Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases of a woman’s life. As the excitement of a new life growing inside you, your very own reflection thrills you, at the same time you have to be strong enough to accept and adjust to several changes that take place with your body.
There are several symptoms during pregnancy that you may experience such as nausea, vomiting often referred to as “morning sickness”, breast tenderness and soreness, acidity, fatigue, mood swings, low appetite or increased appetite, etc.
It is not necessary for every woman to go through all the pregnancy symptoms and that too in a similar pattern. While some women smoothly sail through their pregnancy, others have a hard time passing the phase especially the first trimester.
Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
Morning sickness is one of the prime symptoms of early pregnancy. During early pregnancy, it is very common for most women to have frequent vomiting or nausea.
It is said to occur mostly in the mornings as the name suggests, but there is nothing to worry about if the discomfort lasts longer or occurs anytime during the day or night.
Causes / Factors Contributing To Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
Morning sickness is at its worst during the first trimester between 6th to 12th weeks of pregnancy. However, in some cases it may last longer or throughout the entire pregnancy.
Since pregnancy is accompanied by several changes taking place in the body, all bodily functions keeping up their best to support the growing foetus, there are several factors that contribute to morning sickness during pregnancy. The main causes of morning sickness are:
- Hormonal Changes: In fact, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is a good indicating factor that the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is high enough to support the growing baby. Once the placenta takes on the responsibility of nourishing and taking care of the baby, the hCG levels drop and so does the nausea and vomiting eases out. But, other hormones like oestrogen and thyroxine also play a role in causing morning sickness which may be an answer to why some women still have the symptom of morning sickness even after their first trimester.
- Other causes of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy include vitamins and minerals deficiency, lack of exercise, stress, fatigue, strong smells and foul odours, constipation and anxiety.
Best Natural Home Remedies For Morning Sickness During Pregnancy.
Morning sickness is a part of pregnancy which is very normal and common. But, certainly you need some tips to combat that unpleasant feeling of nausea and vomiting. You can surely experiment with these simple, natural home remedies and check which one suits you the best.
Sip In Lot Of Fluids:
Take in a lot of nutrient rich fluids like buttermilk, coconut water, lime juice, fresh fruit juice and of course plenty of water. This will not only help you keep your nausea and vomiting at bay but also ensures good supply of blood flow to the growing foetus.
Eat frequent, Small Meals:
It is important to eat well during pregnancy because now you are not just feeding yourself, but more importantly your baby. Hence, you must make sure you take in small and frequent meals almost every two hours, rather than following your regular regime of having three big meals.
If you leave your stomach empty for long hours, the acid in the stomach triggers, leaving you feeling sick and nauseous. So, make sure you eat small and nutritious meals frequently to curb your problem of morning sickness during pregnancy.
Do Not Have Your Liquids And Meals At The Same Time:
That is, you must not drink and eat at the same time. Have your fluids in between your meals, instead of having along with it. This will aid in better digestion, avoiding too much bulk in the stomach.
Avoid Spicy, Fried Fancy Foods.
Food cravings are common in pregnancy. Sometimes, you may want to munch on sour foods, sometimes sugary coated, etc. At times, you may realise that your eating habits have changed completely during pregnancy.
However, in the first trimester, when your morning sickness is at its worst, it is best advised to stick to simple, bland and nutritious diet and avoid spicy, fried foods or anything that will trigger your acidity.
Opt For Complex Carbohydrates To Curb Morning Sickness.
Foods rich in complex carbohydrates are easy to digest. Hence, you can opt for oats, muesli, brown rice, pasta, potatoes, etc to ease your digestion process, in turn combating the feeling of nausea and vomiting.
Ginger, The Ancient Home Remedy For Morning Sickness.
Ginger is an ancient home remedy claimed to be very effective against the pregnancy morning sickness. The chemicals present in the ginger root, gingerols and shogaols are responsible for getting that relief from nausea and vomiting.
You can consume ginger in various forms like; make a mixture by adding five to six drops of ginger juice and teaspoon of honey. Consume this slowly when you wake up in the morning.
Ginger tea is also very effective in curbing morning sickness. Take one-half teaspoon of powdered ginger and add it to a cup of boiling water. Simmer it for 10 minutes, strain it and then sip the tea slowly. Do not drink ginger tea more than 3 times in a day in pregnancy.
Another option is to grate some ginger, boil it in water until the water is reduced by half. After letting it cool for some time, add some honey and drink it daily in the morning.
Alternatively, you can also suck a small piece of ginger or chew a ginger candy to ease yourself from nausea.
Note: Make sure you don’t take more than 3 grams or 3tsps of raw ginger in a day.
Lemon- Ultimate Natural Saviour To Morning Sickness
Lemon is a great natural way to keep morning sickness at bay. A mixture of one teaspoon each of lemon juice and mint juice along with one-half teaspoon of ginger juice and one tablespoon of honey, two to three times daily, will help you get rid of that nauseous feeling.
You can also mix one teaspoon each of lemon juice and mint, add some sugar and drink it three times a day. The simplest way, just squeeze a fresh lemon into a glass of water and consume it every morning.
Alternatively, you can chew lemon-flavored candies or even smelling fresh lemon peels will do wonders to push away morning sickness symptoms.
Curry Leaves- The Ancient Ayurvedic Medicine For Morning Sickness
An ancient ayurvedic medicine to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is a mixture of the juice extracted from curry leaves, some lime juice and sugar.
Take 15 to 20 curry leaves and press it on a sieve to extract the juice.
Now add one teaspoon of either honey or sugar along with two teaspoons of fresh lime juice. Mix it thoroughly and consume it 2-3 times in a day
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds have a good aroma and is known to be very effective in soothing the stomach and relieving one from morning sickness. Fennel seeds contain certain anesthetic components which are responsible for combatting nausea and vomiting.
Munch on a teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals to aid the digestion process. Sipping fennel tea is also a great way to ease out morning sickness. Crush a handful of fennel seeds.
Add a teaspoon of this powder to a cup of water. Boil it, simmer it and then strain it. Now, add a few drops of fresh lime juice and a teaspoon of honey. Your exotic fennel tea is now ready.
Peppermint
Similar to fennel seeds, the anesthetic property of peppermint calms and soothes the stomach, thereby reducing nausea. You can consume it in the form of peppermint tea by boiling some peppermint leaves in water.
Simmer it for 10 minutes and then strain it. If you wish, you can add some honey to enhance the taste and sip is slowly to work on your nausea.
Cheese
A study has found that foods rich in protein reduces the symptoms of morning sickness to a great extent. During pregnancy, consuming a diet rich in proteins also help regulate blood glucose levels.
Cheese is a good option and high in protein. Try nibbling some cheddar cheese, cottage cheese or mozzarella cheese.
It is also best advised to have some cheese or any other snack rich in protein before going to bed, in order to prevent acid build up in the stomach while resting for those long hours in the night.
Walking
Simple, light exercise helps in alleviating the symptoms of morning sickness during pregnancy. It gives relaxation to the body and muscles. But, make sure you confirm with your doctor before trying any form of other strenuous exercises other than a simple walk.
It is best advised to take a walk alone and breathe the fresh air in mornings and evenings which will calm, soothe and relax your body and mind, thereby getting you rid of nausea and vomiting.
Avoid Strong Odours
Identify any odours and scents that may leave you feeling nauseous and uncomfortable.
Tips To Reduce Symptoms Of Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
In the first trimester, your body is undergoing several new changes. It is best advised to get plenty of rest and take a break from work. Seek relaxation therapies which will reduce your stress levels.
Some women may opt for Aromatherapy which provides good relaxation, but you must take care not to use just any oil as the smell of certain oils may make your nausea worse.
You can opt for essential oils like peppermint, spearmint, lime, lemon and sometimes ginger to relieve your nausea.
If travelling or any kind of movement in cars or other vehicles, makes your sickness worse, listen to some soothing music to divert your mind.
Foods rich in vitamin B6 are known to successfully prevent symptoms of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Hence, eat vitamin B6-rich foods, such as banana, spinach, eggs, fish and avocados, etc.to relieve your symptoms.
You may also opt for vitamin B supplements. But, consult your doctor before taking supplements in pregnancy. In general, doctors prescribe supplements such as folic acid, iron supplements, multivitamins and calcium supplements.
You can opt for any one of above home remedies for morning sickness. Note that it is best to take care of these symptoms right from the initial stage itself, otherwise your situation may worsen as the time progresses.
After trying everything out, if you still can’t keep these pregnancy symptoms down, consult your doctor immediately.
Wish you a safe and happy pregnancy! For any queries, please feel free to write in the comments section below.