Morning Sickness - An Infamous Pregnancy Symptom

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com

Morning sickness tends to be the first pregnancy symptom most women experience. It can start nearly as soon as the pregnancy test is positive, though many women will not notice morning sickness until about the sixth week of pregnancy.

Is it only in the morning?:

You may experience morning sickness at any time of the day or night, though most women do experience some uneasiness of the stomach early in the morning, probably because their stomachs are empty. If you are unlucky enough to suffer from this pregnancy symptom at work, there are things you can do to try to ease the symptoms and deal with it.

What does it feel like to have morning sickness?:

Some women have nausea and vomiting, while others may experience only queasiness. Neither is pleasant. A few women state that actually vomiting usually makes them feel better, others find no relief. Try to figure out what helps you feel better, whether it be eating, sucking on suckers or candy, or even avoiding certain foods.

What kind of treatments are available for this pregnancy symtom?:

There are many things that women can do to help alleviate this annoying pregnancy symptom:

• Avoid offending foods (often high fat or spicy foods)
• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day to help stabilize blood sugar
• Try suckers or hard candy, particularly sour stuff like lemon
• Certain medications and treatments as prescribed by your doctor or midwife, including medications
• Try non-medicinal aids that don't require prescriptions or drugs.
• More tips to avoid morning sickness.

Is morning sickness ever dangerous?:

Morning sickness can cause you to experience dehydration if you are unable to eat, drink or constantly lose your food through vomiting. When this happens it is called hyperemesis gravidarum. Though usually some IV hydration and sometimes tube feedings can usually solve this problem. Medications are occasionally used, particularly in severe cases.