Morning sickness is a term that stands for a feeling of nausea and queasiness that often results in vomiting. However, morning sickness doesn’t necessarily happen in the mornings, it can even continue for the entire day, making you feel very weak and miserable. This feeling of constant nausea is quite common during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. Some women experience it throughout the nine months phase. However, do not despair, as there are many ways to tackle this problem so that you can deal with it effectively and survive the ordeal.
Avoid moving quickly
Quick movements can sometimes make you feel dizzy and nauseous. So, if you have to get up from bed, tilt sideways (which in any case is good for pregnant women) and then slowly support yourself and sit upright. Never get up with a jerk, as it can make you feel dizzy and sick. No matter what you do, whether it is climbing down stairs or working in the kitchen, avoid quick movements and work your way slowly to avoid nausea.
Avoid the triggers
There are certain foods that suddenly smell revolting during pregnancy. So, try to keep away from the taste, smell and sight of such foods that make you feel nauseous. Every pregnant woman has a unique trigger, and most of the times it turns out to be a food that she was particularly fond of, before getting pregnant! Don’t put up a brave front and cook up foods that make you feel queasy because they happen to be good for health. Take it easy and only eat what you feel like eating. However, if you feel better later on, then perhaps you can experiment. Don’t shy away from asking for help from your partner and family.
Keep your favorite snacks handy
There are some discoveries that you will make along the way. You might eventually find a particular food that quells the nasty nauseous feeling and energizes you. Pick those foods and keep a regular supply of them with you all the time. Some safe bets of foods that provide relief against nausea are dried fruits, soda crackers, raw almonds, Cheerios, pickles, gum, lemon drops and many more. Try to find foods that are filling which you can frequently nibble on for snacks. Keep some crackers, or whatever you like, near the side of your bed for an easy access. Try to feed on your snack first thing in the morning, then lie down for fifteen minutes before getting out of bed. If you go outdoors, make sure you take a snack and water with you at all times, especially for long journeys. Try finding that perfect food and see which one works for you.
Stay hydrated
If you are continuously nauseated and have been vomiting frequently, you must take the extra effort of consuming more liquids to keep your body hydrated. Drink slowly and do not drink in one go as this might trigger vomiting. Try sucking on ice and sip on your favorite juice throughout the day. There are certain drinks that expecting mothers find quite tolerable such as vegetable juice, lemonade, bubbly pop or grapefruit juice. Pick what you like because dehydration in pregnancy is not good and would make you more ill. If you do not feel queasy drinking milk, then do so throughout the day. At times, headaches emanating from morning sickness are due to the lack of adequate water. Therefore, consuming liquids will help you get relief from it.
Take vitamins that bring relief
Prenatal vitamin supplements provide the expecting mothers with all the nutrients that are lacking in her diet at this time. However, if you happen to vomit them out each morning, then they do seem to be pointless. A lot of women have problems with the iron supplements that cause nausea and irritate the stomach. Talk to your doctor about it and you may have to postpone taking them until your morning sickness passes. However, a lot of doctors prescribe a 50 mg supplement of vitamin B6 that helps in bringing relief from morning sickness.
Try herbal remedies to suppress the feeling
There are some herbal remedies that can quell nausea. However, always take such preparations after consulting a doctor as it can backfire at times. There are various herbs that have magical properties for curing morning sickness such as ginger, peppermint, slippery elm bark or raspberry tea. You can take any of these in form of tablets or even in their original state mixed with tea. Peppermint is a great favorite with women having nausea. It effectively quells the feeling and brings relief.
Avoid certain vitamins
The prenatal vitamins that doctors advise pregnant women to take, most often are the triggers of morning sickness. Try to check whether the vitamins cause nausea and if they do, take the medicine at night rather than in the morning. Taking them with a snack also works well as they wont react adversely. Talk to your doctor about it and you will be advised accordingly. Do not discontinue taking your vitamins on your own because these are extremely important for the baby. You doctor can perhaps change your vitamins to something that you would be able to tolerate better.
Sea Bands
A lot of people have raved about the wondrous effect of Sea Bands. The product only costs a couple of dollars and is well worth every penny of it. The Sea Band helps to stop motion sickness and are to be worn on the wrist. These bands have a small plastic nub located at the bottom that works as a pressure point for the bottom of the wrist, much like acupressure. By wearing the Sea Band you would gain relief from morning sickness as well as motion sickness.
Watch out for foods that make you queasy
It would be a good idea to keep a close tab on all that you eat throughout the day. Try to pick out certain foods that result in making you feel nauseous and queasy. Avoid eating such foods at times when you feel queasy, and if they can be avoided, do not consume them at all. Stay away from heavy foods that are extremely spicy and oily.
Magnetic wristbands
A lot of people suggest that wearing magnetic wristbands help you overcome nausea. However, this product does not have many takers, but nevertheless, it is worth a try. Magnetic wristbands have special properties that help you overcome morning sickness even before it strikes. There are no side effects as these are non-medicated and quite safe to use.
