Over 80% of pregnant women experience morning sickness. You probably know how annoying it can get if you are also one of them. Feelings of vomiting or nausea can strike any time of the day. However, there are two pieces of good news for you! These symptoms won’t pose a threat to your baby.
And this condition is usually short-lived, with symptoms declining by the second trimester. But that doesn’t mean you have to put up with it for three long months. Several simple tips can help you tame your morning sickness in minutes. Here are the top six tips right from the desk of the best gynaecologist in Mohali to relieve morning sickness during pregnancy.
Tips to Control Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
Here are the top effective tips that help morning sickness in the first trimester:
Eat Often
Do you know that an empty stomach can make your nausea worse? One of the best ways to control it is by eating often. The trick is to eat small-sized meals every 2 to 3 hours. You can include snacks, fruits, nuts, and crunchy vegetables like carrots in your meal plans. Moreover, starchy, bland food items greatly soak up gastric acid. They also help in settling the stomach. You can satisfy your unhealthy food cravings with these healthy options.
Besides, you should also prioritise protein intake in your diet. Doctors say that a protein-rich diet offers long-lasting relief from vomiting and nausea. Protein is also essential for your baby’s growth throughout pregnancy. Cottage cheese, poultry, lentils, fish, peanut butter, milk, and eggs are great protein sources. Meet your gynaecologist to learn about foods that fight nausea during pregnancy.
Go Sour
It is one of the best cures for morning sickness that lasts all day. Try consuming sour candies to fight your sour stomach. According to the top gynaecologist in Chandigarh, sour flavours help immensely in curbing nausea. Both orange and lemon-flavoured hard candies can help during this time. If you don’t have candies at home, suck on a slice of citrus fruit like lime, lemon, or orange.
Doctors consider them the best fruits for morning sickness. They can effectively help with digestion and ease your morning sickness significantly. Besides, you can also go for drinks and other beverages to keep yourself hydrated and keep acid reflux under control. A lemon water drink, clear soda, or a fruit fusion is enough to settle your nausea.
Stay Vertical
How to reduce nausea while pregnant? Morning sickness symptoms can make you lie down for some time. But doctors recommend the opposite. You should avoid lying down during this time. Instead, you should try to stay vertical as much as you can. It will help the acid to settle down faster. Lying down can raise the level of acid and gastric juices in the stomach for a longer time.
This condition can impact digestion and add to the nauseous feeling. Similarly, you should avoid brushing your teeth or gargling for at least 30 minutes after eating. Brushing right after eating can trigger gag reflex and that is the last thing you want when you are suffering from morning sickness.
Avoid Triggers
Scientific research suggests vomiting and nausea during pregnancy occur due to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). The placenta produces this hormone once a fertilised egg attaches to the uterine lining. The fluctuation in the level of HCG can trigger symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Therefore, it is crucial to identify your triggers and avoid them as much as possible.
For instance, some women feel nauseous by strong odours, or specific food items. Try to stay away from such things until your morning sickness subsides. Moreover, several therapeutic aromas can help relieve your morning sickness significantly. Lemon, orange, peppermint, chamomile, ginger, etc., are some of the best aromas to smell during this time.
Take Care of your Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are crucial for your and your baby’s health. Therefore, ensure you don’t skip them at any cost. However, at times expecting mothers feel unsettled after taking these tablets. In this case, gynaecologists recommend trying gummy or chewable vitamins. Their juice will seamlessly settle in your digestive system, making you feel at ease.
If you don’t get relief, ask your doctor to prescribe alternate iron and vitamin tablets. Most importantly, rinse your mouth with cold water every time you vomit. It will eliminate all the acid components from your mouth and teeth. Failing to do it can damage your teeth’ enamel.
Other Remedies
Morning sickness is usually active during the first half of the day. So, if you feel that your tablets are adding to your woes, consider taking them during bedtime. However, ensure you discuss it with your doctor first. Apart from this, try wearing a motion sickness band. It is an advanced wristband that puts pressure on essential acupressure points that helps control nausea and vomiting.
Lastly, take care of yourself. Indulge in creative activities that can help divert your mind from nausea. Poor sleep quality can also trigger nausea in women. A good 8 to 10 hours of sleep will help keep acid reflux at bay. Plenty of fresh air, walking, and regular exercising can also immensely help. Besides, try searching – what can I take for nausea while pregnant? You can also discuss all your concerns with your doctor. Here are some tips for finding the best gynecologist in Chandigarh.
When to See the Doctor?
Sure, gestation comes with its share of discomforts, you must never ignore unusual symptoms. Here are some troubling symptoms that need immediate medical attention from your doctor.
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Difficulty urinating
- Weight loss
- Vomiting blood
Summing Up
Pregnancy brings a unique mix of emotions and health issues like morning sickness. The good part is that these issues go away with time. And all you are left with are their sweet and sour memories. So, make the most of this time by adopting wise eating habits, doing mild physical activities, and staying happy. Remember, stress also gives rise to the acid levels in the body. So, ensure you stay busy all day and try to remain as calm as you can.