Home Remedies For Morning Sickness

Morning sickness refers to symptoms of nausea and vomiting that are experienced by pregnant women. They can occur during any time of the day but may be aggravated in the mornings. Morning sickness varies in intensity. The condition is known to occur in three-quarters of women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting are experienced by nearly half of all pregnant women. The symptoms usually begin during the sixth week of pregnancy, but may even begin as early as the fourth week. The symptoms then tend to increase over the following month. Many women find that the symptoms subside and even disappear completely by the fourteenth week of pregnancy. But for others, pregnancy symptoms may continue to act up for a lot longer. Bouts of morning sickness may also come and go sporadically through the pregnancy, with no particular pattern. The experience of morning sickness can leave you feeling fatigued, but there are ways to alleviate the symptoms.

The main symptoms of morning sickness include nausea, vomiting, and tiredness. In addition, many women also experience constipation, back pain, swelling of the breasts, and darkening of the areola. Symptoms of morning sickness are not a cause for concern. They occur because the body is adjusting to the progressing pregnancy. It is a sort of defense mechanism which enables you to accept the changes taking place in your body. Each woman adapts differently to pregnancy and hence morning sickness may occur in some women and may be completely absent in others. This too is not a cause for worry. There is no evidence that links lack of morning sickness with problems in pregnancy. Morning sickness is not likely to affect the baby in any way. Due to nausea and vomiting, many women lose their appetite and are not able to gain weight easily. If weight gain does not take place in the first trimester, it is not a cause for concern. However, it is important that the body is not starved. Good hydration must also be ensured. Mostly, women are able to regain their appetite soon and weight gain starts occurring properly. In cases where nausea and vomiting are severe and continuous, there may be a risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

Home Remedies For Morning Sickness

1. Eat frequently during the day (at least six small meals daily) which will help you avoid an empty stomach.
2. Some women obtain relief after eating carbohydrate-rich foods while others experience improvement after eating protein-rich foods. It is best to experiment to figure out which foods suit you the best. But ensure that whatever you eat is healthy and good for you and your baby. Nausea and vomiting are usually more intense in the mornings and a good way to deal with this is to keep some light snacks by your bedside. You can eat a little when you wake up and then rest for about 20 minutes. This will ease the symptoms and make you feel better when you finally get out of bed.
3. Don’t get out of bed as soon as you wake up. Instead, laze and loll about for a bit. This isn’t advice that you’d normally receive, so enjoy it while you’re pregnant. Getting out of bed in this manner, will in most cases help to prevent dizziness.
4. Certain foods are likely to trigger nausea and it is best to identify and avoid such foods. It is better to stick to a bland diet as these are less likely to result in vomiting. Hot foods have a stronger aroma and therefore it is advisable to have your meals at room temperature or cold. Nausea and heartburn generally occur when you eat fatty foods that are harder to digest. Also, avoid spicy and fried foods as these can affect digestion.
5. Avoid drinking a lot of fluid at a time, to the extent that you feel full. Have your fluids between meals or sip on them throughout the day. If there has been excessive vomiting, you need to stay hydrated. Drinks that help to replace depleted salts and electrolytes are beneficial.
6. Some women find that eating protein-rich foods just before going to bed is helpful as it keeps their blood sugar levels balanced.
7. Low blood sugar aggravates nausea, so you should try to keep a good level throughout the day, starting from the moment you wake up. You can keep some crackers on your night table and eat them before you get up.
8. Instead of eating your foods, try to drink them, it’s easier for your body to digest a milkshake or fruit shake instead of having to chew them.
9. Avoid foods and odors that make you feel nauseous.
10. Drink plenty of carbonated beverages, without caffeine. Consuming ginger ale, for example, will promote the elimination of gas when at the same time ginger ale contains ginger, a herb that soothes the digestive tract.
11. Also mix singles drops of ginger, fennel, and peppermint oils, then add them to an ounce of carrier oil. This exquisite oil massaged into the skin will settle the stomach.
12. For something more relaxing, put a few drops of lavender oil in the bathtub and enjoy the immersion.
13. Taking ½ to 1 tsp of Wild yam root every day will help you deal with your morning sickness.

Author: Dr Izharul Hasan

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