Morning Sickness Remedies
Morning sickness can begin as early as the fourth week of pregnancy and can continue throughout the first trimester, sometimes even longer. Morning sickness can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting and an sharpened sense of smell. Morning sickness can affect daily activities and lessen a pregnant mother's sense of well-being. Fortunately, there are many ways for mothers-to-be to cope with morning sickness and to enjoy those early months of pregnancy.
Identification
Morning sickness is easily identified by the fatigue and queasiness of early pregnancy. Pregnant moms might feel nausea upon waking in the morning, which can sometimes last throughout the day. Many expectant mothers experience an increased sense of smell and some smells will even trigger nausea and vomiting. Increased tiredness is another common complaint during the early months, as well as frequent urination, headaches and breast tenderness.
Effects
The beginning joys of pregnancy can dampen somewhat when morning sickness symptoms begin to occur. If you are pregnant for the first time, you might feel worried about cope with morning sickness and how long it will last. The exhaustion you feel could prevent you from being as productive as your pre-pregnant self. Don't worry. While morning sickness can slow you down for the first trimester of your pregnancy, most mothers-to-be are feeling much better by the fourth month. Some even report an increased feeling of energy and well-being. However, waiting for morning sickness to end can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are remedies to lessen the effects of morning sickness.
Prevention/Solution
Most of the time morning sickness symptoms can be lessened or alleviated by using natural remedies. Try different things until you learn what works for you. If you suffer from nausea or vomiting, try keeping a stash of soda crackers with you at all times. Eat a few right when you wake up in the morning and nibble some throughout the day. Avoid letting your stomach get empty. Dry toast also works. Ginger is another remedy for morning sickness. You could try sipping ginger tea to help with nausea or peppermint might also help. Try sucking on a peppermint-flavored candy or fruit-flavored hard candy, or you could use peppermint essential oils. There are even lollipops that are made specifically to help with morning sickness. Acupressure bands worn around the wrists can be another morning sickness remedy.
Considerations
If you are experiencing morning sickness and the traditional home remedies don't help, you might need more vitamin B6 in your diet. Vitamin B6 is shown to help with morning sickness symptoms. Many foods, such as whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts contain vitamin B6. Your health care provider might also recommend a vitamin B6 supplement for you to take.
Expert Insight
For some women, nausea and vomiting will continue, despite trying natural remedies. Talk to your health care provider for other options. Your doctor might prescribe medication if nausea is severe. If you haven't been able to keep down food or water for a period of 24 hours, call your health care provider immediately. You might be experiencing a serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which can affect the health of the mother and baby. According to the National Institute of Health, you need to call your doctor if vomiting continues beyond the fourth month of pregnancy, you lose more than 2 pounds, vomiting occurs more than 3 times per day and call your health care provider immediately if you vomit blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
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