5 Simple Tricks to Help Alleviate Nausea During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an amazing time in a woman’s life, but first trimester morning sickness can make it hard to focus on the incredible miracle your body is creating. Nausea, especially when combined with fatigue, mood swings, food aversions, can make early pregnancy a difficult time. The good news: Most of the nausea experienced during pregnancy will disappear after the first trimester. The better news: There are many ways to help combat the nausea without a prescription.  Try these natural remedies so you can get back to planning the nursery.

1. Get plenty of rest-Try to get eight hours of sleep per night. If you are feeling fatigued during the day, lay down and rest.  Nausea can feel worse when you are worn out.
2. Try some ginger-This herbal remedy has been shown to help reduce the feeling of nausea.  Have a glass of ginger ale, or sip hot water with a few slices of ginger. (Before taking any ginger supplements, consult your doctor.)
3. Eat smaller meals-but more often. Food in your stomach can keep nausea at bay.  Instead of eating three large meals, try eating five small meals spaced throughout the day.
4. Pay attention to when you take your prenatal vitamin.  Taking your vitamin on an empty stomach can wreak havoc on your digestive system.  It is recommended you take your prenatal vitamin after your largest meal of the day; some even have luck taking it right before bed.
5. Eat carbs, carbs, and more carbs! Many women find that especially in their first trimester, carbohydrates like breads, pastas, potatoes are the only food they can stomach.  Keeping crackers by your bedside to munch on before you get out of bed in the morning proves to be helpful also.  Don’t beat yourself up if carbs are all you can stomach at the moment.  Once the morning sickness subsides, you will then be able to handle a more well balanced diet.

If you’re battling nausea, remember that dehydration is not your friend: Make sure you are taking in enough fluids. Some pregnant women suffer from a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum, which is characterized by extreme nausea and vomiting.  If you are vomiting excessively and not able to keep fluids down, contact your doctor.  Kate Middleton has this!  Poor girl.

Via Parents.com www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/morning-sickness/morning-sickness/

Julia Rohner, R.N.