Conquering the Quease: Your guide to taming morning sickness
Tips for easing morning sickness in pregnancy
If you’ve found yourself racing to the bathroom at the crack of dawn or battling waves of nausea through the day, you’re not alone!
Morning sickness is a rite of passage for many expectant parents, and while it might not be the most glamorous sign of pregnancy, it’s a sign that something is happening inside you! In this blog post I’ll share with you some tips to help keep the morning sickness at bay, some that I used in my own pregnancy too!
In the first trimester of my first pregnancy I remember feeling nauseas ALL of the time. I remember thinking ‘it’s supposed to be morning sickness, why do I feel sick all day??’. Morning sickness can strike at any time of the day. I was lucky that it passed at around weeks of pregnancy, but those initial few weeks were awful! In my second pregnancy I had Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) which is excessive nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that often needs hospital treatment or medication. I’ll focus on my first pregnancy and general morning sickness for this blog post as HG could have a blog all by itself.
So lets get in to a few top tips that could help ease the debilitating state of morning sickness!
1. Eat Small, Frequent Meals:
Instead of three large meals, opt for several small, balanced meals throughout the day. An empty stomach can worsen nausea, so keep healthy snacks on hand to nibble when needed. I used to carry around plain crackers or rich tea biscuits!
2. Stay Hydrated:
Dehydration can make nausea worse, so drink plenty of fluids, such as water, ginger tea, or clear broths. Sip slowly to avoid overwhelming your stomach. I also found it helpful to eat ice lollies if I didn’t feel like eating or drinking much.
3. Ginger and Peppermint:
Ginger and peppermint are known for their nausea-relieving properties.
Try ginger tea, ginger sweets, or peppermint tea to help ease morning sickness.
4. Avoid Triggers:
Identify and avoid foods or smells that trigger your nausea. Consider asking others to help with cooking if certain odors make you queasy. A big trigger for my morning sickness was heat. Not ideal to be 6 months pregnant in the height of summer (both times!) so fans at night, cold flannels and cold drinks were my best friends. I also blew up a paddling pool to sit in out my garden when.
5. Rest and Manage Stress:
Fatigue and stress can exacerbate morning sickness. Prioritize relaxation techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, or prenatal yoga if you feel up to it. Ensure you're getting enough restorative sleep and take naps when you are able to (if you don’t have a toddler to look after, like I did second time around!)
Remember that every pregnancy is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. If morning sickness is severe or persistent, it's essential to consult your healthcare provider for additional guidance and potential treatments as this could be HG.