For most women, nausea hits hardest during the 1st trimester, so chances are, you’re probably feeling it right about now. There’s no miracle cure for morning sickness, but there are a few ways to ease the nausea a little bit.
Hello, arms and legs
This week, the heart is pumping blood through your baby’s tiny body. The arms and legs are starting to develop, and the head and the contours of the eyes are also becoming clearer. Cartilage, which will later become your baby’s skeleton, is also forming this week. By the end of week 7, your baby measures around 1.6 centimetres – the size of a nice, ripe blueberry.
Feeling a bit queasy?
For most women, nausea hits hardest during the 1st trimester, so chances are, you’re probably feeling it right about now. It’s not known for sure what causes nausea during the 1st trimester, but the knowledge we do have is pretty clear on two things: It probably has to do with all the hormones raging through your body, and it will most likely get better or stop entirely around week 12. So, hang in there; it’ll get better.
There’s no miracle cure for morning sickness, but there are a few ways to ease the nausea a little bit. If some smells are starting to make you sick (like perfume, coffee or certain foods), try to avoid them and get some fresh air. For many women, eating small meals and snacks often can also help. Think lighter snacks like crisps, salted crackers, nuts and bananas.
If you are getting the famous “pregnancy cravings” and suddenly pickles or apples are the only things you can keep down, don’t worry; While pregnant women do need to eat a balanced diet, nausea and cravings are usually just phases and won’t damage your baby. Just make sure to eat vitamin supplements, and you should be covered on nutrients. Only eating fries for a week is better than eating nothing at all.
If you suffer from extreme vomiting and you can’t keep anything down, contact your doctor or midwife for treatment.
When should you tell family and friends?
Maybe now is the time to figure out when to tell your family and friends that you are expecting. Many couples decide to wait until they reach the 2nd trimester since the risk of miscarriage is larger during the 1st trimester. Other couples decide they just can’t wait to share the joy and want their family and friends to support them all the way, also if the worst should happen.
You might also experience that your closest family and friends already suspect it; if you usually drink alcohol at parties, if you feel very sick and run back and forth to the bathroom or if you are suddenly avoiding certain foods, it can be difficult to hide your secret for long.