Morning sickness occurs at any time, including the night. According to the BabyCenter website, it affects approximately 90 percent of women who are pregnant. Morning sickness at night makes sleep difficult, especially if your symptoms are severe. Because morning sickness at night has such unpleasant effects, it is essential to understand why it occurs and how you can cope with it.
Symptoms and Definition
Although morning sickness at night typically develops during the first trimester of pregnancy, it sometimes lingers for several months. Symptoms include nausea at bedtime or in the middle of the night, queasiness when you wake in the night due to discomfort or the need to use the restroom, and vomiting. Certain scents often trigger morning sickness at night -- even smells that didn't bother you prior to your pregnancy.
Triggers
Morning sickness at night develops due to an increase of hCG and estrogen hormones in your body. In addition, the stress of being pregnant, the increased sense of smell and the stretching of the muscles in the uterus all contribute to morning sickness at night. Failing to eat before bedtime, due to a pregnancy food aversion, causes your stomach to feel empty and triggers nausea and morning sickness at night.
Coping
Eat while you lie in bed at night. Keep bland snacks such as cereal, trail mix and crackers on your bedside table. Snack on food before you go to sleep and when you wake up in the middle of the night. If you can't tolerate solid foods, keep plenty of fluids such as water or canned shakes by your side to sip on before bed and throughout the night. With your doctor's approval, take a B-6 vitamin supplement at bedtime, which sometimes helps reduce nighttime nausea and stress.
Dangers
Call your doctor if morning sickness at night is severe, your heart begins to race, you cannot keep any food or liquid down, your urination is infrequent or dark-colored or you begin to throw up blood. Left untreated, morning sickness at night prevents you from gaining weight while you are pregnant, which keeps your baby from growing and developing properly.
