Curbing Morning Sickness Naturally

Pregnancy is a beautiful, miraculous thing.  But during those first several weeks, moms-to-be often feel far from miraculous.  Morning sickness is no fun, and it can really put a damper on both work and play.

In most cases, medication is not advisable for morning sickness as long as it does not cause more serious problems such as dehydration or malnutrition.  So it is up to us to find natural remedies to combat the nausea and vomiting.  Here are a few ways that many women have found effective.

* Eat plain soda crackers fifteen minutes before you get up each morning.  These are usually well tolerated, and they settle the stomach so that we can handle other foods better.

* Eat a high protein snack before going to bed, and again when arising in the middle of the night. Protein will keep the blood sugar on an even keel. Low blood sugar often triggers vomiting during pregnancy.

* Drink plenty of fluids, but drink them slowly.  Sipping on water or lemonade throughout the day has proved to be effective for many women.  Keeping ice water on hand to sip when you feel that you are about to vomit can also keep it from happening.  This may be just the thing to get you through a rough day at work.

* Ginger is great for morning sickness.  You can drink it in ginger ale, sniff it, or eat ginger cookies or candied ginger.

* Exercise regularly. While it may be difficult to muster the motivation to exercise when you’re suffering from morning sickness, forcing yourself to keep up a moderate exercise routine does help ease it.

* Eat frequent, small meals.  Small amounts of food are tolerated better than large meals, yet it often helps to keep something on your stomach at all times.  Keeping something close by to nibble on throughout the day can help keep nausea at bay.

* If a food turns your stomach, avoid eating it, or even smelling it.  Different foods are bothersome to different women, so what sent your friend running to the bathroom in early pregnancy may be fine for you.  But it is generally advisable to avoid spicy or strong-smelling foods.

* Stay cool as much as possible.  Heat can make morning sickness worse, or at least much more unpleasant.

* Speak with an acupuncturist. Acupuncture may ease morning sickness.

* If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, consider eating some meat at this time. The protein in meat may be what your body’s craving at this time. Many moms who are vegetarian struggle with their diets when they become pregnant because their bodies seem to crave meat.

Should I Be Concerned About Morning Sickness?

Over half of pregnant women experience morning sickness at some point.  It is rarely anything to worry about, and it almost always goes away on its own around the second trimester.

Occasionally, however, morning sickness is more than it seems.  If you experience severe nausea, excessive vomiting, or weight loss, or your symptoms persist beyond 13 weeks, you may have hyperemesis gravidarum.  This is a condition that may require medical treatment, and perhaps hospitalization.  So even though morning sickness is rarely cause for concern, it is important to keep your obstetrician informed about your symptoms and share your concerns.

Morning sickness is unpleasant, but it is usually nothing more than a nuisance.  Some modifications to your eating habits are often all that is needed to keep it from being a big problem.  And remember, it will go away on its own eventually.

Recommended: The Cure Morning Sickness Ebook

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