Six Tips for Dealing with Morning Sickness
Introduction
Are you pregnant and struggling with a troubled tummy? Feeling sick or vomiting first thing in the morning or even throughout the day? If this sounds like you, you are not alone. Morning sickness is really common in the first few months of pregnancy, with around 70% of women experiencing symptoms. And while there is no definitive “cure”, read on to find out how you can ease your symptoms through this troublesome time…
Also known as pregnancy sickness, morning sickness is thought to be caused by a reaction to hormonal changes that happen in your body during pregnancy. It’s caused by variation in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) — a hormone that rises dramatically in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Even though it’s called morning sickness, it is also important to note that some women can experience sickness at any time, or even all day. So, how can you better manage it?
1. Eat proteins
Proteins are known to offer long-lasting relief from nausea and vomiting. Stay stocked on protein-packed snacks such as yogurt, milk, nuts and seeds. If you need more information about pregnancy diets and wellbeing, get in touch with our pregnancy nutritionists today.
2. Go sour!
Sour flavours are effective against nausea and uneasiness in the stomach. Try sucking on an orange, lemon, a lime slice, or a sour-flavoured sweet to curb morning sickness symptoms.
3. Eat smaller portions
Instead of eating three regular meals per day, try switching to six or seven smaller portions. Having an empty stomach is considered the main culprit of nausea but we understand that it can be difficult to eat when your tummy is feeling upset. Instead, you can try eating little and often, reaching, for example, for some healthy snacks every few hours to avoid an empty tummy. Find out more about what to include in your pregnancy diet.
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4. Don’t brush your teeth right away
Brushing your teeth right after a meal can lead to accidently activating your gag reflex, so try to wait at least an hour after eating. This tip is especially for women who are experiencing sickness all day long.
5. Embrace pleasurable aromas
As you are probably aware of by now, there are some smells (such as coffee, strong perfumes or alcohol, just to name a few) which you can’t stand as they set off your nausea. It sounds simple, but try to avoid these and any other types of smells that make you sick or lead to unpleasant gagging. If it’s not practical to do this, you could try sniffing essential oil scents such as peppermint or lemon, which are known to aid in alleviating nausea. For best results, pour a few drops on a cotton ball and sniff it when you feel unwell.
6. Stay hydrated
Seems like a no-brainer, right? But we can’t emphasise this one enough. Making sure to drink at least eight glasses of water every day. Dehydration leads to nausea which results in a more severe morning sickness routine. If water is also making you queasy, try adding a slice of lemon or drink water with fruit squash for a different flavour. Many pregnant women find fluid intake unpleasant during pregnancy, but there are some ways you can trick your mind and body into tolerating more liquids. Try eating chips or crackers, as the salt might trigger your thirst while also settling your tummy.
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