They call it morning sickness, but the unfortunate truth is that the nausea and vomiting associated with it can last all day. Affecting three-quarters of women during their first trimester of pregnancy, this sickness puts a damper on an otherwise exciting and momentous occasion. With my first born, the nausea was limited to the morning and evening, making lunch the only solid meal I had during the day for the first three months of my pregnancy, the remainder of the day I was munching on dry crackers and bananas. My second and current pregnancy was much worse – the nausea was completely debilitating, making it very difficult to eat anything throughout the day and the fatigue was not a helpful factor either. There were a few natural and doc-approved fixes which helped keep the morning sickness at bay and supported to nurture my growing bump.
Ginger
Hailed as the go-to remedy for nausea, ginger is famous for soothing the queasiest of tummies. It’s long history as a treatment for upset stomach is proven since one of gingers active compounds is known to relax gastrointestinal muscles. Try making ginger tea, or drinking ginger ale with real ginger; the carbonation will also help ease your upset stomach. For less conventional options, you can also snack on crystallised ginger chews or gingersnaps. In my first trimester I carried pure ginger drops in my handbag in case the green-eyed monster would appear while I was out.
Electrolyte Ice Cubes
It’s a fact that proper hydration reduces nausea and vomiting. But when even water seems too disgusting to drink and keeping food down is not an option, sucking on a electrolyte ice cubes helps keep you hydrated and replenishes electrolytes. Making this is even simpler. Freeze a cube tray filled with Gatorade or an even healthier homemade electrolyte concoction with salt and/or citrus.
Essential Oils
When preggers, even the slightest of unpleasant smells is enough to set off that gag reflex. While using essential oils should be exercised with extreme caution during this time, sniffing some fresh scents can be very useful in combatting morning sickness. Citrus scents like lemon and orange are quite popular amongst pregnant women, as well as peppermint. To use, add a drop or two on a kerchief to smell whenever nauseous, or add a few droplets into a diffuser to release the essential oils.
Snacking
Keeping bland, simple snacks like pretzels, saltines or even apple slices at your side wherever you go can be ideal. Setting them on your bedside can be handy, especially if you wake up nauseous in the middle of the night. When eaten first thing in the morning or throughout the day in small bits, these types of snacks keep your tummy a little bit full, stabilising your blood sugar and warding off nausea.
Taking Prescribed Meds
If everything mentioned above is simply not doing the trick, you may want to see a doc to prescribe you some medicine. Nausea medications, as well as vitamin B6, have been known to alleviate morning sickness symptoms in some women. Waiting too long to take the right meds may do more harm than good and will only prolong your suffering, so it’s advised to see a doctor as soon as you can.
