TIPS ON HOW TO SURVIVE MORNING SICKNESS DURING PREGNANCY

If you’re suffering with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, you’re not alone. Most women experience it to some degree during their first trimester. If you’re one of the unfortunate few whose symptoms last longer than the typical 6-12 weeks, I empathize. I’ve had the same experience with all 3 of my pregnancies. I have learned a few things that helped however, and I hope you can get some relief with these tips.

1) Getting your blood sugar regulated is priority #1.

One theory about why morning sickness is worse in the morning (and for some women only occurs then) is because when you wake up from sleep, you have low blood sugar. For some pregnant woman, going 8 hours without food is just a bad idea.

2) Avoid foods that cause rapid blood sugar shifts.

Fruit juice, sugary snacks, processed cereal, anything made with white flour, etc…these types of foods cause your blood sugar to rapidly rise then come crashing down, triggering nausea and vomiting. Eat protein foods and whole foods.

Meat, cheese, yogurt (be careful here- try plain yogurt. Most yogurt has way too much sugar in it.), eggs, nuts, nut butters, veggies, and whole grains should be your staples.

3) If drinking water makes you sicker, try these alternatives.

It’s very important that you stay hydrated. You’re going to need extra fluids to support the pregnancy, but many women find that drinking water makes them more nauseated. Some things to try:

Smoothies made with fruit, ice and plain yogurt . The tangy flavor of these two dairy products really hit the spot for me. They also sneak in some extra protein.
Water served VERY cold with a squeeze of lemon.
Carbonated water with a small amount of fruit juice for flavor.
Citrus fruits and melons.

4) Avoid nausea triggers as much as possible.

Your nose is on hyper drive during early pregnancy!
Smells like poopy diapers, kitchen trash, even morning breath may be impossible to totally avoid, but try your best to avoid smelly situations.
Have someone else take out the trash. Have hubby help change your toddler when he’s home. It’s the least he can do. During my pregnancies, my husband had to switch to unscented deodorant and soap, otherwise I couldn’t hug him!
If cooking smells make you ill, take a break from your usual garlic and onion specialties. Hubby will understand that you can’t make his favorite food for a while.
Prepare meals that won’t stink up the kitchen. Green dish like salads, chicken, steak or hard boiled eggs. Sandwiches are good too.

5) Try Aromatherapy

Put a couple of drops of lavender, mint or lemon essential oil (these oils are generally regarded as safe to use during pregnancy) on cotton balls and keep these in various locations… the kitchen, bathroom, your purse and in the car. Take a whiff when you feel sick.

6) Take it easy- but don’t forget exercise

I know, I know… exercise is the last thing you want to do when you can hardly! But if you force yourself to take even a ten minute walk outside every day, it WILL help.

But do try to take it easy, avoid stress as much as possible, and rest as much as you can. You’re doing the very important job of growing a baby. Explain to your other children why you’re feeling poorly and that it won’t last forever. Call in  friends to come over to play with your 2 year old for an hour so you can sleep.
When you feel  nausea coming on, try to lay down for a few minutes in a dark room with your eyes closed. Sometimes if you do this the episode will pass.

7) Focus on the positive

Sometimes when you’re so miserable it’s easy to forget what’s making you so sick! Remember that statistically, women who experience nausea and vomiting of pregnancy are more likely to carry the pregnancy to term.
So rejoice in your strong hormones! Read pregnancy magazines, birth stories on the Internet, look through maternity clothing catalogs, do whatever you need to do to cheer yourself up and get yourself in the mood for a new baby.

8) More Tips

Try sucking on lemon slices when you’re feeling a wave of nausea, chew mint gum to help dry up excessive salivating that may trigger nausea.
If you have trouble brushing your teeth due to an overactive gag reflex, switch to using baking soda for awhile. The foaming of regular toothpaste may be too much. And brush your teeth in shifts if you need to… first the top teeth, then a few minutes later the bottom teeth, then your tongue, etc.

Avoid getting overheated or chilled. Extremes in temperature can trigger vomiting. Go with your cravings, with reason.
Clean the toilet daily, even if it’s the only household chore you can do right now. Better yet, have someone else do it. And wear your hair up for awhile. If you’re going to be throwing up.

I hope you find these tips helpful?

Lots of love