Tips for Alleviating Morning Sickness

by Kimmama | More from this Blogger

13 Jun 2009 03:54 AM

Morning sickness can dampen the joys of finding out you are expecting. Morning sickness, like most pregnancy symptoms, is caused by the increase of hormones in your body, particularly estrogen. You may feel mild to severe nausea, with or without bouts of vomiting. The nausea is not necessarily limited to the morning. Many pregnant women experience morning sickness throughout the day. Some women suffer from morning sickness for a few weeks or months, while others find themselves suffering for the duration of their pregnancy. If you are expecting twins, you may experience more severe morning sickness, due to increased hormone levels. In its worst form, morning sickness goes by another name: Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which I will talk more about tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some tips for alleviating morning sickness:

• Experiment with eating different foods to find what sits well.
• Try to eat small meals throughout the day. Avoid having an empty stomach if at all possible.
• It has long been assumed that carbohydrate-heavy, starchy foods, such as crackers, are the best remedy, but protein is actually better for soothing morning sickness. Lean means such as chicken work exceptionally well, if you can stomach the taste. A better option might be a cold fruit smoothie with whey protein powder added.
• Try wearing Sea Bands. When I was pregnant, they made a big difference.
• Take vitamin B6 or vitamin B12
• Chew on ginger chew candy or brew some ginger tea. Ginger is a natural remedy for nausea If you find yourself repeatedly visiting the porcelain throne, drink Gatorade. As someone told me, "it doesn't taste so bad 'the second time around'."
• Keep a snack at your bedside so you can get something in your stomach before you get out of bed in the morning.
• Keep your purse stocked with snacks in case you get stuck somewhere and need something to eat.

Related Articles:

Nausea in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

The Importance of B Vitamins

Hypnosis for Morning Sickness

Learn more about Kimmama

Kim is a freelance writer and stay at home mom to her newborn, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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