Pregnancy: Nausea and Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is such a misnomer. If you have suffered from nausea during pregnancy, you know it doesn’t care about the time of day! As a doula, I have heard all kinds of tips and tricks from doctors, midwives, friends and clients I’m sharing some here in hopes that they may help some desperate moms!

They say it’s more common to have nausea during your first pregnancy and/or if you are pregnant with a girl. I have definitely not found that to be true. In fact my first pregnancy (with my daughter) was a walk in the park in comparison to my pregnancy with my son. Hormonal shifts seem to be the biggest culprit which is why it normally subsides by the second trimester. Strong smells, fatigue, low blood sugar, constipation and vitamin deficiencies can all exasperate nausea. 

Here are some of my doula tricks for nausea. They certainly won’t cure it, but they will help!

• Stay Hydrated. If water won’t stay down, try frozen juice popsicles or the pedialyte popsicles for kids. I’ve found that cold water is easiest to stomach. Crushed ice is great to crunch on (Coffee Bean has the BEST ice hands down). Adding flavors to your water (citrus, cucumber). Electrolyte powders can also be helpful

• Vitamin B and Zinc are known to help with nausea. Specifically vitamin B6 every 8 hours. A mix of unisom and B6 has been recommended to some women. This is not medical advice. Please speak to your care provider before starting a new vitamin/medication.

• Rest. Relax. Recharge. Pregnancy is exhausting and unfortunately being overtired makes pregnancy related nausea worse. 

• Motion Sickness Wristbands. 

• Eat small snacks and meals all day to maintain blood sugar. A protein snack before bed a good idea. If carbs are the only thing you can even think about eating, DO IT

• Ginger. Ginger candies to suck on. Fresh ginger can be cut and placed in hot water or tea. Ginger ale is great. (I liked sprite or sparkling apple juice during my own pregnancies.)

• Exercise. If you can bare the thought of it can alleviate nausea-triggering hormones.

• Fresh Air. Especially if it’s crisp outside.

• Crackers/saltines next to your bed can be a lifesaver. Keep a box of crackers near your bed and eat a few before getting up in the morning.

• Avoiding spicy, fried, fatty, or greasy during pregnancy can be helpful for morning sickness AND reflux/heartburn.

• NO SUDDEN MOVEMENTS.

• Avoid strong smells. No perfumes/colognes (and people that wear them). Cleaning products. Candles. Foods. 

Brace yourself. It usually gets better by the 2nd trimester!