The vast majority of pregnant women experience morning sickness. This most often occurs from the sixth or seventh week through the twelfth to fourteenth week, according to experts. The nausea and oftentimes vomiting that occurs during this time can impact a woman’s ability to work and socialize, and even to function in general depending upon the severity of the occurrence. One True Care staff member remembers working as a home health nurse during the early part of her pregnancy and needing to have a bowl in her car in case she had to pull over and throw up. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, is one of the most famous women recently to experience severe morning sickness. Most women, thankfully, don’t have the major illness that she did.
There are a multitude of ideas regarding possible ways to deal with morning sickness, including some easy and natural methods. What works for one woman may not work for the next so it’s important to try different things until you find what works for you. Here are five suggestions:
- Morning sickness can be associated with different smells, whether food, perfume, or something else. Avoiding strong scents like perfume, aromatic foods, sweaty gyms, etc., may help prevent severe nausea. Sometimes sniffing fresh scents, such as lemon extract or a sprig of fresh rosemary, can help combat the nausea from the smells which trigger your morning sickness.
- Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water. Sometimes munching on salty snacks, like crackers, help alleviate your nausea as well as stimulate your thirst, so give that a try as well. If you can’t keep fluids down be sure to notify your doctor right away.
- Wear lose and comfortable clothing. Restrictive or tight clothes may make the symptoms of morning sickness worse. Some studies have found that pregnant women who experience nausea and switched from wearing tight to wearing loose-fitting clothing reported either reduced morning sickness symptoms or none at all.
- Try ginger. This little gem has long been praised as a stomach soother. Try adding a thin slice of ginger to hot water or tea, or sipping flat ginger ale. Snack on a handful of crystallized ginger candy, eat gingersnaps or gingerbread, or put the root in soup.
- Nibble a little. Keeping snacks, like crackers, pretzels, dried fruit, and nuts — or whatever you can keep down – handy can also be of help. Nibbling a little before you get out of bed in the morning can keep nausea at bay, and a light bedtime snack will stabilize your blood sugar throughout the night. Eating small meals/snacks throughout the day can also enable you to have food in your stomach at all times. Here’s a link to some food ideas from other pregnant women: http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/eating-well-menu/nauseated.aspx.
Find more tips at these websites:
- http://www.pregnancy-baby-care.com/articles/282/during-pregnancy/overcoming-morning-sickness.html
- http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/morning-sickness/morning-sickness/#page=2
- http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37757.php
If you experience severe morning sickness, consult your doctor. Sometimes prenatal vitamins aggravate nausea; your medical provider can give you different vitamin options. If that’s not the problem, s/he will advise you on other alternatives to help alleviate your morning sickness.
If you are experiencing nausea or other pregnancy symptoms, are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, and need a confirmation of pregnancy, call True Care in Casper at 307-215-9684 to schedule an appointment. We are here to help women in Natrona County who experience an unplanned pregnancy by offering a variety of services, including pregnancy testing, limited obstetrical ultrasound for those who have a positive pregnancy test at our clinic, STD testing and treatment, and pregnancy options consultation. Schedule your appointment at our center today.