The best morning sickness relief 2024

WHAT IS MORNING SICKNESS?

In early pregnancy, many women experience nausea and sickness. It is extremely common, affecting 9 in 10 women to various degrees.

The name can be misleading for two different reasons. Firstly, it’s not always just confined to the morning. It can appear or linger during any part of the day but is often worse for many when they first wake up.

Secondly, it doesn’t always mean vomiting. You could just feel nauseous and queasy.

When does it start and how long will it last?

For some, it can start as early as a few days after conception, but for most, it will begin around 6-9 weeks pregnant.

It is usually completely gone sometime between 12 and 20 weeks pregnant. For a very unlucky few it will last for the whole pregnancy but this is rare.

What is hyperemesis gravidarum?

This is severe morning sickness, which can cause serious dehydration and malnourishment requiring hospital treatment. Speak to your midwife or doctor if you have severe nausea and vomiting. Other signs of hyperemesis gravidarum are urinating less often and having dark urine, losing weight, a high temperature, low blood pressure, feeling faint or dizzy, and blood in your vomit.

What causes morning sickness?

Scientists are still exploring what factors cause nausea in early pregnancy. One study has shown that genetics play a part in how sick you can get. It has also been suggested that it has evolved to ensure women minimise their intake of food and types of food and therefore reduce their exposure to toxins and pathogens.

Others have blamed pregnancy hormones and in particular hCG, which is the one that gives you a positive pregnancy test. This helps your baby to develop and keeps on increasing until around 12 weeks when the placenta takes over.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO EASE MORNING SICKNESS?

• Trying eating dry toast or a cracker before you even get out of bed. This can help settle the stomach and quell the worst of the early morning nausea.

• Regularly eat small portions of plain food like pasta, rice, crackers, and bread. It might help to eat little and often rather than have three big meals a day.

• Avoid rich, fried, fatty, or spicy foods.

• If the smell of food is making you feel sick, try eating less pungent cold food instead of hot.

• Sip water regularly.

• Ginger may help. Try ginger biscuits, ginger tea, or crystallised ginger.

• It’s possible that acupressure could help. You can buy bands usually used for travel sickness that put pressure on a certain part of your wrist.

• If it’s really bad, speak to your GP who may prescribe medicine.

• There’s some evidence that vitamin B6 can reduce symptoms. You could take a supplement of 25mg three times a day. Alternatively, eat foods rich in B6 like salmon, chicken, bananas, potatoes, avocados, and chickpeas.

other Morning sickness remedies to try

This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:

• Consumer reviews

• Best-seller lists

• Recommendations from industry experts

• Award-winning products

• Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.

The list is updated annually. It was last updated on 5 January 2024.

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