Morning sickness is a natural part of pregnancy, but that does not mean you should suffer from it! While there are many women who experience morning sickness, there are also a lot of ways to naturally combat morning sickness.
Nausea during pregnancy is a very unpleasant feeling. What’s worse is that, contrary to its name, morning sickness can actually strike anytime and anyplace. You can be in the middle of your commute and feel the dreaded nausea coming up. Thus, it is definitely important to know how to relieve it!
Anti-nausea medication does work, but it can cause you to feel drowsy and lethargic. This side effect can be inconvenient, and it can also be downright dangerous if you have to drive. Even if it works, it is still better to choose natural morning sickness remedies with little to no side effects.
What Causes Morning Sickness
Before we go over the natural ways to soothe morning sickness, it is practical to learn about the condition first. Experiencing morning sickness is normal, and a lot of pregnant women go through it. But what causes morning sickness?
It does not necessarily mean that you are lacking in nutrients (although it is always a good idea to monitor what you eat). It can be caused by the increase of hormones, a decrease of blood sugar level, or simply the food that you eat. Morning sickness can be triggered by certain odors, certain foods, and even heat.
And it is also possible to have morning sickness occur without any trigger, so it’s best to always be prepared!
7 Natural Ways to Relieve Morning Sickness
1. Eat several small meals throughout the day.
Many pregnant mothers swear by eating smaller meals more frequently instead of eating three big, square meals thrice a day. The former is said to help keep your blood sugar at an optimum level, which, as mentioned above, has an effect on morning sickness. When going out, don’t forget to pack light snacks in your bag such as crackers and sandwiches.
2. Add more protein to your diet.
Another thing that can help stabilize your blood sugar is protein, so it can be really helpful to add more protein to your diet. Aside from meat and animal products, you can also get protein from a wide variety of sources such as quinoa, legumes, beans, seeds, and nuts.
3. Ginger, ginger, ginger!
Ginger is said to be really helpful in relieving the symptoms of morning sickness, as many mothers can attest to. If you cannot eat raw ginger, you may also take it in other forms such as tea, candy, and even soda. However, because ginger can also cause some side effects like diarrhea, clear it with your doctor first.
4. Eat citrus fruits and sour foods.
Citrus fruits and sour foods have a strange but positive effect on nausea. According to many women, they instantly work in quelling vomiting and are helpful in making you feel better. Eating fresh citrus fruits is best, but if you can’t, sucking on citrus-flavored or sour candy and drinking citrus drinks – even citrus-infused water – are just as effective.
5. Increase your water intake.
Drinking water regularly is very beneficial for pregnant women, and it’s just a bonus that it helps relieve nausea. It is recommended to increase your water intake from 8 to 10 cups a day to combat the symptoms of morning sickness. If you are having trouble drinking water, you can also suck on ice cubes and homemade popsicles to keep you hydrated.
6. Don’t forget to exercise.
It is absolutely normal to feel tired and fatigued during pregnancy, but it helps to get up and do your regular physical routine. Exercising regularly is beneficial not only in keeping you in shape but also in releasing hormones that can combat the possible triggers of nausea.
7. Get plenty of sleep.
Finally, get enough sleep! Pregnancy, as it is, can already drain you of your energy, and morning sickness can be linked to fatigue. Don’t forget to take power naps in the day if you can, and then sleep for a full 8 hours (or more) at night. After all, you need all the sleep you can get for your growing baby!
Morning sickness is an unpleasant symptom that many pregnant women – unfortunately – have to deal with. The good news is that there are many morning sickness remedies that are not only natural but also really simple to do.
*This blog post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, pediatrician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have.