, or the nausea never seems to end and causes weight loss. It's a frustrating reality that everyone experiences on a spectrum, but rest assured, you're not alone.

So, what's behind this seemingly endless queasiness?

Blame it on those pregnancy hormones, which can wreak havoc on your digestive system and leave you feeling constantly queasy. Additionally, fluctuating blood sugar levels – a common side effect of pregnancy – can further exacerbate feelings of nausea and discomfort, leading to vomiting. And while the nausea can be continuous, if you’re throwing up enough that you aren’t keeping anything down, you’ll want to talk to your healthcare provider. Persistent vomiting could be hyperemesis gravidarum, which can be serious and debilitating both physically and mentally.

Morning sickness remedies from a doula: 

1. Stabilize blood sugars with snacks: Keep your blood sugar levels stable by snacking on small, frequent meals throughout the day. Opt for high-protein snacks like nuts, cheese, or yogurt, which can help keep nausea at bay. These are best practices, but let’s be real, some of these aren’t great when everything sounds terrible and nothing will stay down. I recommend finding something mild if you’re struggling. While not nutritious, animal cookies or graham crackers lack a strong smell that can trigger nausea. Try nibbling on them slowly. If you can keep those down, store them at your bedside just in case the nausea comes knocking again at 1 am. 

2. Stay hydrated: Dehydration can worsen feelings of nausea, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Sip on water, herbal teas, or ginger ale (with real ginger and not ginger flavor) to help soothe your stomach. Water can be hard to drink for some when the nausea is at its peak. If that happens, try holding an ice chip in your mouth. You’ll get some hydration, and the cold can help with your gag reflex. If you’re feeling dehydrated, contact your doctor. Dehydration in pregnancy can get serious quickly, but it can be managed if caught early.

3. Try some ginger: Speaking of ginger, this natural remedy has long been used to ease nausea and settle upset stomachs. Try sipping on ginger tea or nibbling on ginger candies to help alleviate your symptoms. That being said, ginger is not your friend if pregnancy is causing you to have acid reflux. Ginger can actually make the symptoms of reflux worse, so avoid ginger if you’re suffering from reflux.

4. Take a nap or put your feet up: Pregnancy fatigue is real, and it can make nausea feel even worse. Be sure to prioritize rest and relaxation, and don't hesitate to take naps whenever you need them. If you’ve got other littles running around or naps are hard to work into your day, try to set aside a few short periods to put your feet up and relax. Your body is doing a lot of work, so any rest you can give it is helpful to replenish your energy.

5. Try out some nausea-relieving products: There are a lot of products aimed at aiding with nausea in pregnancy. For natural remedies, I recommend trying Preggie Pops and Sea-Bands. If your nausea is causing too much disruption to your day-to-day, you can also talk to your care provider about nausea medications that are safe to take during pregnancy.

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