Simple Home Remedies For Morning Sickness Relief
Serious cases of morning sickness, such as those that cross over into hyperemesis – a condition where the mother-to-be loses a significant amount of weight due to nausea and vomiting – are usually treated with medication. Less serious cases of morning sickness, on the other hand, can be treated with a variety of home remedies.
If you have morning sickness, consider some of the following things that you can try at home. One of the oldest and best home remedies is ginger tea. Ginger is a traditional remedy for nausea, so if you don’t like ginger tea, you can try ginger ale, ginger candies, ginger cookies or even pickled ginger. Try small amounts, as some studies have indicated that consuming too much ginger can induce a miscarriage.
Also, try to have frequent small meals, instead of large meals three times a day. Many women snack throughout the day, and keep something nonperishable by their bedside to snack on as soon as they wake up and before they get out of bed – even before they sit up.
Preventing Morning Sickness
In addition, a high protein snack before bed can help to keep your blood sugar levels stable, and stave off morning nausea. Good high protein snacks include beef jerky, tuna salad, cheese, and yogurt.
Another traditional remedy is a mixture of one tablespoon each of honey and apple cider vinegar mixed in a cup of cold water, and taken just before bedtime. You can also try a teaspoon of citrus juice (lemon or lime) mixed with mint and a tablespoon of sugar taken three times a day. Some women find that tart foods and beverages are helpful, so you might want to try lemon drops, lemonade, limeade, virgin margaritas, lemon or lime sorbet, or even the smell of lemons. For some women, the tartness of fresh tomatoes also soothes morning sickness symptoms.
And don’t feel bad about giving in to your food cravings. If you want it, eat it – unless, of course, it’s a nonfood item like chalk or charcoal. See your doctor if you’re having nonfood cravings. Some women, for example, throw up bland foods like dry toast and oatmeal, while spicy Chinese food, burritos with extra hot sauce, and fresh tomato sandwiches with lots of black pepper stay down. There’s just no anticipating how your system will react to a food until you give it a try.
Fruit smoothies are another popular choice for pregnant women suffering from morning sickness. Choose fruits that are tart or sweet, depending on what sounds best to you. You can add yogurt or ice cream for a little additional flavor and nutrition. Peaches, papayas, strawberries, and pineapples are also good choices to consider.
Next, many women find that sparkling beverages are easier to consume than still beverages. You may want to try sparkling water – add a bit of citrus or fruit for additional flavor – or even a cola beverage. Experiment with different beverage temperatures and textures until you find one that works for you.
However, there are several important things you should remember about using home remedies to treat morning sickness. First, you may need to try several different things until you find one that works for you. Second, if you’re losing weight because of morning sickness, talk to your health care provider as soon as possible – you may need more help than home remedies can provide. And last – but certainly not least – be patient. For most women, morning sickness ends around the beginning of the second trimester.
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