Pregnancy nausea is a much more appropriate name than the more commonly used ‘morning sickness’ which unwittingly implies you’ll feel better after lunch. If you’re suffering from pregnancy nausea, you’re probably already aware that it can strike at any hour of the day. The word sickness is misleading too, because not all women vomit, some experience nausea without vomiting. Whatever you’re experiencing, whether it’s a handful of sick each morning, or a full day of stomach turning nausea, chances are you’re feeling fed up and ready to try almost anything to spend a few hours with your head out of the toilet bowl.
Every pregnancy is unique, and every mother-to-be is different, so not all of these tips will work for everyone. Give them a go, and hopefully you’ll find something that helps you to feel a little better. Here are five tips to reduce pregnancy nausea:
- Try some ginger – some women swear by ginger as a natural way to tackle pregnancy nausea. Ginger tea, ginger biscuits and ginger beer (non-alcoholic, of course) are all popular amongst pregnant women. Some women find that the ginger helps to settle their stomach.
- Eat first thing – some women find that the nausea kicks in as soon as they get out of bed. Low blood sugar could be one of the causes of pregnancy nausea, so you may find that eating before you get out of bed can help to reduce sickness. Snacking on a plain cracker a few minutes before standing up could reduce pregnancy nausea, although feel free to demand a full cooked breakfast in bed from your partner if you think it will help.
- Eat little and often – instead of gorging on three big meals a day, try picking at smaller meals throughout the day. Keeping healthy snacks near your desk at work, and eating light meals, could help to prevent dips in your blood sugar level.
- Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water. This seems to be go-to advice for any pregnancy ailment, and that’s because you need extra water during pregnancy. Drink plenty of water, and you may find that your pregnancy nausea becomes more manageable. If you are struggling to keep water down, try adding lemon or ice to see if that helps.
- Eat the right foods – while you may be craving salty, sugary snacks, these foods can actually make pregnancy nausea worse. Try to increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, and make sure you are eating a healthy, balanced diet. Some women find that strong flavours increase nausea, so you may want to avoid spicy food for a couple of weeks. If you’re sick each time you eat an orange, cut oranges out of your diet for a few days to see if that helps.
If you’ve found any tips that have helped your nausea, please share them in the comments section. Remember, all women are different so what works for someone else may not necessarily work for you, but it might be worth a try just in case.
Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.