Being pregnant is a beautiful feeling but the morning sickness that comes along with it in the first few months is rather torturous.Its basic symptoms include constant nausea, frequent vomiting and a low appetite. There is no particular time for it; it can strike at any time of the day or even at night. It is said it is absolutely normal for a woman to experience these sick or nauseated feelings during the first trimester, and the degree of sickness differs from woman to woman.
For some unlucky few, it could last for about 4 or 5 months or even right up to the third trimester as well. Although, the actual reasons behind why women get morning sickness are unknown, the hormonal changes taking place or the imbalance in blood sugar could add to it. Here are a few remedies to ease the discomfort you feel.
1. Eat as soon as you get up
Although pregnancy sickness can occur any time during the day, it is often the worst in the morning. Eating something as soon as you wake up can ease the intensity. Keep a stash of plain biscuits or crackers next to your bed and munch on them as soon as you are awake. This will help raise your blood sugar levels even before you start moving around. Make sure you rest for a couple of minutes before you get up, as sudden movements can make you feel worse. Eating a snack or a fruit just before you hit the sack or even during the night can help to an extent.
2. Eat little and often
Changing your eating habits a bit can help cope with morning sickness. Instead of eating three full meals a day, having smaller snacks every few hours is the way to go. You must understand that you can feel horrible when you are either too full or too hungry. So having something in your stomach always will help keep your sickness to minimum, and also keep blood sugar level stable rather than having sugar related highs and lows messing the system. Go for foods that are low in fat and rich in carbs, and avoid anything too spicy and oily. If you are struggling to eat anything at all, feel free to consume foods that you like. Ideally biscuits, crackers, dried fruit and nuts and bananas are particularly good for the stomach.
3. Eat what you like
Keep your diet at bay and try to consume all what you like. After all you want to protect your baby from contaminated foods, don’t you? If you are throwing up too much, then it is better not to worry too much about that balanced diet regime. The important thing is to eat what you like and to keep something down as much as possible. Cravings are normal, and so if you feel like having a cheesecake, go ahead and feast on it without worrying too much.
4. Stay hydrated
It is very very important that you stay hydrated, especially if you are vomiting a lot. Drink plenty of fluids- water, soft drinks or even sucking ice cubes is fine. Sometimes, it might be difficult to keep the fluids down, but keep continuing the fluid intake. If you think you are dehydrated or losing weight, then consult a doctor without wasting time. This could be a severe case known as hyperemesis gravidarum which might require hospitalization and further treatment.
5. Ginger
Ginger has been known for its anti- emetic properties, especially in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine and is known to be constantly used by NASA astronauts to help fight motion sickness. Doctors and midwives suggest consuming ginger in various forms to ease morning sickness. Make some ginger tea by using tea bags and freshly grated ginger, swallow some ginger capsules, or even consuming ginger biscuits would help settle your stomach. You must also understand that ginger does not work for all women. It could sometimes make you feel even worse. So try it once, and if you think it works, continue.
6. Relax
It is an accepted fact that stress, anxiety and tiredness can make morning sickness worse. So, it is important that you rest and relax as much as possible during this period. If your sleep cycle at night is messed up, try sleeping in the afternoon for a while, preferably not immediately after eating. Do not feel guilty about asking for help, especially if you already have children who need to be attended to. Also, try offloading whatever is bothering you to your partner, friend of family and it can help you feel better.
7. Aromatherapy
You’ll come to realize that morning sickness is often made worse by certain smells, even the ones you loved before becoming pregnant. So wherever and whenever possible, it is ideal to avoid these. Keep the windows open while cooking or eating cold foods, which can reduce odors. Another remedy would be to try aromatherapy which a lot of women swear by. Sprinkle a handkerchief with a few drops of your favorite herb or lavender and sniff it to ward off the other annoying smells. Peppermint oils and citrus oils are also known to work wonders with sickness related issues.
8. Vitamins
A number of studies have proven that vitamin B6 can help relieve the nauseating feeling occurring in pregnant women. You can choose to take them as supplements or consume natural food items such as bananas, corn, lean meat and fish and whole grains all of which help boost your b6 intake. The supplements also known as pyroxide help the body to absorb carbohydrates and proteins, but if consumed in large doses, these can cause nerve problems as well. So check with your doctor before taking them. Vitamin B12 found in eggs and dairy products are also known to help deal with morning sickness.
9. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is now gaining popularity among pregnant women who have morning sickness issues. Make sure you ask your doctor to suggest a qualified practitioner who has experience in treating pregnant women. Private treatment can be expensive, so for a more affordable option, purchase acupuncture bands which when worn on your wrists, stimulate the acupuncture pressure points that relieve nausea. They usually work immediately and are available at chemists’ shops.
10. Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is the latest way to the list of morning sickness remedies. They work by creating a state of deep relaxation wherein you are more open to positive suggestion. Pregnant women practicing this will be able to have a restful sleep, better digestion and even increased appetite. Either find a qualified therapist who can help you with your state, or get hold of a self hypnosis CD particularly for morning sickness.
