For over fifty percent of American women the joy of celebrating a bun in the oven is followed a few weeks later by morning sickness. What is morning sickness? Morning sickness is the body’s response to the increased hormone production resulting in nausea and sometimes vomiting. Though it dubbed “morning” sickness many Mamas experience nausea and vomiting at different times during the day, and can pinpoint a certain time of day that it is the worst. For most women, morning sickness occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy beginning around the sixth week and usually resolving by the end of the first trimester. If you are finding yourself suffering from nausea before the sixth week of your pregnancy or you are still nauseated in your second trimester… you are not alone! A handful of women have very sensitive systems and often have morning sickness symptoms outside of the ‘normal’ timeline. Just remember that it is totally normal and many experts believe it is a sign of a very healthy pregnancy. Please note that if you are having extreme symptoms of nausea, vomiting, are unable to keep food or water down, or are feeling extremely faint or dizzy contact your healthcare provider immediately… they need to help you monitor what is going on in your body.
Time is the only true cure for morning sickness, but try these natural remedies to help reduce your nausea during pregnancy, they are very effective for many mamas…
- Eat before getting out of bed… Keep a box of healthy, easy to digest crackers on your night stand, eat a few crackers in bed before you start getting up, 15-30 minutes prior is best.
- Get out of bed like Grandma… Try to get up in phases. Go from completely horizontal to slightly sitting up with pillows behind you, then sit completely up on the edge of the bed for a few minutes, finally, stand up and move through your morning routine SLOWLY. Getting out of bed should take a minimum of five minutes!
- Make ginger and mint your new favorite flavors… Ginger and mint are both great ways to combat nausea. Add ginger to your daily diet by consuming: candied ginger, all-natural ginger ale, ginger tea, or recipes using fresh ginger as a main ingredient. Mint is easy to get your hands on: Altoids (keep them on you all the time), fresh mint leaves muddled in your water, and peppermint gum.
- Eat small, drink big… Healthy and well balanced meals are exactly what you need during pregnancy, just make sure to eat smaller portions more frequently to aid digestion. Avoid getting too full to help decrease your risk of vomiting. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Try to hydrate between meals, not during. Get a glass or stainless steel water bottle and keep it with you all the time. Most women should drink a minimum of 72oz. of water per day. Getting enough liquids is imperative especially if you have been vomiting!
- Prenatal vitamin perfection… Prenatal vitamins are a must during pregnancy but can make nausea worse because of the high content of B vitamins (known to cause stomach upset). Try switching pre-natal vitamin brands to one that is ‘easy on the stomach’. Also, try taking your vitamins during the time of day you feel the best, and always take them with food!
- Snag some sea bands… Sea bands are simply a cotton wristband with a plastic bead attached. They apply pressure to an acupuncture point used to treat nausea.
- Inhale soothing smells… Many women find instant relief of nausea by smelling, lemon, peppermint, or lavender. Keep baggies on hand with lemon slices, or a rag doused with a few drops of peppermint or lavender oil, then smell away!
- Other ideas… preggie pops, sucking on lemon slices, popsicles, consulting a professional about vitamin therapy or acupuncture.
Hang in there mama, we promise it will pass!
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