Tips to Combat Morning Sickness & Nausea
Pregnancy is a beautiful and wonderful journey, but the morning sickness that comes with your first trimester... not so much.
Morning sickness occurs for many reasons, but it varies from woman to woman. Research has shown that 75-80% of women will experience morning s
Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate the discomfort and deal with these symptoms, so listen up mama!
1. Eat small portions throughout the day.
Instead of having a big meal during your regular eating hours, doctors recommend eating small portions every 1-2 hours throughout the day instead. This amount is enough to keep you full enough that you don’t just throw it back up again. Doctors also recommend eating high protein snacks instead of high carb ones since protein tends to keep you fuller for longer, but again, it differs for everyone.
Snack on some soda crackers, nuts, dried fruits, or some chips if you can to keep yourself from starving throughout the day.
2. Try peppermint or ginger.
Sucking peppermint or ginger candy or drinking peppermint or ginger tea can help alleviate nausea. It’s s also great for soothing an upset stomach or aiding in heartburn. Tea is a great alternative to caffeine or any sugar-filled beverages when you are pregnant.
3. Drink lots of water.
It’s important that you keep hydrating when you have morning sickness to avoid dehydration, and yes, this includes any tea or juice that you’ll be having. Doctors suggest that one way to "trick" your body into taking in more fluids is if you hydrate after eating a salty snack like saltines or potato chips (or any salty snack you prefer). Just don’t overdo it.
4. Check for environmental triggers.
Is the room temperature giving you the ick? Is it the noise from outside? Certain smells, maybe? Some of the things in your environment are actually known to cause nausea or vomiting. No one really knows why, but experts suggest that it’s probably because your body and senses are heightened and are more prone to noticing these triggers and making you uncomfortable. Some studies even suggest that it’s your body’s way of protecting you and your baby while in the early stages of pregnancy, so if you can adjust your environment to your comfort and liking, then by all means do so.
5. Get enough rest.
Morning sickness is NOT easy to deal with, especially if you’re a working mom who doesn’t have the luxury of being able to work from home and take a break when you need it. If you’re able to take some days off from work to prioritize your health and your babies' health, then don’t be afraid to use up those rest days. Morning sickness occurs between your 4th and 9th week of pregnancy, so you’ll have time to rest physically and mentally.
6. Try taking prenatal vitamin
Prenatal supplements are a great way to fill any nutritional gaps that you may be having due to vomiting from morning sickness, and according to some studies, prenatals actually help some pregnant women reduce the amount of vomiting and nausea in the morning! Just make sure that you consult with your doctor or dietitian before taking any supplements or medications.
7. Consult your OBGYN.
You’ve tried every remedy in the book and nothing seems to be working. It’s time to let your doctor know. This is important to avoid anything getting worse or to prevent you from developing “Hyperemesis Gradivarium”, which is an electrolyte imbalance in your body that causes rapid and unhealthy weight loss, dehydration, extreme nausea, and vomiting. The good news about morning sickness is that it goes away around 16 or so weeks into your pregnancy, so hang in there mama, and we hope these tips helped!