How to Deal with Morning Sickness: A Pregnant Woman’s Guide
Morning sickness is a common side effect of first trimester pregnancy. Most women experience a small to moderate amount of morning sickness during pregnancy that usually passes right before or after the second trimester. While this nuisance can be pretty bothersome for the mother to be, it is a clear indication that the pregnancy is progressing well and the placenta is forming normally. For any expectant mom, its important to remind yourself that this part of pregnancy will eventually pass. You just have to hang tough and keep your eye on the prize; your beautiful baby that is growing inside of you. In the meantime, here are some things that will help you get through this tough and trying time of pregnancy.
Drink plenty of water:
Having been pregnant five times, I can say from my experiences that water can be a lifesaver when going through morning sickness. It was pretty much the only thing that didn’t make me nauseous and it also seemed to give me more energy. But the most important thing about drinking a lot of water during this phase in pregnancy is that you will stay well hydrated, which will not only help relieve the nausea, but more importantly it will keep you and the baby healthy.
Eat saltine crackers:
Snacking on these throughout the day can help with keeping your stomach from getting empty. Any woman who has experienced morning sickness knows that if your stomach gets empty the nausea gets worse, so try to keep from getting hungry if you can. I would recommend carrying these with you everywhere you go. Whether its to work or just to the grocery store, you never know when you’ll need them. You should especially keep some on your night stand. Eat a couple if you get up in the middle of the night and upon waking up in the morning before you get out of bed.
Ginger is especially soothing to an upset stomach, which is why ginger ale is a popular choice for pregnant women experiencing morning sickness. If you need to add some flavor to your diet rather than just drinking the same old water, ginger ale is the perfect way to do this. It works wonders on an upset stomach and it’s probably one of the few things without a bland taste that you’ll be able to consume and keep down.
Munch on Popsicles:
Popsicles are another one of the few things that taste good that you’ll probably be able to eat and keep down. This snack is great if you’re craving something sweet, but are afraid of not keeping down whatever you decide to eat. They will also help keep you hydrated if you are not drinking as much water as you should be. Popsicles can be especially helpful during the warmer months when you need a cold and refreshing snack to take the edge off of the heat.
Drink some vinegar and warm water:
I know, it sounds pretty gross right? Maybe so, but adding a teaspoon of cider vinegar to a cup of warm water is actually a very helpful remedy to nausea. Even though it won’t permanently get rid of an upset stomach, it will give you some much-needed relief for at least a little while.
Anti-nausea medications:
If nothing you do seems to relieve your morning sickness and yours and the baby’s health is suffering as a result, you should definitely talk to your doctor about prescribing you something that will help you keep food down and that will raise your comfort level. The first trimester can take a lot out of a woman and any rest that you can get during this time is good. Anti-nausea medication can help you achieve these things. These medications can come in pill form or you can receive a shot from your doctor. It takes a little while for the medication to kick in and start working, so don’t be disappointed if you go home and you aren’t able to enjoy a meal right away. I was given medication for severe morning sickness during my last pregnancy and it took about 24 hours for the medicine to start working. Once the medicine does start working though, you will find it a lot easier to eat and drink, and it will be a lot easier to keep everything you consume down. If you are still experiencing severe morning sickness after having the medication (you are still vomiting everything you eat and drink, you can’t get comfortable or get any rest, etc.) then you need to call your doctor as soon as possible. You may need to be admitted and administered medication through an I.V.
For just about every expectant mom, morning sickness is a necessary evil. Luckily, we no longer live in the times when we would just have to deal with it. There are many things that we can do to help relieve morning sickness and increase our energy and comfort level. Hopefully any expectant mothers who read this article will find these tips to be as helpful to them as they were to me.
