If you’re experiencing morning sickness with your pregnancy, you’re not alone. Studies show that up to 80% of people feel the same way. Fortunately, there are some great tips and tricks that can help you manage morning sickness well. Give them a try to start feeling better quickly.
1. Eat Small Meals Often
Instead of sticking to three large meals, doctors suggest grazing throughout the day. You can start with simple carbohydrates that won’t overly tax your stomach and build up to more filling meals such as soups, smoothies, and slightly larger meals. It’s also best to avoid drinking anything while eating.
2. Stay Hydrated
It can be difficult to stay hydrated when you can’t keep anything down. However, you can find ways to get what you need. For example, eating something salty can sometimes settle your stomach long enough to tolerate some water. Popsicles are also a great way to slowly hydrate without overwhelming your stomach.
3. Watch Your Posture
When you’re pregnant, the emphasis can be more on comfort than anything else. However, being hunched over or lying down too soon after eating can make your nausea worse. You should arrange your seating in a way that encourages good posture as much as possible.
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4. Try Some Ginger
Ginger has been shown to be a great way to keep nausea at bay. To add some variety to the menu, try using fresh or powdered ginger in teas and drinks. You can also have ginger ale, ginger candy, or ginger biscuits.
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5. Avoid Certain Foods
What you don’t eat can be just as important as what you do so make sure to stay away from foods that will make you feel worse. That list includes coffee, fried foods, chocolate, sweet pastries, and meals that are high in fiber.
6. Snack Before You Get Up
Sometimes, morning sickness is at its worst when you just wake up. That’s because the acids in an empty stomach don’t have any food to break down and that causes nausea. Doctors recommend keeping some bland crackers by your bed so you can snack on them before getting up.
7. Try Some Pleasant Scents
What you’re smelling can play a huge role in morning sickness. While strong odors can make it worse, refreshing ones such as chamomile, ginger, lemon, orange and, peppermint can ease your symptoms.
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8. Think Protein-Rich
Some studies have shown that the right protein can alleviate nausea. Foods like yogurt, milk, cottage seeds, and nuts are good sources to try. If you’re not sure which ones to choose, start with a small amount and take it from there.
9. Don’t Brush Your Teeth Immediately
If you brush your teeth too soon after eating, it can trigger your gag reflex. It’s best to wait for at least 30 minutes to allow your stomach to settle.
10. Switch When You Take Supplements
Generally, you’re advised to take your prenatal supplements and other tablets in the morning. Since some people say this makes their morning sickness worse, talk to your doctor about taking them in the afternoon instead.
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When To See A Doctor
Though morning sickness is expected, some people develop a severe form of the condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum. In this case, you would need your doctor’s help to manage your morning sickness. Some symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include vomiting more than three times per day, showing signs of severe dehydration such as the inability to produce urine, and losing more than five pounds.
There are also other conditions that can cause nausea but aren’t related to morning sickness. If you have a fever, are unable to urinate, are vomiting blood, have been vomiting non-stop for 24 hours, or have abdominal pain - you need to contact your doctor immediately.
While there are certain things you can do to ease morning sickness, it’s essential to know when to get your doctor involved. You don’t have to wait until the symptoms become severe before you talk to your doctor about options that can help. It’s a good idea to get it under control quickly so you can focus on eating well.
