Lucky are those women who do not suffer from any signs of sickness during the first few months of pregnancy. However, nausea and vomiting in the initial stages of pregnancy are quite common and affect almost three-quarters of all pregnant women.
Physically, women might not function well and might feel isolated along with the economic toll when they cannot get to work. All of this can add up to a lot of stress, and sickness just adds to it. Nevertheless, research states that morning sickness leads to a better pregnancy outcome and protects the baby.
There are numerous strategies that women can try to use for morning sickness to not affect their quality of life. Women need not be concerned about wild symptoms of nausea and vomiting. In case of severe symptoms, it is better to talk to your doctor and try prescription medications. These are some solutions to morning sickness during pregnancy.
Home Treatments
First, it is recommended to try out home treatment for your nausea and vomiting:
- Eating foods low in fat but high in protein and carbohydrates is tolerated more by expectant mothers. Also, instead of taking three big meals, try to spread out the meals over the day by eating six snack-type meals.
- Do not over-eat, and also eating too little will aggravate your nausea. Try and avoid doing anything on an empty stomach. Before getting out of bed, try having a few crackers or toast.
- Give Attention to what triggers your nausea, and make sure to avoid it. Strong smells of perfumes and chemicals can make your nausea worse. Spicy foods are also known to cause nausea and vomiting.
- Drink lots of water and liquids. Always stay hydrated! Take ginger in whichever form you like. Ginger use helps in reducing nausea considerably.
- Walking and taking in the fresh air is always recommended. If the weather permits, keep the windows in the house open and go out for a short walk daily.
Alternate Medication
Experts have suggested various alternate remedies for morning sickness, which include:
- Acupressure: These acupressure wristbands are readily available in pharmacies, and you don’t need a prescription for them. Not all, but some pregnant women find them to be very helpful.
- Acupuncture: It has not been proven that acupuncture can treat morning sickness. But again, some women seem to find it helpful for their nausea and vomiting.
- Aromatherapy: Scents created from essential oils help some women find relief from morning sickness, even though, again, there hasn’t been much research done on this topic.
The first three months of pregnancy are the most difficult and nausea is not easy to ignore but trying to take your mind off of it helps. Do something to distract yourself, such as reading a book, doing crossword puzzles, or listening to your favorite music. Exercise helps some mothers in relieving nausea, but this should be discussed with your doctor first.
For most women, morning sickness disappears between the 12th and the 14th week of pregnancy. However, some endure morning sickness into the second trimester, and an exceptionally few will experience nausea and vomiting for the whole nine months! It is not true that morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting harm the baby. On the contrary, morning sickness reduces the risks of miscarriages.
If your symptoms cause you significant discomfort or you see other signs like blood in your vomit, extreme fatigue, or very dark urine, then it is time to see and consult your doctor. Keep checking all your symptoms and protect yourself and your precious child from health complications.
