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Morning sickness is one of the downsides of pregnancy. Every expecting mother has a tale or two about it. They experience recurrent nausea, which is often followed by vomiting. This very unpleasant feeling can really mess up your day.
Many mothers have hacked natural remedies for morning sickness and its side effects, and we’ve put together a cheat sheet to help you take care of it.
What Causes Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is caused by the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, including the rise in human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG), which is one of the indicators that you’re pregnant, and progesterone, which raises the blood flow to your womb to keep it healthy to accommodate your baby. These changes often manifest in the body as nausea and vomiting.
If you’re a first-time mom, you might be at a higher risk of morning sickness, especially if you experience motion sickness.
How Long Does Morning Sickness Last?
Typically, morning sickness starts around the first six weeks of pregnancy and continues until the end of the second trimester of pregnancy. You’ll most likely stop experiencing it around 27 weeks, as your body will have fully adjusted to your altered hormone levels.
6 Best Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness
As an expecting mother, it is imperative that you don’t use any medication unless it is prescribed by your doctor. So, how do you get rid of the unpleasantness of morning sickness? Here are the best natural remedies for morning sickness.
1. Ginger
Ginger is one spice found in every home. It is used in cooking, making drinks, and even in some medications, like lozenges.
To use it for morning sickness, you can peel some chunks of fresh organic ginger and boil it in water. You may add some honey as a sweetener and drink this as a warm cup of tea in the morning.
Other ways to use this are in capsules, sweets, or ginger ale.
2. Crackers
Plain crackers are a double threat when you want to control queasiness and get a healthy snack. The dryness of crackers helps to promote saliva production and block the signals to the brain that are responsible for the noxious feeling of nausea.
You have to be careful with your cracker choices, though, as most have a high salt content, and increased salt is proven to cause complications like pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.
3. Acupressure wrist bands
If you are not really into drinking and eating to relieve morning sickness, you can try acupressure wrist bands. These wrist bands are used to block pressure points on the wrist to stop you from feeling nauseous.
4. Acupuncture
This procedure originates from Chinese medicine, where tiny needles are inserted at specific locations in the body called heart points. A study conducted on acupuncture as an early treatment of morning sickness affirms its effectiveness in the treatment of nausea and dry retching.
5. Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a component of many prenatal vitamins that’s proven to help reduce morning sickness. It’s easily accessible over the counter at most stores, and it is recommended that you begin taking it before you get pregnant, as it will also help reduce the frequency of morning sickness or prevent it from happening altogether.
6. Doxylamine
If your symptoms do not improve with vitamin B6 alone, you may consider doxylamine, a component found in over-the-counter sleep aids. Its anti-histamine properties make it effective against nausea.
Foods That Fight Nausea during Pregnancy
In addition to the natural remedies for morning sickness listed, you can also manage sickness through your meals. Bland foods are often advised, like the BRATT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and tea).
Foods rich in vitamin B6, such as pork, chicken, some fish, fortified cereals, nuts, chickpeas, fortified tofu, turkey, bananas, and potatoes, are best for you.
High-protein foods can also help relieve the symptoms. You can opt for beans, beef, nuts, and Greek yogurt.
Other food choices that might help include dry toast, apple sauce, cereals, peppermint, and watermelon. There are a lot of options to choose from, so go for food choices that suit your preferences.
Other Methods
For some people, home remedies might not really give them the effects they desire. However, there are some medicines to treat morning sickness that are recommended by doctors for pregnancy, and they are safe for your baby too.
1. Over-the-counter morning sickness medicines
Vitamin B6 is the first over-the-counter drug to try. If that isn’t enough, doctors recommend adding doxylamine, an antihistamine that is included in some medications for people with trouble sleeping. You can get this at most pharmacies or stores.
2. Prescription medicines for morning sickness
Your doctor will likely prescribe a drug that contains both vitamin B6 and doxylamine. Some popular brand names include Diclegis and Bonjesta.
When to See a Doctor
Morning sickness is generally considered a normal phase of pregnancy, but there’s an extent to which it constitutes a problem. When it becomes more intense and persistent, this is known as hyperemesis gravidum and is a sign to notify your doctor immediately.
Always communicate whatever symptoms you experience when going for routine checkups with your doctor. And if your nausea stops you from holding food down, be sure to let your doctor know right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
There aren’t any differences; morning sickness is just used to describe sickness caused by pregnancy.
Vitamin B6 is highly recommended for relieving morning sickness.
You can take them at night with a little snack to prepare for the morning when you’ll feel sick.
hey, has anyone actually tried ginger for morning sickness? does it really help, cause i’m kinda desperate here. Vitamins For Woman, do you know if it’s safe for everyone?
Ginger was a lifesaver for me during my first pregnancy! Definitely give it a try, but maybe check with your doc if you’re unsure.
I’ve read ginger can be helpful, but I’d like to echo the advice on checking with a healthcare provider, especially if you have specific health conditions.
my wife tried those acupressure wrist bands and said they kinda work. anybody else got tricks for morning sickness?
acupuncture seems like a path less taken but wonders await those who tread such paths has anyone embraced this journey?
Vitamin B6 and Doxylamine are indeed proven treatments for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. However, it’s imperative to consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new medication, even if it’s over-the-counter or a vitamin.
Love seeing ginger and vitamin B6 on this list! I’ve been a big advocate for natural remedies, and it’s fantastic to see them recognized for their benefits during pregnancy. Great job covering this, Vitamins For Woman!
So you’re telling me ginger beats morning sickness? Next, you’ll be saying it can fuel rockets. Who comes up with this stuff?
heard about crackers for morning sickness but does it matter what kind? like could I just munch on some saltines or what? not sure how all this works tbh.
is it really okay to take meds for morning sickness? kinda scared it might harm my baby, any advice?
Absolutely thrilled to see so many natural remedies being recommended for morning sickness! It’s so important to approach this phase of pregnancy with as much gentleness and natural support as possible.
So when it says ginger, does it mean I can just eat gingerbread cookies all day? Asking for a friend who really likes cookies and might be pregnant.