Shock, relief, apprehension, unbridled joy – you may feel all of these emotions all at once when you see a positive result on your home pregnancy test. And, indeed it is a blissful period! Blissful, yet life changing – the roller coaster that is pregnancy can show you the best and worst your body can do. The nausea and vomiting experienced due to the hormonal chaos of pregnancy is definitely not an experience you’ll enjoy!
Morning sickness, as it is called, is experienced by more than 65% pregnant women across the world, and is not just restricted to morning hours. Many experience it throughout the day. While this condition is experienced generally during the first trimester, peaking between the 6th and 12th weeks of pregnancy, many women experience vomiting throughout their pregnancy. Over-the-counter medication is a strict no-no for pregnant women. But you need not suffer endlessly. Here are some safe and effective home remedies that will help in combating the queasiness experienced during pregnancy.
Ginger works as a very popular and efficient morning sickness home remedy. Sip a cup of freshly brewed ginger tea, sweetened mildly with a small piece of jaggery or a little honey. Or, you can try sucking ginger candies available in the market! Prepare a mixture by swirling in grated ginger, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a little honey. Take sips of this mixture at regular intervals to soothe the growling tummy and keep nausea and vomiting at bay. At the same time, avoid those sugar-filled ginger cookies as they will just aggravate your queasiness. Excessive use of ginger can have a negative impact on your pregnancy, so use this remedy in moderation.
Women vouch for the goodness of the tea prepared with this herb. It soothes the spasms affecting the stomach. However, peppermint tea is not advisable for women who are prone to heartburns. You can suck on a peppermint candy and avail the same benefits, but make sure you pick one that contains sugar in trace amounts.
Along with easing your morning sickness, studies indicate that using this tea during pregnancy can help in improving blood circulation and the immune system. This herbal tea also fortifies the uterine muscles, while toning up the pelvic muscles, helping the body prepare itself for child birth. It is also known to help in improving the quality of breast milk. While 4 to 5 cups of this tea is permitted during the third trimester, restrict to one cup a day during the first, just to ease your queasiness.
Eat small portions of food every two and half hours. Eat 5 to 6 small, frequent meals every few hours throughout the day. Smaller meals can be digested easily. Never stay hungry. An empty stomach is one of the key causes of nausea. A piece of fruit or a cracker-anything healthy will do. Keep munching; you’ll never hear us say this again!
Pregnancy can be wacky at times. You will wake up in the middle of the night, craving French fries or samosas! Say thanks to your hormones! Nevertheless, coming to the facts – avoid these rich, deep-fried delicacies. They will do nothing but worsen your condition. Every time you feel like munching on fried food, sniff a little lemon or take a sip of warm water, and watch the difference.
There is no restriction when it comes to drinking coffee or tea during pregnancy. Both are permitted, but in restricted amounts. The fatigue and lethargy you experience due to vomiting and/or nausea actually forces you to grab a cup of coffee/tea, which unarguably will help you freshen up. But – in reality, caffeine can actually trigger vomiting. Moreover, when consumed beyond 300 mg a day, caffeine can prove to be harmful for you and your baby. So, coffee lovers out there, watch your cup!
I don’t know how many would agree with this, but this does work. I have experienced it during both my pregnancies. Squeeze in a whole, fresh lemon, add salt to taste, and top it up with soda. Sip, sip, and sip! You will feel the burp coming and that is it! Your nausea will vanish!
Sugar, as with fried, fatty foods, is a nausea triggering agent. However, it need not be the same for all. So, if you feel that indulging in sweets and desserts is triggering your nausea, please avoid such stuff.
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