How To Manage Nausea And Vomiting (Aka Morning Sickness) In Pregnancy
The majority of pregnant women experience morning sickness – nausea and vomiting. It usually affects women in the early stages of pregnancy during the first trimester from around 6 weeks (and up to 12 weeks).
It’s officially known as NVP (nausea and vomiting in pregnancy), although you will more often hear it called morning sickness. This is a bit of a misnomer as it can actually happen at any time of day.
No-one really understands why morning sickness happens but it is helpful to remember (if you’re suffering) that it is associated with healthy babies at birth.
Very severe NVP is called HG (Hyperemesis Gravidarum). This condition makes it impossible to keep any fluids down and can lead to weight loss and dehydration.
If you can’t drink anything at all, seek medical advice urgently. But do remember that HG is a rare condition affecting only about one in 100 pregnant women.
Here are our top tips to help you manage nausea and vomiting when you’re pregnant.
Eat little and often
A good way to minimise feeling sick and keep your blood sugar levels stable is to eat little and often. When you are heavily pregnant you may not feel like eating a lot anyway.
Keep healthy snacks to hand, such as sliced peppers, cucumber, carrots, nuts and seeds. This can help you resist the temptation to reach for a sugary quick hit which will make your blood sugar levels rise and then crash.
Choose plain foods
Eating plain foods can help as you will avoid the smells that can trigger feeling sick. Dry food like toast or a savoury biscuit help some women, this can be particularly useful before you get out of bed in the morning.
Avoid fried, fatty or spicy foods
You may be fine with spices but fried, fatty and spicy foods can be common triggers. It might be wise to steer clear of a weekend bacon sandwich or curry.
Drink little and often
It’s vital to be well hydrated at all times during pregnancy. And even more so to replace fluids if you are being sick.
Keep water to hand all the time, if you’re travelling pack a bottle of water. Remember to sip little and often throughout the day.
If you find it boring drinking plain water, try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or drinking fruit teas.
Try ginger
Research is inconclusive on the effects of ginger but anecdotally it seems to be helpful for some women. Ginger biscuits, root ginger as tea or crystallised ginger might help alleviate sickness.
Prenatal supplements
Taking your prenatal vitamins with food or right before you go to sleep may help to reduce nausea. Our Prenatal Multi-Vitamin Supplement is in liquid format and is whole food based. This makes it more absorbable, which is vital during pregnancy, especially if pills cause you to vomit.
Try an alternative or complementary therapy
Some therapies, such as homeopathy, acupuncture, reflexology, and aromatherapy, may help you to cope with morning sickness. Be sure to do your research and find a qualified therapist, who is experienced in treating pregnant women.
Rest as much as possible
Stress and tiredness can make morning sickness worse, so it is important to rest during your whole pregnancy as your body goes through immense changes. It can also really help to minimise nausea and keep your strength up.
We hope these tips help you to best manage nausea and sickness during your pregnancy.
Try to remember that in most cases, NVP is just a phase, and it will pass.
Sources
https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/help/women-suffering/coping-strategies/
https://www.nct.org.uk/pregnancy/nausea-and-vomiting-pregnancy
https://www.babycentre.co.uk/l25005543/12-ways-to-ease-morning-sickness-photos
