Sleep problem:
Nausea disturbs your sleep
Why it happens
It won't be long before you discover that "morning sickness" is misnamed — nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can (and does) strike morning, noon, or night. Nighttime queasiness is particularly unpleasant because it can keep you from falling asleep and even wake you up.
No one knows what causes nausea during pregnancy, but it's probably some combination of the many physical changes taking place in your body, including rapidly increasing levels of hormones in early pregnancy, an enhanced sense of smell and sensitivity to odors, and a more sensitive gastrointestinal tract.
Even if it won't help your nausea, it may be reassuring to know that you're not alone. At least three quarters of moms-to-be find that the early weeks of pregnancy feel like one long, sickening ride on a roller coaster.
About half of the women who suffer from nausea feel complete relief by about 14 weeks. For most of the rest, it takes another month or so for the queasiness to ease up, though it may
return later and come and go throughout pregnancy.
No one knows what causes nausea during pregnancy, but it's probably some combination of the many physical changes taking place in your body, including rapidly increasing levels of hormones in early pregnancy, an enhanced sense of smell and sensitivity to odors, and a more sensitive gastrointestinal tract.
Even if it won't help your nausea, it may be reassuring to know that you're not alone. At least three quarters of moms-to-be find that the early weeks of pregnancy feel like one long, sickening ride on a roller coaster.
About half of the women who suffer from nausea feel complete relief by about 14 weeks. For most of the rest, it takes another month or so for the queasiness to ease up, though it may
return later and come and go throughout pregnancy.
What you can do about it
If you have a mild case of nausea and vomiting, some relatively simple measures may be enough to help. (If not, there are safe and effective anti-nausea medications your doctor can recommend.) Not all of the following suggestions are supported by hard evidence, but they're commonly recommended by obstetricians and midwives, and many women swear by them.
• Keep simple snacks, such as crackers, by your bed. Snacking on crackers may help you feel better and get back to sleep if you wake up feeling nauseated in the middle of the night. When you first wake up, nibble a few crackers and then rest for 20 to 30 minutes before getting up.
• At dinnertime, avoid fatty foods, as they take longer to digest. Also steer clear of rich, spicy, acidic, and fried foods, which can irritate your digestive system.
• Try an acupressure band, a soft cotton wristband that's sold at drugstores. You strap it on so that the plastic button pushes against an acupressure point on the underside of your wrist. This simple and inexpensive device, designed to ward off seasickness, has helped some pregnant women through morning sickness, although research suggests that it may be largely a placebo effect.
• See our complete list of techniques for getting relief.
• Keep simple snacks, such as crackers, by your bed. Snacking on crackers may help you feel better and get back to sleep if you wake up feeling nauseated in the middle of the night. When you first wake up, nibble a few crackers and then rest for 20 to 30 minutes before getting up.
• At dinnertime, avoid fatty foods, as they take longer to digest. Also steer clear of rich, spicy, acidic, and fried foods, which can irritate your digestive system.
• Try an acupressure band, a soft cotton wristband that's sold at drugstores. You strap it on so that the plastic button pushes against an acupressure point on the underside of your wrist. This simple and inexpensive device, designed to ward off seasickness, has helped some pregnant women through morning sickness, although research suggests that it may be largely a placebo effect.
• See our complete list of techniques for getting relief.