Tips and Remedies for Expectant Mothers – Morning Sickness

November 9th, 2024 | Nausea, Pregnancy

Coping with Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is an incredibly common symptom of pregnancy, with as many as 7 in 10 pregnant women in their first trimester experiencing it (1). But just because it’s common doesn’t make it easy. Thankfully, there are several strategies and remedies you can use to help relieve nausea symptoms, making this first phase of pregnancy more manageable.

Tips for Morning Sickness

Just adjusting your eating and lifestyle habits can make a big difference in preventing nausea. Here are our tips:

• Eat small and frequent meals. An empty stomach, as well as overeating, can make nausea worse. Thus, opt to eat a snack or small meal every two to three hours. Try to prioritize foods that are bland and easy to digest, while avoiding greasy, heavy, and spicy foods that typically trigger stomach upset.
• Eat dry foods before getting out of bed. Unfortunately, most nausea happens in the morning. By eating something like crackers or toast before getting up, your stomach has some time to settle.
• Keep hydrated. Dehydration can make morning sickness much worse, so make sure you are intaking a lot of fluids during the day. If water is difficult to get down, try herbal teas, electrolyte drinks, or ginger ale.
• Relax. Relaxing is easier said than done, but stress is known to worsen nausea. Doing anything to help lower your cortisol levels, like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga, can help calm your mind and body.

Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness

When you’re pregnant, you may have some hesitations about turning to medication. Thankfully, there are a few natural options that can relieve morning sickness.

• Ginger. Ginger is a great herbal remedy that has been used for centuries to manage digestive problems, specifically nausea. It is available in many forms, including tea, ginger ale, supplements, fresh ginger, and candies. You can even try our Preggie Naturals.
• Vitamin B6. Certain research suggests that vitamin B6 is effective in relieving stomach upset and vomiting during pregnancy (2). B6 can be found in supplements but also in foods like whole grains, bananas, and nuts.
• Acupressure. Acupressure bands are frequently used to treat nausea associated with motion and morning sickness. These bands put pressure on certain points in the wrist, helping to minimize nausea.

References

1. https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/pregnancy/morning-sickness#:~:text=At%20least%207%20in%2010,have%20morning%20sickness%20throughout%20pregnancy.
2. https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.vitamin-b6-for-morning-sickness.tn9126#:~:text=Vitamin%20B6%20can%20be%20used,fetus%20with%20vitamin%20B6%20use.&text=A%20typical%20dose%20of%20vitamin,mg%2C%203%20times%20a%20day.