When Does Nausea Start in Pregnancy?

When Does Nausea Start in Pregnancy?

If you are planning a pregnancy, think you might be pregnant, or know for sure that you are, you probably wonder, “When does nausea start in pregnancy?” Nausea, also referred to as ‘morning sickness’, is one of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy. While it can be very challenging to get through, it is also a reassuring sign that the hormones in your body are working just right. 

An estimated 80% of pregnant people experience nausea in pregnancy. Nausea is caused by the hormones of pregnancy, and can be made worse by a variety of factors. Most people start to feel nausea around 6 weeks of pregnancy, although for some women it will be obvious earlier than that. It typically lasts through 12 weeks, with a peak around 8 weeks of pregnancy. Of course, like with all things related to pregnancy, it’s very individual and can vary greatly between different people. Remember that when you are four weeks pregnant, that means conception was two weeks ago- so six weeks pregnant, when you are starting to feel nausea in pregnancy, means that it’s been four weeks since conception. For many people, four weeks is when they would have expected to start their period. Many people don’t get a positive pregnancy test until 5 to 6 weeks pregnant because they don’t take it right away. That means that if you haven’t taken a test yet, nausea in pregnancy might be your first inkling that you are, in fact, pregnant. 

To learn more about this exciting time and to plan and prepare for your birth, we highly suggest taking childbirth education classes.

When Does Morning Sickness End?

As with everything in pregnancy, each person’s nausea of pregnancy will end at a different time. For some people, they never even experience nausea of pregnancy, and that can be perfectly normal. For those 80% who do experience it, many people will start to feel better around 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. That can feel like a really long time! Still others- about 10%- will experience nausea all the way up to 20 weeks. 

For those who experience nausea in pregnancy, it can sometimes go away in the second trimester and come back in the third trimester as the baby grows bigger and pushes on the internal organs. It can also be common for pregnancy hormones to surge in the third trimester, causing nausea for some people. A return to nausea in the third trimester, while difficult, is another reassuring sign that everything is working very well in your body and that your body is preparing to go into labor and bring your baby into this world. 

Morning Sickness Tea &  Other Natural Remedies 

There are a lot of natural remedies that circulate to help with nausea and morning sickness. It really comes down to what works for each individual person. For some people, nothing really helps and it’s just a symptom they have to get through until their nausea and vomiting go away. For those who are responsive to treatment, here are some of our go-to remedies: 

1. Ginger. Ginger, in high doses, is associated with helping to lower nausea symptoms. It can be a ginger tea, candy, or lozenge. Often, when people use ginger, they don’t take enough for it to be effective. It has to be quite strong- to the point where it feels hot to the touch and spicy on the tongue- to be effective against nausea. If your belly feels a little warm after having some ginger, you probably had enough.

2. Eat protein every 2 hours! Sometimes the nausea associated with pregnancy gets worse when there are hypoglycemic events, or dips in blood sugar. If you eat a steady diet throughout the day, this is less likely to happen. One of the reasons morning sickness may have gotten its name is because we fast overnight as we sleep, meaning our blood sugar is low in the morning. This can make people feel worse in the morning during pregnancy than they feel at other times.

3. Use Sea Bands, and splurge on the brand name. Sea Bands are wrist bracelets that were designed for use at sea for people who get seasick. They are tight elastic bands that sit on your wrists. They are effective for seasickness and they are often used for people who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment, who also experience serious nausea. Many pregnant people find the Sea Bands help them to feel better in the first trimester, and the side effects are very low. People have reported that the generic bands don’t work as well, so we recommend going for the brand.

4. Stay hydrated. We sound like broken records sometimes when it comes to water, but truthfully, many of the ailments of pregnancy are less severe if you are well-hydrated. Make sure your urine is always clear and you’re bound to feel better overall. Sometimes, feeling sick to your stomach is a dehydration symptom. Start with water, even if it’s bothering you to drink it. It’s a nasty cycle to get caught in when you avoid water because of nausea, and then you become more nauseated. Get out ahead of it by drinking small sips of water throughout the entire day. 

If your nausea and vomiting is severe, long-lasting, or interferes with your life, definitely let your midwives know. They’ll be able to help you strategize and can assess for a more serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which is severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. 

Recap: When Does Nausea Start in Pregnancy?

The bottom line is: nausea is a normal part of pregnancy! It can be very difficult, but it is a reassuring sign. Most people will experience nausea by 6 weeks pregnant and will notice it decreasing by 12 weeks pregnant. However, people are different and each baby, body, and pregnancy is unique, so exactly what to expect is difficult to say. Just know that it’s normal, and if you have questions, you can always ask your midwife! 

If you’re in the Portland Oregon area and looking for trusted midwives, you can schedule a free consultation with us here. Wishing you all the best!