Whether it’s your first or third go-around, pregnancy is an exhilarating and life-altering experience. From the positive pregnancy test to learning the sex of your baby and finally the birth. But there are sometimes a few bumps in the road on the way to your due date, like the nausea and vomiting that plagues most women during their first trimester.
Morning sickness can put a real damper on your exhilaration during those first few weeks of pregnancy, but there are some proven techniques, including a few home remedies, which can help you feel a little more normal.
About Morning Sickness
The good news is morning sickness only affects you, not your baby. Most women start to experience the nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness around week nine of pregnancy and start to feel better by about week 14.
However, some women continue to have morning sickness throughout their entire pregnancy. And while it’s called morning sickness, the nausea and vomiting can occur at any time of the day.
Doctors don’t know what causes morning sickness, but most theorize that it’s your body’s reaction to human chorionic gonadotropin, the pregnancy hormone, which is at its highest during that first trimester.
Eat
The thought of food alone may make your stomach churn, but eating may help calm the storm. The trick is to eat only small amounts of food throughout the day so that your stomach is never really empty. You’re more likely to feel nauseous on an empty stomach.
Food choices also matter. Now that you’re pregnant, you might think you can eat all the candy bars, French fries, ice cream, and pizza that you want. Not only is this a bad idea for a healthy pregnancy, but these kinds of foods may also make your morning sickness worse. Instead, do your best to fill your diet with healthy foods such as lean sources of protein, healthy carbs, and good-for-you fats.
Of course, eating healthy foods can sometimes be a chore if your morning sickness is awful. In that case, nibble on dry cereal or saltine crackers to help quell the nausea and prevent vomiting. This is especially helpful when the nausea and vomiting strike first thing in the morning. So keep a few crackers at your bedside to eat before you get out of bed.
Ginger
If you’re looking for a safe and natural home remedy for your morning sickness, ginger might do the trick. Although, it’s important to note that a 2014 review study published in Nutrition Journal found pregnant women had mixed results when using ginger to help treat morning sickness.
That being said, it’s worth a try since doesn’t have any side effects and is safe for the baby.
To get the most benefits, you need to use real ginger. So, if ginger ale is your drink of choice, it has to be made with real ginger, or you can make ginger tea using slices of fresh ginger root. Ginger candy and ginger capsules may also be beneficial.
Vitamin B6 and Doxylamine
Vitamin B6 has been used as an antiemetic since the 1940s. And as an over-the-counter remedy, we might recommend it to help you manage your morning sickness. Like ginger, vitamin B6 is safe and effective.
If vitamin B6 isn’t quite cutting it, Dr. John Macey might recommend you try vitamin B6 with doxylamine, which is a prescription antiemetic that’s safe to take during pregnancy. Doxylamine is a component of over-the-counter sleep aids, and when combined with vitamin B6, is helpful in treating morning sickness.
Antiemetics
Sometimes the morning sickness is so severe that nothing seems to help. If it’s affecting your ability to eat and drink, it might be time to try a prescription anti-emetic.
There are several antiemetic medications that are safe to take during pregnancy. Before giving a prescription, Dr. Macey will review your options with you and come up with a plan that can help you feel a little more like your usual self while ensuring the safety of your baby.