8 Things You Mightn't Have Known About Morning Sickness

No one likes morning sickness – or “nausea and vomiting of pregnancy” (NVP) as doctors prefer to call it, because it can strike at any time of the day – but it’s a very common side effect of early pregnancy. Here are some helpful facts, tips and advice on getting through it in one piece.

8 Things You Mightn’t Have Known About Morning Sickness

1 Medically, the exact cause of morning sickness isn’t known, and the reason why some women suffer horribly from it and a lucky few escape its curse, no one knows. The growth hormone hCG is a suspected culprit, as is a surge in oestrogen.

2 There’s no one-size-fits-all cure, but certain remedies have better results than others, and finding out what works for you is really a trial-and-error process.

3 Eating little and often is said to help, as nausea is often aggravated by a drop in blood sugar levels; having five or six small meals a day that combine complex carbohydrates, proteins and good fats can be effective.

4 Many have specific trigger foods (often fatty or spicy foods) or smells, which can change throughout the pregnancy.