“First thing I did when I got up in the morning, was to devour the sweet tasting ‘rasgulla’. This shiny white knight was my super savior all those nine months. The day it was not available, the beastly morning sickness took me in its clutches.”
Pregnancy morning sickness is a common pregnancy issue, and for some women lasts the entire nine months. Vomiting and nausea are the common symptoms that leave moms-to-be tired and irritable. Let’s first understand what morning sickness actually is. In spite of its name, morning sickness can get hold of you at any time of the day. And it’s the pesky hormones to blame. On a more positive note, morning sickness is a robust indicator of the fact that the baby inside is healthy and growing well. The symptoms usually occur in the first three months of pregnancy and gradually subside. Some women, however, complain of nausea and vomiting all throughout the pregnancy term.
Now that we know the science behind morning sickness during pregnancy, I offer you some tried and tested morning sickness remedies:
1 Avoid Empty stomach
If you suffer from morning sickness in pregnancy, try and eat at regular intervals. An empty stomach could make your situation worse. Some women eat biscuits 15 minutes before getting out from bed in the morning.
2 Eat smaller, lighter meals
Eat smaller meals at short intervals for morning sickness relief. This will aid in digestion and support the metabolism. High-carbohydrate meals are usually better tolerated in pregnancy. Eating a biscuit or a cracker might be more comforting than having hot spicy foods. Notice what foods suit you and avoid those that make your condition worse. At times, cold food items are better digested than hot and fatty ones. Try eating foods that have neutral smells.
And yes, avoid opening the refrigerator when it is stocked with smelly food items!
3 Tangy liquids work great
Tangy drinks and the very own lemon water could do wonders for your nausea. Keep drinking water and other fluids in small quantities. Too much might result in vomiting. Some women love to suck ice cubes of water or juice. Sucking candies might also be beneficial.
4 Adopt Herbal Teas
Herbal teas during pregnancy are not only great alternatives to caffeine, they are the best natural remedies to combat nausea and vomiting. Ginger tea is soothing and a refreshing way to kickstart the day. Boil a small piece of the root in 1-2 cups of water, strain, and drink. While soaking herbs in water, we extract only the water-soluble elements of the plant. Hence they are deemed safe. Chamomile and peppermint tea are also known to soothe the pregnancy symptoms. Chamomile is high in nutrients like calcium and magnesium and also relieves sleep issues. Peppermint tea is yet a time-tested age old remedy for flatulence, nausea, and vomiting.
5 Take those Supplements
Some supplements like vitamin B-6, help moms-to-be sail better through pregnancy. Folic acid intake is known to make situations better for some women. Iron, on the other hand, could aggravate your morning sickness. Speak to your medical expert before you add supplements to your diet (Source http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/morning-sickness-relief/)
6 Rest!
Do not forget to take some rest. Get yourself pampered, and do things that divert your attention. Read a book or do some knitting/sewing. Learn a new art or pursue that ‘forgotten’ hobby. Engage yourself in activities that you enjoy doing.
Wrap-up
Till date, there is no proven morning sickness treatment & products.
All pregnancies are different and in fact, women experience different symptoms in their two pregnancies. Natural ingredients found in our kitchen shelves coupled with a few grandma’s advice and morning sickness remedies help pregnancy morning sickness but if the situation becomes severe, do consult your medical health provider.