Morning sickness and pregnancy go hand in hand. For some women, this condition continues till delivery too. Nausea with or without vomiting are often the first symptom of pregnancy. While in most cases, this disappears after the first trimester, some pregnant women can experience it till delivery too. The name morning sickness is actually a misnomer. This is because while the name suggests that it occurs in the morning, the reality is that it can happen at any time during the day. Morning sickness at night can be especially inconvenient as it can disturb your night routine and interfere with your sleep cycle.
The exact reason behind morning sickness is not fully known. Medical experts believe that the hormones responsible for your pregnancy create many unwanted symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, skin changes, bloating, etc. It is assumed that the time of these hormonal variations can coincide with the occurrence of symptoms, especially nausea. For this reason, even though the name is morning sickness, it can happen any time during the day or night.
In This Article
Morning Sickness at Night
You are reading this page as an indication that you have been wondering why morning sickness is striking you at night. In fact, you’d have already known that morning sickness can strike at any time of the day or night. Night-time vomiting and nausea can be very taxing to your body and mind as they prevent you from sleeping properly.
Sleep deprivation and bouts of nausea altogether can be very daunting. A night that has not let you sleep translates into a day that will make it difficult to complete even simple tasks.
List of Top 17 Tips to Deal With Morning Sickness at Night
As morning sickness at night is somewhat unavoidable during pregnancy, you cannot make it go away forever, but can always deal with it. Here are some tips for you:
1. Try Ginger Supplements and Vitamin B6 and B12
According to various research, it has been found that Vitamin B6 and B12 can help you fight bouts of morning sickness. You can find them in a number of food items, like nuts, bananas, carrots, beans, potatoes, fish, lean meat, etc. Prenatal vitamins also contain vitamins B6 and B12. Moreover, you can also have supplements of ginger to cope with morning sickness at night.
2. Try a Bedtime Snack
Episodes of nausea and vomiting often strike when you are on an empty stomach for a long time. You can minimize the bouts by eating something light just before bedtime or in the evening. You can eat snacks that contain protein and carbohydrates. Having a few bites of the sandwich, cereals with milk, or your favorite smoothies can help you reduce the symptoms of night-time sickness.
3. Don’t Include Fatty Food in Your Evening Meals
Fatty foods take more time to get digested. If you have them with your evening meals, then the chances of nausea during the night increase. Moreover, such food can lead to indigestion and heartburn by irritating your digestive system. So, it is highly advisable not to have them in the evening. Apart from fatty foods, it would be best if you also refrained from eating spicy, rich and fried stuff in the evening too.
[Read: Natural Remedies For Heartburn During Pregnancy]
4. Have an Early Dinner
The symptoms of night-time morning sickness can be easily reduced if the digestion of your dinner has been completed by the time you lay down. Nothing beats a wholesome, early dinner, which can let you sleep the rest of the night peacefully.
5. Avoid Spicy Foods
Always prefer non-spicy food to eat, such as toast, milk, bread, clear soup, white rice, or bananas that can help in preventing morning sickness at night.
[Read: Are Herbal Teas Safe During Pregnancy?]
6. Have Warm Drinks
Drink Warm items before going to bed. A warm drink will ready your mind and body for sleep. You may drink ginger tea also.
7. Correct Your Sleeping Position
Acid reflux is a big cause of morning sickness at night. Therefore, to avoid it, keep two pillows in a little elevated position to your head and sleep on your left side with the right knee bend. You can also put a pillow between your knees for comfort purposes.
[Read: How To Use Pregnancy Pillow?]
8. Eat Sour Items
Sour items work like an astringent and help alleviate nausea during pregnancy period. So, use some items like a lemon or mango pickle, which is only dipped in salt. It is also a good remedy for a bad stomach.
9. Stay Hydrated
Taking more fluid intake can help to cure indigestion, which is the main cause of nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy. Keep a bottle of water or some lemon near your bed and drink at regular intervals. This will keep your body hydrated and, as a result, keep nausea at bay. Taking apple juice through the night will also help in keeping your blood sugar levels stable.
10. Avoid Strong Smells
The smell of some perfumes or some curries can trigger your nausea. So stay away from such smells. If some smell at home makes you feel sick, open all the windows, and let some fresh air come into the home or switch on the exhaust fan to send in the air from outside.
11. Try Seasickness Bands
These bands are worn around the wrist. They provide pressure at certain pulse points which, in turn, helps in the temporary reduction of sickness during pregnancy. If the band does not provide any relief to you, then use acupressure, it is more intensive and helps to cure this as soon as possible.
12. Follow the BRAT Diet
This diet consists of a banana, rice, applesauce, and toast, which will help to cure nausea and vomiting also. It is good for people suffering from diarrhea and an upset stomach. Stop following this one once your nausea and sickness are in control, as this diet does not provide you with many nutrients required during the pregnancy period.
13. Consult Your Doctor
If you experience extreme sickness during pregnancy, check with your doctor on your next visit. They will prescribe pregnancy-safe medicines to help you combat nausea and feel better. It is extremely important to never self-medicate since certain medications can badly affect your pregnancy.
14. Practice Deep Breathing
If morning sickness at night stops you from sleeping peacefully, do some deep breathing exercises, which can relax you and help in slowly get to sleep.
15. Keep Crackers Handy
Eating unsalted crackers or biscuits when feeling queasy can also help you deal with the same. So, try to keep them handy. If you wake up suddenly at night because of your discomfort, snacking on crackers can help relieve nausea and discomfort. It is a good idea to start your day with a snack or a light breakfast. An empty stomach can trigger nausea. Once this discomfort starts, it may continue throughout the day making it difficult for you. Ensure that you keep snacking 30 minutes to 1 hour to help you keep morning sickness at bay.
16. Do Not Get Exhausted
By the time the day comes to an end, we can be absolutely exhausted and tired. Take some rest before night strikes or after you are done preparing dinner. Exhaustion can give way to nausea, so take ample rest breaks during the day.
17. Pamper Yourself
Blissful aromas can also help you deal with queasiness in the middle of the night. You can sniff on lemon whenever you feel nausea striking. You can also put some of your favorite essential oils on your bed sheet and pillow for a calming and relaxing effect or invest in a good aroma diffuser and some branded high-quality essential oils. The more relaxed you feel, the better sleep you will get.
These are some of the most useful tips for fighting the symptoms of morning sickness at night. However, if you don’t get relief, then you should immediately see your doctor. As an expectant mother, you cannot take a chance when it comes to your health.
Read Also: Top 10 Easy Natural Remedies For Morning Sickness
FAQ’s
1. Why Does My Nausea Get Worse At Night?
Nausea and vomiting are common pregnancy symptoms, and hormones play a role in both morning and midnight vomiting. Increases in hCG levels are one factor. Hormonal fluctuations can continue throughout the day and even at night. It’s typical for pregnant women to feel nauseous or have intense nausea but not actually throw up.
2. How Should I Lie Down When Nauseous?
To make matters worse, nausea and general discomfort can be exacerbated by lying flat on one’s back, which causes gastric acids to rise. If you feel sick, consider resting in a reclined position with your head and chest propped up and minimizing your movement.
3. Is It Okay To Sleep After Vomiting?
Particularly in the first few weeks of pregnancy, nausea at night can prevent you from falling asleep and possibly wake you up. It is important to get some sleep and rest after you throw up to reduce the chances of throwing up again after consuming food or liquid.
4. Why Do Hot Showers Help With Nausea?
You may feel less nauseated after taking a hot shower since it increases blood flow to the rest of your body.
