Having to deal with persistent nausea and vomiting is a common occurrence during pregnancy. Despite being known as “morning sickness”, it can happen at any time throughout the day.Symptoms will eventually subside but, they can be aggravated by hormonal changes, stress, or a particularly sensitive stomach.
While it’s most common during the first trimester, some women experience this throughout their pregnancy.
Fruit shakes
Such is the case for new mum Ruby F. who shared how she experienced morning sickness practically all throughout her nine months of pregnancy.
What helped her, she shares, were frozen fruit shakes. Though it was clear to Ruby what helped her, one mum isn’t so sure about what home remedies would work for her. So, she sought the help of her fellow mums over on theAsianparent Community, a new digital community and Q&A platform for parents.
screengrab: theAsianparent Community
Pickles and jams
Idza B.suggests pickles and jams, as well as sour candies and other sour-flavoured foods to appease queasiness. “Their sharpness in taste is thought to help to reduce the feeling of nausea during morning sickness. Make citrus-flavoured popsicles using lemons, oranges, grapefruits or berries,” she writes. “The cold juice will provide some welcome relief.”
Chocolate milk
What worked for Nooraini D. was drinking a cup of warm water as soon as she got up in the morning and then, following it u with Meiji’s chocolate milk. “I know it’s odd but this somehow works for me,” writes mum-of-two.
Lemons and oranges
“I used to have lemons and oranges for the morning sickness during my pregnancy,” shares mum-of-two Aashi M. “Sometimes just smelling them reduced my symptoms of nausea.”
Herbal Tea
Ginger, peppermint, and lemon tea are popular choices to combat morning sickness. However, peppermint should be avoided for those who frequently experience heartburn.
photo: Pixabay
While some mums may be worried about just how safe herbal teas are during pregnancy, Tara Anchel, a registered naturopathic doctor of the Naturopathic Doctor’s Association of Canada assures us that it’s safe to drink:
“The essential oil of some of these herbs is contraindicated during pregnancy, but there is a very low concentration of these oils in tea. The concentration is so low that it is safe. When you soak an herb in hot water, you’re only extracting the water-soluble components of the plant. As well, essential oils evaporate very quickly. When you have a steaming cup of tea, the first thing to evaporate is the essential oil.”
Though naturopathic doctors may recommend these, it’s still best to consult with your own doctor to determine what remedies would truly work best for you.
Soothing spices
Dark ginger ale may settle an upset stomach. Be sure to stay away from ginger ale with fizz, though. Because it stimulates stomach acid production, which will make you even more nauseated.
Chewing on fennel seeds or anise has been known to work in soothing an upset tummy.
Hydrate!
Drink a glass of water every hour and every time you get up to go to the bathroom late at night.
Other fluids like juice and milk can be good choices; they keep your stomach from feeling empty, which is one of the surefire ways to trigger nausea and vomiting!
Boost your Vitamin B intake
Upping your intake of vitamin B during pregnancy helps you metabolise fats, protein, and carbohydrates more efficiently. They also help stimulate red blood cell and antibody production—something that is vital to your baby’s brain development.
photo: dreamstime
Keep yourself full
Small, frequent meals throughout the day; they’re easier to keep down and will keep you from feeling hungry.
Keep some crackers by your bed in case you get hungry in the middle of the night.
You can also snack on peanut butter on apple slices or a few slices of cheese. Make sure to avoid fried, fatty foods because they tend to aggravate morning sickness.
Avoid your triggers
Knowing your triggers will help you avoid them. For some women, they become highly sensitive to certain odours, such as cooking food or cigarette smoke.
Once you know what sets you off, it’ll be easier for you to steer clear of them.