8 Tips to Help with Morning Sickness and Make Your First Trimester More Enjoyable
- Posted on: Feb 2 2023
Morning sickness can leave you miserable, tired, dehydrated, and just not feeling well. Even worse is the fact that morning sickness does not just occur during the morning. It can happen any time of the day or night. Although not exactly clear, many healthcare providers believe morning sickness is caused by an increase in the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone hormone levels. The good news is that nausea and vomiting caused by morning sickness usually end early in the second trimester and morning sickness will not harm the baby. But what do you do to help you find relief from morning sickness in the first trimester? Read on to learn 8 tips to help you relieve or reduce morning sickness symptoms.
1. Eat Often
Oftentimes, having an empty stomach can make nausea worse. Try to eat small meals or snacks every few hours to keep nausea at bay. Even just eating a couple of crackers every few hours may help.
2. Learn and Avoid Your Triggers
Some women’s nausea is triggered by certain smells or foods. Keep track of anything that may be triggering your nausea so that you can try to avoid the trigger and nausea altogether.
3. Eat Enough Protein and Pick Your Food Carefully
Protein has been shown to help with nausea relief longer than carbohydrates and fats. Make sure you consume protein-rich foods to help with nausea. Avoid greasy, spicy, and fatty foods. If you are struggling to keep any food down, try bland foods that are easy to digest such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
4. Hydrate
Staying hydrated is important, especially if you have been vomiting. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking water. Being dehydrated can lead to nausea.
5. Stay Upright After Eating
Avoid laying down after eating. This can cause gastric acid to rise up and cause acid reflux and nausea. Don’t lie down for at least 30 minutes after consuming a meal.
6. Take Vitamins and Medications at Night
If you notice that your stomach is becoming upset after taking your prenatal vitamins or other medications, talk to your doctor to see if it is okay to start taking them at night instead.
7. Ginger
Ginger is an alternative medicine that helps relieve morning sickness for some women. You can usually find it at the grocery store or a local pharmacy. It can come in the forms of capsules, candies, snaps, real ginger ale, as well as tea.
8. Talk with Your Doctor
If you are experiencing severe morning sickness, discuss it with your doctor. They may have individual recommendations or prescribe medication to help you.
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Resources
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, September 28). Morning sickness. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved January 26, 2023
Posted in: Obstetrics, Women's Health