Pregnancy is such a magical experience, but what isn’t a magical experience is morning sickness. Some women deal with it briefly and others deal with morning sickness the entire time. Then there’s the rumored cluster of women that never deal with morning sickness (insert eye roll here). All jokes aside, there are many rumored tips and tricks to beat morning sickness. However, what may work for one person may not work for the next, so in today’s blog we will be discussing the latest techniques to survive morning sickness in 2020.
WHAT IS MORNING SICKNESS?
Morning sickness is simply nausea and vomiting that occurs during pregnancy. Don’t let the name fool you either. Morning sickness can hide in the shadows and jump out and strike at any time of the day, which is honestly the most inconvenient part of the whole process. It can be mild to severe, so it’s very important to be open with you OB-GYN about your morning sickness and never hesitate to reach out for help or to ask questions.
SYMPTOMS OF MORNING SICKNESS
When dealing with morning sickness you may experience one or all of the following.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizzy
- Increased heart rate
- Passing small amounts of urine (sometimes dark in color)
- Becoming lethargic
- Cramping
- When To Call Your Doctor
You should call your OB-GYN at any moment if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Weight Loss
- Fainting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Severe back pain
- Seeing blood in your vomit
- Inability to hold any food or water down
TECHNIQUES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST MORNING SICKNESS
CHANGE THE SIZE OF YOUR MEALS
One thing we do know is that being pregnant means your body is being flooded with hormones. What you may not know is that these hormones are slowing down the muscles of your digestive system. So you may have already witnessed this change in your appetite. So your average dinner portion may be too much, but eating too little can make you sick.
One way to combat morning sickness is to crack down on the size of your meals. One easy way to do this is to cut your usual meal portion in half. If you’re eating out, then ask for half of the meal to be made to-go and enjoy it later as that secret late-night snack.
Also, be sure to snack throughout the day! This is easier said than done on some days. Even when you feel like eating something might be the worst possible decision, give it a try, but nothing crazy! Just some crackers, nuts, fruits, and even a cup of broth would be great! These little snacks are great to keep nutrients in your system and alleviate some of the morning sickness symptoms.
B6 CAN BE YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND
Now you may be wondering ”Isn’t B6 already in my prenatals?”. You would be correct! But adding an extra dose of B6 may be beneficial. B6 helps your body process amino acids, which can help reduce that pesky nausea, making this trick a no-brainer. Of course, you should always reach out to your OB-GYN before you start making any changes to your prenatal routine.
PACK A MORNING SICKNESS KIT
Rule number one of the war against morning sickness: Always be prepared! Having a little go-bag to help when you’re experiencing morning sickness symptoms is always a good idea.
Things to pack are: mint gum, mouth wash (make sure it’s alcohol-free though), toothbrush, toothpaste, a puke bag (because you never know when nausea will strike), and last but not least, some crackers and or pretzels – any snack that is easy on the stomach.
EAT SOMETHING SOUR
The word out on the street is that sour foods can help curb nausea. So feel free to cut up some lemons and limes! Or even better grab a bag of Sour Patch Kids and dig in.
AVOID STRONG SMELLS
Becoming a mom is kind of like becoming a superhero, meaning your body starts undergoing some crazy changes. One main change is that your olfactory senses begin to become more sensitive. You may find that certain smells become pretty intense, such as coffee, perfumes, meat, fish, cigarettes, and other strong scents. Every woman is different, so no matter the scent, don’t be afraid to ask for consideration from others. You can also burn incense or use essential oils to cover the offending scents. Here are three great essential oils to consider:
- Lavender Oil
- Ginger Oil
- Mint Oil
Each of them helps with nausea. Lavender oil will also help reduce stress and anxiety, ginger oil will help with any digestive issues and mint will help wake you up and ease that angry stomach.
GET SOME FRESH AIR
There are going to be days that getting out of bed or leaving the bathroom seems impossible. But believe it or not, it can help quite a bit. Now we aren’t talking about taking a large hike or running a 4k, but simply stepping outside or maybe sitting on your deck and enjoying the breeze.
STAY HYDRATED
Remember, hydration is your friend, especially if you’re battling strong morning sickness. You don’t want to be losing fluids, so make sure to stay hydrated! This is an extremely important part of staying healthy during your pregnancy. Make sure to drink at least a hundred ounces of water a day. This is important for your health and the health of the baby as well. Pedialyte may also be a helpful drink to replenish your fluids.
PLENTY OF NAPS
That’s right, take plenty of naps; doctor’s orders! Invest in a new comforter or a giant blanket and hit the sack! There is never such a thing as too much rest. So remember that it’s okay to get some extra sleep or take a couple of power naps. Staying well rested is vital during your pregnancy, as you’re caring for two people now!
STAY POSITIVE
It may be hard right now, but it’s important to remember that is only temporary. Try to stay positive and remind yourself that you’re creating life and will soon be holding a bundle of joy.
HERBAL TEAS
Talk to your OB-GYN about introducing herbal teas into your diet. Many of them have great benefits and have very minuscule amounts of caffeine. However, they should always be taken with moderation, due to how they may react to the medicine you’re currently on. This would be a great topic to bring up at your next doctor appointment.
TRY YOGA
You may already be a big fan of yoga or maybe the idea of yoga makes you shout an audible “nope!” but believe it or not, yoga can help alleviate some of your stress and nausea. By stretching your muscles, opening up your lungs, and meditating on your body and mind you can help feel a little bit more like yourself.
Now it’s important to be careful doing yoga while pregnant and to not push yourself. You can click here to see some routine yoga poses that can help. It’s recommended that you speak with your OB first and show them your workout plan to ensure you aren’t putting more of a strain on you and your baby.
GINGER
Ginger is a great ingredient to incorporate into your daily diet! My personal go-to is ginger ale with real ginger in it. You can also try ginger supplements, but also check with your OB before you introduce a new medication or supplement.
TAKE TIME TO RELAX
You read it right! It’s important to stay physically active but it’s important to give your body a break as well. On days where you want to be mentally active, you could do a puzzle or solve a word search, but other days, you may just want to do nothing and lounge. That’s completely okay too! Keep your watch list on Netflix and Hulu handy and treat yourself to a day off. So grab the blanket and start the latest show you’ve been putting off!
BE COMFORTABLE
You’re pregnant, you can wear whatever you want! Wearing restrictive clothing while pregnant has shown to worsen nausea, so go get some comfy jeans and yoga pants if you haven’t got some already and kick back.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TALK TO YOUR OB
Your OB is going to become your best friend during this time, so don’t hesitate to ask your OB any questions that you may have. If nothing mentioned above works, you can also ask about medication to help with your morning sickness. It’s important to inform your OB if your morning sickness issues cause you to lose weight, faint, cause light-headedness, and any other side effect that is becoming too intense.
For more pregnancy tips or information, check out our other blogs on our website! A Women’s Pregnancy Center is dedicated to providing women with the resources and support they need to manage their pregnancies in a healthy way. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help!