Morning Sickness Remedies

The joys of pending motherhood can oftens lead to morning sickness.  It’s the body’s way of preparing your body for the baby. Some women have minor sickness while others suffer throughout their entire pregnancy with morning sickness.  Remedies for this unfortunate side effect of pregnancy are many, but since each woman is different, you have to try them to see which one will work with your sickness.

The first trimester of pregnancy is normally when morning sickness occurs the most.  Although, it can happen anytime of the day, not just mornings.  The first recordings of morning sickness were recorded in 2000 B.C., but woman have always suffered from morning sickness.  It just wasn’t mentioned for some reason in the history books.  It’s the body’s way of adjusting to pregnancy.  The chemical reaction of the the growing fetus starts the body’s change in the hormones.  However, it doesn’t just change the hormones; it also changes enzymes and the body’s chemicals throughout the body.

Although, doctors don’t really know what causes morning sickness, they suspect it’s the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).  That’s a hormone that is used in home pregnancy kits, and found in the body during pregnancy.  However, what is known is that for some reason, more civilized populations suffer from morning sickness more so than Eskimos or native African tribes.

There are high levels of progesterone, which are used by the body to relax the muscles, and slow down digestion.  Since there are two to feed, maybe this is the body’s way of feeding the baby.  Of course, you probably don’t care what causes it, you just want it gone.  There is the possibility of suffering throughout your entire pregnancy with morning sickness; it normally disappears after the first three months.  Into the second semester of your pregnancy, it shouldn’t be a problem.

However, if it is, then there are several remedies you can use to keep in under control.  At least the nausea and vomiting will be under control.

Morning Sickness Remedies

 


You can take the edge off your morning sickness by trying one of these methods.  You’ll need to try them out to see which one will work with your symptoms.  Not all of them will work because every body is different and takes a different morning sickness remedy.

  • Before getting up in the morning, take some water, ginger tea, soda, or any other fluid that works for you.  Some women can drink peppermint tea or ginger tea in the mornings and not be bothered by sickness for the rest of the day.  It depends on your body and what works best for the sickness.
  • Don’t over eat. It not only causes stomach upset but it puts on weight, too.  Go for small meals every two to three hours.  It helps keep something in the stomach in case you do have an attack of vomiting, plus, it’s a better way to feed your baby.  The slower digestion keeps up your energy levels.
  • Some women have to go with more of a liquid diet than food.  Include a lot of fruit and vegetable juices or smoothies.  They have all the nutrients the body needs for energy and to keep the baby healthy.
  • Some women have to stay with bland foods.  No spicy foods to upset the stomach.  However, it depends on each woman and their bodies on whether they can eat spicy foods or not.
  • Coffee, tea, soda, and other drinks may not agree with you.  Be sure to include a lot of water when you’re pregnant, so you don’t get dehydrated.  When you’re vomiting it reduces the water content of your body.  Also, water is easier on the stomach than coffee or teas, especially in the morning.
  • Try not to move suddenly or change your body position too quickly.  It can bring on an attack of nausea and vomiting.

Morning Sickness Remedies from the Kitchen

Crackers are a pregnant woman’s best friend.  You can carry them with you at all times.  They come in white, whole wheat, and low sodium content.  Although, there are a few doctors who think the salt content is what helps with morning sickness, use your own judgment.  Use them when you feel an attack of nausea or vomiting coming on.  Don’t forget to drink plenty of water to keep from dehydration.

Potato chips are another food that can help with morning sickness.  It’s a remedy many women use to avert the symptoms. Again, it may be the salt content.  If you find you’re craving potato chips, then you need to drink more water.  It’s a sign of dehydration, contradictory to some thoughts about salt.  It’s the same if you crave pickles and ice cream.  The body needs the salt because you don’t have enough water in your system.  Ice cream contains milk or cream, which means your body needs calcium.

The cravings are a sign your body is lacking in a nutrient.  Decide what the food contains and feed the body what it needs.  Some women think pregnancy a way to eat what they want.  You still have to worry about weight gain. Weight gain can bring on morning sickness, mostly because it puts too much pressure on the stomach.