Why Does Morning Sickness Stop At 12 Weeks
Why Does Morning Sickness Stop At 12 Weeks? For most people, morning sickness is a pretty awful experience. It’s described as nauseous, gassy feelings that can make you feel like throwing up all day long (or sometimes just at night). You may also have headaches, dizziness, fatigue and heartburn. The first two weeks are often considered milder than the rest of your nausea. But for many pregnant women, it gets much worse after week 2, and for others, it never really goes away. Many people describe their symptoms as “all-day vomiting” because that seems to be what it feels like.
If you’re lucky enough to get past the early months without any complications, morning sickness should subside in the third trimester. And if you’re not so fortunate, there are some things you can do to help manage it. There are plenty of home remedies out there, but here are some tips on how to deal with those annoying symptoms once you’ve made it past the first trimester.
How Long Is Your Pregnancy?
First off, let’s talk about timing. The average duration of morning sickness is six to eight weeks, although it could last anywhere from four to 16 weeks — even longer in some cases. If you’re having trouble staying healthy during your first trimester, check out our guide to surviving the first trimester.
According to one frequently cited 2000 study, half of women experienced complete relief from their morning sickness by the end of the second trimester, while 25 percent had only mild symptoms left over by the end of their pregnancies. Another study published in 2002 found that 45 percent of women were symptom free by week 14. In 2006, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that women stop taking morning sickness medications by the middle of the second trimester, since they didn’t find anything beneficial aside from side effects.
So when does morning sickness usually start? Typically, it begins sometime between weeks 6 and 12, with the peak occurring somewhere between 8 and 10 weeks. However, it can start earlier or later than these dates. Some women report feeling sick for weeks before finding out they’re pregnant; others don’t notice any symptoms until the very end of the first trimester.
The reason why morning sickness stops around week 12 has to do with hormonal changes. One theory states that morning sickness is caused by elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones. This explanation makes sense considering that it tends to occur in the final stages of pregnancy.
During this period, the body prepares itself for labor and delivery. It’s thought that the hormones cause receptors in the stomach lining to release dopamine, which causes nausea. Once the baby is born, the level of these hormones drops dramatically. The same thing happens when someone takes birth control pills. Unfortunately, this doesn’t explain why it starts so late in pregnancy. As far as we know, there isn’t a definitive answer yet.
The good news is that morning sickness may not adversely affect the health of your unborn child. A 2005 study conducted at Columbia University Medical Center concluded that neither the severity nor frequency of nausea affected the growth, development or health of babies. Of course, you shouldn’t go overboard with food cravings or skip meals if you still want to eat.
There are several treatment options available for managing morning sickness, including ginger supplements, nutritional counseling, acupuncture and herbal medicines. We’ll take a look at each of them below.
Ginger Supplements
One popular way to treat nausea is to drink ginger tea. Ginger root contains powerful compounds called gingerols and shogaol. These chemicals appear to trigger the release of neurotransmitters, which send signals from nerves to muscles throughout the body. When taken orally, ginger stimulates the central nervous system to increase blood flow to the gut and relieve intestinal spasms. Researchers believe that consuming ginger will prevent nausea by increasing gastric emptying rates.
Another option is to add ginger powder to foods or drinks. Although studies haven’t shown any positive results, some users say that adding ginger to hot water relieves nausea better than drinking it straight. To try making your own ginger tea, mix 1 tablespoon dried gingerroot with boiling water. Let cool slightly and sip slowly.
Nutritional Counseling
Some people claim that eating well helps reduce morning sickness. For example, if you suffer from iron deficiency anemia, you might consider taking prenatal vitamins rich in folate, B6 and B12. Folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 play important roles in cell production. They also act as antioxidants, helping to protect cells against damage by free radicals. Other nutrients that have been suggested to alleviate nausea include calcium, magnesium and zinc. Calcium increases contractions of smooth muscle tissues in the digestive tract, which reduces cramping and bloating. Magnesium and zinc provide energy without causing diarrhea.
Acupuncture and Herbal Remedies
Many people turn to alternative medicine treatments such as acupuncture and herbs to ease their morning sickness. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points along certain meridians (energy pathways) on the skin. Stimulation at these points is believed to balance yin and yang forces within the body. Several clinical trials have demonstrated that acupuncture effectively treats nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness.
Herbs used in Chinese medicine have similar properties to ginger. The primary medicinal herb used to combat nausea is known as Houttuynia cordata, or Chinese goldthread. It contains alkaloids that are said to stimulate secretory glands responsible for producing fluids needed for digestion. Licorice candy, another traditional remedy, contains glycyrrhizin, a compound that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.
A pregnant woman who live near me I am looking for advice. I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum(hmg), severe morning sickness in my first trimester and hospitalized twice. My doctor told me that he would keep me hospitalised till the end of my 3rd month but I wanted to go back home soon. He did not give me any other alternatives except being admitted again. Can you please advise me what else I can do to avoid going back to hospital?
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. First of all, thank you for reaching out to us for expert medical information.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any miracle cures for hmg. It is usually treated with supportive care and palliative measures, and the condition rarely requires hospitalization. Most patients can return to normal activities after recovering fully from the acute episode.
Your best bet is to follow your doctor’s recommendations and continue taking your current dose of medication as directed. This includes prescription drugs prescribed by your obstetrician and/or midwife, as well as over-the-counter (OTC) products.
Remember that no OTC drug can cure hmg. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with fever and headache symptoms.
Antiemetics, such as Dramamine® and Phenergan®, can be used to counteract nausea. Avoid alcohol consumption and smoking cigarettes. Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. Keep yourself busy with light activity and sleep as much as possible. Finally, be sure to consult a physician if your condition continues to worsen.
A 2007 study showed that ginger extract reduced the intensity and delayed the onset of nausea and vomiting.
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