In gorgeous news this week Carrie Bickmore has shared a family video announcing that she is expecting baby number three.
Keeping her pregnancy hidden much longer might have proven difficult for the mum-to-be because, like most expecting mums, Carrie has been feeling pretty average.
On Thursday, Bickmore told The Hit Network her morning sickness has now eased and she is feeling a little better.
“Until this week I felt so sick – 24 hours a day, like, I mean so sick,” the 37-year-old mum-of-two said.
“I didn’t even think I had the energy to work out … to even get my head around what was happening.”
“[Being] hungry made me feel sick, eating has made me feel sick, being awake has made me feel sick, sleeping has made me feel sick, coffee has made me feel sick, everything has made me feel sick,” explained Carrie.
“I’m feeling 50 per cent better, which weirdly feels like completely better.”
Carrie shared her beautiful baby news in a gorgeous family video
So what is morning sickness?
Pregnancy sickness (or ‘morning sickness’ as it’s commonly known) is thought to happen when the pituitary gland floods the body with pregnancy hormones. Once the placenta is fully formed – at about 12 weeks – it takes over hormone production and, for most women, pregnancy sickness goes away.
Other factors which can make pregnancy sickness worse include low blood sugar levels (which may explain why many women suffer most in the morning), tiredness and stress.
Why me?
Nobody knows why some women suffer with pregnancy sickness and others don’t, but you’re more likely to get it if:
you’re carrying two or more babies
you have a delicate stomach anyway
you’re not a first-time mum.
Will it harm my baby?
Not at all. Even women with severe vomiting are just as likely to have a healthy baby.
How can I ease it?
There are lots of ways to relieve pregnancy sickness – try our tips, below, and see what works for you:
Avoid greasy, fried or spicy foods, coffee, smoking and alcohol.
Don’t try to tackle big meals – instead, eat little and often.
If you feel sick, eat carbohydrate-rich foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread and always carry healthy snacks such as bananas or rice biscuits with you for ’emergencies’.
Have a snack last thing at night – this may help keep your blood sugar level up till morning.
Get plenty of rest – tiredness can make pregnancy sickness worse.
Relax! Stress is another important factor in pregnancy sickness.
Sip small amounts of water between meals.
Don’t rush out of bed in the morning – if possible, get your partner to bring you some tea and toast in bed.
Some mums-to-be swear by wrist bands (also known as sea bands) which use acupressure to ease nausea – they’re available from chemists.
Avoid smells, such as spicy food or petrol, which may make you feel sick.
Don’t take over-the-counter treatments for nausea if you’re really suffering, yourGP can prescribe something for you.
What if it’s serious
If you’re still being sick three or more times a day after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or if you’re losing weight, speak to your GP or midwife. You may be suffering from a rare condition called hyperemesis gravidarum (which means excessive vomiting in pregnancy).
If you experience vomiting which is so excessive and unresponsive to the usual treatments that you feel generally unwell, you’ll need to be admitted to hospital, where a restricted diet together with medication usually relieves the problem.
Nature’s answer
Ginger, the traditional Chinese remedy for nausea, can help to ward off pregnancy sickness – you’ll find the crystallised version in your local health food shop. You can also try a couple of slices of stem ginger in boiling water; other women swear by ginger biscuits before they get out of bed in the morning.
Did you know?
Women expecting planned babies tend to have less sickness than women with unplanned pregnancies, probably because they suffer less anxiety.
