Nausea, dizziness, and uneasiness are perhaps the initial signs of pregnancy. The nausea particularly gets noticed for its persistence through the first trimester. Most expecting women experience fatigue and a constant urge to vomit during the early hours of the day. This is thought to gradually improve as the day progresses, but it is quite unpredictable.
The pregnancy hormones, estrogen and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) are high in the initial stages of pregnancy, and till the placenta takes over the job of providing nutrition to the fetus, these hormones can cause quite some discomfort. Morning sickness can interfere with daily functioning and cause loss of appetite, weight loss, and anemia. If you aren’t heading to the bathroom now and then, we’d say you are one of the lucky few! Read below to know some easy home remedies on how to counter the morning sickness naturally.
What is Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is one of the common pregnancy symptoms that causes vomiting, and nausea. Though it can happen throughout the day during pregnancy, it is very common during the morning. It usually starts during the initial month of pregnancy and lasts till the 14th or 16th week (1). However, some women may also experience morning sickness throughout their pregnancy.
[Read : Pregnancy Symptoms That Need Immediate Attention]
Self-Care Techniques to Avoid Morning Sickness
Morning sickness during pregnancy can make a woman drained out. However, here are some self-care techniques that help to avoid morning sickness.
- Take small meals per day.
- Avoid munching on spicy and oily food
- Keep on sipping water
- Sniff a lemon slice if any odor triggers morning sickness
- Select food rich in complex carbohydrates and leafy vegetables
- Try some acupressure wristbands
Top 10 Natural Home Remedies For Morning Sickness
Before you rush to your doctor complaining about morning sickness, it’s worth to give a try to below natural solutions for your problem. These simple home remedies can effectively relieve you from morning sickness leaving you feeling well:
1. Ginger
This easily available herb has astounding properties to curb morning sickness (2). Now enjoy your morning cuppa with a dash of ginger! Those on the calorie-conscious side may want to add this root in preparing their herbal teas. You can even suck on caramelized ginger and ginger-flavored drinks.
Ginger helps curb morning sickness and is beneficial for pregnant women with heartburn and bloating.
Since ginger can be hot for your body, do not over-indulge in it, and if you are already too hot, it would be best to avoid it.
2. Peppermint
Simply chewing on peppermint leaves can keep nausea down. If you think the taste is a bit too spicy for you, then simply add a few leaves to boiling water, team it up with cardamom or any other ingredient and enjoy your fresh herbal tea! (3). However, the strong smell may not be liked by everyone, so try peppermint with care.
3. Lemon
Who doesn’t like the fragrance of fresh lemons? The citrus aroma instantly wakes up the senses and has a rejuvenating effect (4). Remember your parents offering you chilled Limca when you complained of nausea while traveling? Feel free to purchase lemon or citrus-flavored candies. Try crystallized lemon wedges or simply add lemon to your tea!
4. Aromatic Candles and Diffusers
Now you can easily ward off the annoying smells by simply lighting up a candle! WoW! Get your favorite flavor in a box full of candles that slowly and effectively fill the entire space with the desired aroma. You can now even purchase stylish diffusers radiating the fragrance of your favorite perfume! Also, it is important to know about unsafe essential oils during pregnancy. A study shows that aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint oils effectively reduced nausea (5). However, strong smells can sometimes make the symptoms worse, so you might need to experiment and rotate.
5. Lollies
Who said lollypops and candies are just for the kids? The strong flavor and tangy taste can instantly make you feel better. If the sweet content worries you, then simply make herbal concoctions, pour them into the ice tray, and suck on them as and when required. You can even insert a toothpick when the ice begins to form and when it solidifies, you have your ice candy! Cool and refreshing! Do mind the sugary content in them though?
6. Vitamin B6
Have foods rich in Vitamin B6 such as chicken, avocados, brown rice, nuts, lentils, fish, and liver. Vitamin B6 has been known to effectively stop nausea. You can also take Vitamin B6 supplements which help curb nausea but not vomiting. However, do consult your doctor before taking any supplement.
7. Avoid Hot and Spicy Food
Hot and spicy food has a very strong flavor and aroma. Sometimes this can trigger nausea. Try eating food when it has cooled down a bit. Also, spicy food tends to leave behind a taste in the mouth. These can anyway contribute to bloating further making you feel nauseated.
8. Keep Munching
Staying hungry for a long period gives you the feeling of acid reflux and dizziness. Sometimes it may cause a lowered level of sugar making you feel nauseous and tired. So eat something as soon as you get up in the morning. Keep snacking throughout the day rather than relying on a three meals-a-day scheme.
9. Fennel Seeds
The aromatic fennel seeds, another spice from the kitchen can come to your aid to combat morning sickness. All you need is to chew on fennel seeds. Fennel seeds also help in digestion and therefore chewing a spoonful after meals can be great! You can also add this to boiled water and enjoy the brew! However, moderation is always the key and excess consumption of fennel may not be safe especially when you are pregnant.
[Read : Fennel Seeds During Pregnancy]
10. Curry Leaves
Curry leaves or “Curry patta” are commonly used in Indian dishes to enhance flavor. Ayurveda prescribes consuming the juice of curry leaves to fight nausea. Add a dash of lemon and honey to the juice of curry leaves and drink it two or three times a day!
Sometimes sniffing your favorite perfume or soap can keep morning sickness at bay too. Try spraying some essential oil such as peppermint or lavender onto a handkerchief and carry it in your purse, just in case of emergency!
Alternative Methods for Nausea During Pregnancy
If you are experiencing nausea during pregnancy and it is not fixed by home remedies, here are a few alternatives you should try.
1. Acupressure
You can wear acupressure wristbands to apply pressure on the nausea points which is also known as Pericardium. These points are locked about three finger-widths slightly above your inner wrist crease. Acupressure is a non-medical intervention process that can help in reducing nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy (6). However, it is important to practice these under expert supervision especially when you are pregnant.
2. Cold Food
Cold or bland foods tend to smell less in comparison to hot foods that trigger nausea. Try to consume frozen fruit juices, yogurt, and flavored milk to ease your nausea.
3. Breathing Exercises
Start practicing yoga and breathing exercises to reduce nausea and vomiting feelings.
I Am Unable to Eat Anything Due to Morning Sickness
If you are not able to have a regular and balanced diet, do not worry as you and your baby can catch up with essential nutrients in the later part of pregnancy. Try to identify foods that make your symptoms worse (generally, rich, deep-fried, and fatty foods) and steer clear of them. Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking lots of water – cold, with lemon, with honey, or with whatever you can. You can even add some coconut water which would be a great hydrating agent.
Morning sickness is a part of pregnancy, now since you know how to combat it, brace yourself and enjoy your days!
FAQ’s
1. How do You Get Rid of Morning Sickness Fast?
You can avoid triggers of morning sickness by diverting your mind to other activities such as sniffing fresh scents like mint, orange, and lemon. Start flickering lights and engage in some other activities. Moreover, you can also try sucking on ice cubes.
2. What Can I Drink to Help Morning Sickness?
Ginger tea, lemonade, electrolytes, soda water, and glucose can he to deal with morning sickness.
3. What is The Best Natural Remedy For Nausea During Pregnancy?
Ginger tea and drinking lemon water are the best natural water for nausea during pregnancy. You can also use some aromatherapy to distract your mind from morning sickness.
4. What Home Remedy Drink Helps Morning Sickness?
Ginger tea, fresh lemonade, and herbal tea are the best drinks to help with morning sickness.
References
- Lee NM, Saha S. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2011 Jun;40(2):309-34, vii – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3676933/
- Lete I, Allué J. The Effectiveness of Ginger in the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy and Chemotherapy. Integr Med Insights. 2016 Mar 31;11:11-7 –https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818021/
- EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PEPPERMINT TEA ON MORNING SICKNESS AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS IN SELECTED AREAS OF WAGHODIA. (2022). Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, 1118-1123 – https://www.pnrjournal.com/index.php/home/article/view/1082
- Yavari Kia P, Safajou F, Shahnazi M, Nazemiyeh H. The effect of lemon inhalation aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2014 Mar;16(3):e14360 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005434/
- Safajou F, Soltani N, Taghizadeh M, Amouzeshi Z, Sandrous M. The Effect of Combined Inhalation Aromatherapy with Lemon and Peppermint on Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2020 Sep 1;25(5):401-406 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33344211/
- Jie Gong, Dandan Gu, Hui Wang, Feng Zhang, Wangqin Shen, Haiou Yan, Juan Xie, Effect of acupressure in nausea and vomiting treatment during pregnancy: A meta-analysis, EXPLORE, Volume 20, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 17-26, ISSN 1550-8307 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550830723001684
Read Also: 6 Home Remedies For Vomiting During Pregnancy
