Tips that help relieve morning sickness

Finally pregnant?

Congratulations!!!

For a long time you have been waiting for this special time in your life, now you are overjoyed. Nevertheless, some aspects of pregnancy might sometimes dampen your ecstatic feelings, among them is morning sickness.

During the first weeks of your pregnancy, your hormone system undergoes significant changes. In particular the strong production of the hormones β-hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), estrogen, and progesterone are suspected of causing morning sickness.
Many women suffer from it during the first trimester of their pregnancy. Symptoms can range from gentle queasiness to strong vomiting. A word of comfort: morning sickness is quite normal and according to experts, women suffering from it even have a statistically lower risk for early pregnancy loss. In most cases, pregnancy sickness vanishes after the first trimester of pregnancy.

The following tips provide some advice on how to best cope with it:

Have a little snack before going to bed and make sure you get sufficient sleep
Morning sickness is usually most pronounced in the morning. This can be counteracted by having a light snack (e.g. a yoghurt) before going to bed.
In addition to that, it is vital to make sure that you get enough sleep. The hormonal alterations during the beginning of your pregnancy require huge amounts of energy.

A little refreshment before getting up in the morning
Before you get up in the morning, having a little refreshment can help to avoid the worst of morning sickness. Ideally, place something non-perishable on your bedside table in the evening. This could be a biscuit, a crispbread or something similar. All of these will help to raise your blood sugar levels, which are typically low in the morning, contributing to the queasy feeling.

Opt for frequent, small meals
During the first weeks of your pregnancy, frequent but small meals will make sure your stomach is never entirely empty. Big servings put a strain on your stomach and can contribute to sickness.

Ginger
An old household remedy is ginger. Many pregnant women drink ginger tea to decrease the feeling of sickness. Ginger sweets come in handy when you are on the go. Don’t let yourself get confused when you read somewhere on the web that ginger is to be avoided when you are pregnant, because it could promote contractions. Gynecological experts confirm that normal amounts of ginger are not only without risk, but actually help a lot of women coping with morning sickness.
However, there is a lack of data on use of ginger in high dosages during pregnancy, which is why most doctors recommend to not consume more than 4 grams of ginger a day (which adds up to quite a lot of cups of tea).

Avoid fatty and spicy meals
Meals that contain a lot of fat, or acid, or are very spicy, can irritate the stomach, contributing to nausea. Opt for healthy, light meals rich in vitamins and use fresh herbs for seasoning. This not only helps to improve your wellbeing now, but is also best for your own health, your weight, and the health of your baby.

Avoid unpleasant odours
Many women observe a change in their sense of smell during pregnancy: They are now particularly sensitive to unpleasant odours. It is best to avoid these, whenever possible.

Drinking enough
Make sure you drink enough – at least two litres per day are recommended. Water, herbal teas, and spritzers are a good choice. Beverages rich in sugar such as sodas should be consumed in moderation only. Naturally, alcohol is now off-limits. Beverages containing a lot of acids, such as coke, coffee or orange juice put unnecessary stress on your stomach. Also, stay clear of drinks containing quinine such as Tonic Water.

Acupressure
Acupressure is a method suitable to provide relief for acute episodes of nausea: using three fingers, press firmly on the inner side of your lower arm, close to your wrist. There are also special acupressure bracelets designed to stimulate this special acupressure point.

B-vitamins
Fertilovit^® F or 2 plus DHA with vitamin B-complex can also help you to fully enjoy your pregnancy. The vitamin B6 in it contributes to regulating your hormone levels, thus acting on the major reason for morning sickness. This is amended by vitamins B1 and B12. They contribute to normal nervous system and energy metabolism.