While morning sickness is the most common affliction suffered by new moms, it doesn’t make it any easier to endure. The hyper fatigue, sensitivity to smells and inability to eat when nausea grips your body are robbing you of that pregnancy glow. While the average woman battles morning sickness during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, those three months feel like an eternity when misery is constant and relief seems light years away. To ease you out of this tunnel of pain, we want to offer you some simple, natural morning sickness remedies to wipe out your morning sickness woes.
Meet your new BFF: Ginger
Nope, Ginger is not an actual person. It’s your best weapon against all things nausea. And you can select from a variety of forms to choose how you want to take it. Ginger tea, candied ginger, ginger chews and even ginger pills perform the same function of safely minimizing nausea. This ancient remedy was used by the Chinese for centuries to ward off digestive issues. Most recently, the Mayo Clinic conducted a study linking the intake of ginger to nausea relief in chemo patients. And the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that “two studies found 1g of ginger root before surgery reduced nausea as well as a leading medication.” Please note: pregnant women are advised to take a maximum of 1g of ginger per day.
Suck a lemon.
The sour taste will perk up your taste buds, help your body hit “refresh” mode and cleanse your palate. A double-blinded clinical trial published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health in March 2014 concluded that the “lemon scent can be effective in reducing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.” If sucking an actual lemon slice is too much for you, you can enjoy lemon lozenges. Or better yet, pop some sliced lemons in your ice water water to give it a kick and encourage you to drink your eight glasses a day to stay hydrated.
Pop an iron-free prenatal vitamin.
It’s entirely possible that your prenatal supplements are making you sick. Over-the-counter supplements are generally safe but if you suspect you’re having an adverse reaction, ask your doctor to prescribe you a prenatal supplement with the lowest dosage of iron in it as possible. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises pregnant women take a daily supplement of 30mg of iron, some prenatal vitamins contain more than that recommended dosage. Check your label to see if you’re taking an excess.
Sport an acupressure band.
If your morning sickness has you feeling lost at sea, try wearing a wristband cruisers swear by when setting sail. The bands are designed to stimulate the P6 acupressure point. If you don’t want to cough up the dough for the wristbands, simply press the inside of your wrist to relieve nausea. Several studies indicate this move will promote relaxation and stimulate brain chemicals like endorphins to ward off pain.
Do the Child’s Pose.
Since you’re expecting a child, it seems entirely appropriate that you assume the yoga pose of a child in preparation. The Child’s Pose has been used to promote relaxation and circulation but it’s also helpful to ease nausea. Practitioners of yoga often use it as a precursor to sleep…and you need to store up on your beauty rest before that baby comes! Featured photo credit: Flickr, Creative Commons, Tatiana Vdb via creativecommons.org
