Remedies for Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is also referred to as Nausea gravidarum or pregnancy sickness and is a condition that is experienced by women during pregnancy. It may be called morning sickness, but it can be experienced at any time of the day. It is caused by an increase in the estrogen hormone, and results in frequent bouts of nausea or vomiting during pregnancy. It can also be caused by a nutritional deficiency, low blood sugar, stress or irritating smells during pregnancy. It is intense during the first few weeks of pregnancy, but it is not unusual for it to last throughout the pregnancy cycle in certain cases. There are certain remedies you can turn to so as to deal with this discomfort.

Supplements for morning sickness

Vitamin B6 has been documented to have a positive effect on certain women experiencing morning sickness. It has been seen to reduce nausea and vomiting after as little as one week of taking it. A deficiency of Zinc has been associated to morning sickness. Taking a zinc supplement can help as it will help balance blood sugar, stabilize the metabolic rate and deal with balancing your sense of smell and taste. A supplement with 25 mg of zinc a day is enough.

Herbal remedies for morning sickness

Ginger is a well known herbal relief against morning sickness. You can chew on a small piece of ginger, take ginger root in capsule form or grate ginger root over a cup of hot water to be taken as a hot beverage. You can also take plain ginger ale, as well. Peppermint is a well known stomach soothing herb. It can balance secretions in the stomach during digestion and ease flatulence, hiccupping and nausea. However, it is not good for people suffering from gastroesophageal reflux illness. You can take it in the form of herbal tea or suck on a peppermint candy. Alternatively you can rub peppermint oil on your belly using a warm towel.

Homeopathy and acupuncture for morning sickness

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy that involves the use of needles on certain points of the body to correct certain imbalances in the body that end up causing discomforts or illnesses. There are certain acupressure points on the body that can be worked on by an acupuncturist to deal with morning sickness. By seeing an acupuncturist, you can have your morning sickness issues dealt with by the use of needles on these points. This method has been quite effective with many pregnant women. Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine that involves the treatment of various ailments by giving an individual certain highly diluted substances to trigger the body’s natural healing mechanism to deal with any ailment or physical discomfort. Each person is treated individually according to their condition, and it can safely be used during pregnancy as long as an expert in homeopathic treatments is used. This is a good remedy to try when dealing with morning sickness.

Foods you can eat or avoid during morning sickness

Taking increased amounts of protein in the diet has been shown to have a positive effect on women suffering from morning sickness. This is related to the effect of protein on blood sugar levels as it is being digested. Protein causes blood sugar levels to drop during digestion, and this minimizes the production of stomach acids by the body that may cause nausea. It is advisable to take a protein snack before going to bed such as cheese on crackers or toast, a handful of nuts such as almonds or some yoghurt. You can also have this immediately after waking up to stop the nausea. Avoid simple carbohydrates and eat complex carbohydrates to keep you blood sugar levels low. Have small frequent meals throughout the day with a good balance of protein and complex carbohydrates to help balance your blood sugar at all times. Keep away from fatty or spicy foods and snack on lots of vegetable, fruits and nuts such as almonds throughout the day. Avoid citric fruits and juices as they may cause acidity.

In addition to these remedies get plenty of fresh air and do mild exercises such as walks to help deal with hormonal activity in your body. Consider using motion sickness bands as they can help deal with the nausea. These are just a few of the remedies you can use to deal with morning sickness. If your morning sickness is unusually severe, consider seeing your doc so that you can confirm that there are no complications with your pregnancy.

The first few weeks of pregnancy is filled with struggles brought by the killer combo of nausea and vomiting. These two make up the symptom called “morning sickness”. This is one of the most common early pregnancy symptoms that is a bit tricky to manage as it can be unpredictable.

You might be wondering why it is called “morning sickness” when this condition can occur all throughout the day. “Morning sickness” is just a label people attached to this occurrence as many women complain about these symptoms especially in the morning. It can ease up a bit but can strike from time to time.

Nausea and vomiting kick in the first trimester usually at 4 to 6 weeks after fertilization. These symptoms get worse as day passes. Morning sickness will continue up until the start of the second trimester, that is about 14 weeks into the pregnancy. Though there will be instances that the nauseous feeling will prevail until the end of the pregnancy.

Morning sickness is caused by spectrum of the many physical changes that happen inside the body of a pregnant woman. The shifting hormones plus the introduction of the pregnancy hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in the body lead to the round-the-lock woozy feeling and vomiting. There is no exact link between hCG and morning sickness but nausea tends to take place when there is a high level of hCG.

The female hormone called estrogen is on a hype during the early days of pregnancy. This elevated amount of estrogen causes expectant women to have a sensitivity of certain smells. Any unpleasant odors can likely cause nausea as well as gagging which can result to vomiting.​

With all these things simultaneously taking place, a pregnant woman can develop food aversions (and cravings, too). You may find yourself not liking the dishes or snacks you used to fancy before you got pregnant. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee or the presence of garlic in your food might be annoying to you now. On the other hand, you might crave for particular food or fruits many times during the day, or sometime late at night.

Dealing with morning sickness is difficult but manageable. The simple rule here is that you need to stay away from stimuli that triggers nausea and vomiting. These tips below can also help your body adapt to this symptom:​

• Keep carbohydrates like soda crackers or bread within reach. These types of food help overcome nausea as they are easy to digest and will keep your body focus on this task. Nibble on a few pieces before you get up in the morning.
• You can whip up a few snacks that can combat nausea. Try heating pita bread and dip these into a bowl of hummus. Or slice apples and cheese and keep these inside a ziplock and eat them little by little the whole day.
• Sip on some ginger tea in the morning to alleviate the nauseous feeling. Ginger is a popular herbal medicine for many illnesses. Other alternatives you can try are gingersnap cookies and ginger candies. Studies show that a gram of ginger a day can prevent vomiting as well.
• Eat small meals throughout the day instead of three big meals. This will help reduce the acid in the stomach since there will be food to digest. The absence of acid will stop the gagging and nauseous feeling. To make this easier for you, write a meal plan to check what snacks you can consume before lunch and before dinner. You can label these food items to keep things organized and eaten according to your diet plan.
• Cold treats like popsicles or slushy drinks are known to relax the acid inside the stomach. Try blending fruits with ice or why not turn sports drink or juices to ice cubes. You can just pop these into your mouth every time you are feeling dizzy. Just make sure to watch your sugar consumption to avoid gestational diabetes.
• Don’t throw away orange or lemon peelings. Keep these inside a container and stash them inside the fridge. You can smell every time dizziness strikes. Use these peelings for one to two days only.
• Hydrate as much as possible. Drink plenty of water during and after meals to keep food fully digested. To push yourself to drink more, fill up two 1 liter water containers and try to finish this up until you go to sleep. A good sign that you are drinking enough water is that your urine is colorless.
• Make a list of the things that stimulate your nausea. It will help you avoid these items especially when you are out in a restaurant or when shopping at a supermarket. Keep in a place where it will be easy to access.
• Keep spicy and greasy food away from your diet. These dishes are found to induce acid in the digestive system.
• Stay in well-ventilated places. Odors and aromas in an enclosed room with can likely stir up your nausea. Try walking or breathing in fresh air when you are feeling dizzy during the day.
• Turn off and don’t look directly on devices like television or computer when you are feeling woozy. It is also advisable to wear an anti-glare when watching videos on these gadgets for long hours.
• You should also avoid reading text messages or scrolling down the Facebook news feed while on a car. Doing this activities while seated on moving vehicle can lead to headache and eventually nausea. Explore the different aromatherapy products you can use to ease your nausea. Scents such as peppermint, orange, or seabreeze bring warm feelings. These essential oils can be used on diffusers. You can also test aromatherapy candles while taking a bath or relaxing at night. There are also available organic products like “spa in a bottle” you can try.
• If you want to try alternative remedy, some health clinics offer acupuncture therapy. Many have testified to the effectiveness of this ancient method to treat nausea and vomiting. Through the use of very fine sterile needles, different points of the body are stimulated to correct the problems experienced by the patient.
• Ask your obstetrician to prescribe you a prenatal vitamin. A recent study shows that expectant women who take vitamin B6 regularly have lesser days feeling weak and nauseous.

Remember that every pregnancy is different. Signs and symptoms might appear similar but it can still vary from person to person. You must be careful in whatever remedies or medication you will try. Bear in mind that you are looking after your health and your precious one inside your belly. Never try your luck and opt for over-the-counter medicines. Here are additional tips you may find useful:

• Seek the advice of your obstetrician when taking any medication or herbal remedies.
• Work only with a certified acupuncturist.
• Read the labels of food items or vitamins to make sure these things don’t contain harmful ingredients.
• Do a bit of research when trying remedies for your nausea.
• Speak with your partner, family, and friends to let them know what you are going through. They can give you advice based on their experiences. They will also know the adjustments they can do make you comfortable at home.

Originally posted 2013-08-12 21:56:10.

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