14 Tried and True Ways to Relieve Morning Sickness
The first trimester of pregnancy can be rough. It isn’t long after you see those two pink lines that your excitement about being pregnant can take a back seat to the harsh realities of morning sickness. Morning sickness looks different for all of us. It can mean you’re running to the bathroom every 5 minutes or it can simply mean that you’re nauseous and queasy. The other cruel thing about morning sickness is that it doesn’t just happen in the morning. It can happen at any time of day, and for those of us who are truly unfortunate, all day long. I’m smack dab in the middle of the first trimester of my second pregnancy, and unfortunately, my morning sickness seems to be worse this time around (or maybe that’s just my mommy mind purposely forgetting things so that I’ll make more babies). Either way, because I’m in the thick of it, and because I write a blog about pregnancy and babies, I decided to do some extra research this time around. I’ve tried several different morning sickness remedies, reached out to friends for their best ways to relieve morning sickness, and read more Amazon reviews than I’d like to admit. Here are 14 ways to relieve morning sickness.
14 Tried and True Ways to Relieve Morning Sickness (So You Can Feel Like Yourself Again)
1. Stay Hydrated
I honestly believe this is one of the best ways to relieve morning sickness and nausea. It’s recommended that pregnant women drink at least 10 cups of fluid per day. That tiny growing baby is sucking so much water out of you that your normal fluid intake just isn’t gonna cut it. Every time I fall behind on staying hydrated, I start to feel myself get a little queasy.
A couple weeks ago, we took the boat out on the river and spent the entire day in the sun. I did an awful job of staying hydrated and I paid for it the next day. I was absolutely miserable. It didn’t matter how much water I drank, I could not seem to replenish my dehydrated body.
Don’t worry… you don’t just have to drink water to stay hydrated. You can mix it up with juice, tea, and milk (or chocolate milk if you’re like me). Just make sure you’re getting plenty of fluids to help your body stay in tip top baby growing shape.
2. Eat Small Meals
Eating seems to be an issue for me in the first trimester. I’m either ravenously hungry or I have no appetite at all. I also get horrible food aversions that make meal planning extra difficult. As much as finding something to eat can be a chore for me, I have found that skipping meals altogether absolutely has an effect on my nausea. I’ve learned to eat smaller meals throughout the day and that typically leaves me feeling better (even if it is a bowl of macaroni and cheese every single time). Eating small meals throughout the day is an easy way to relieve morning sickness or avoid it altogether. A great resource for eating through your morning sickness is the Perfect Pregnancy Nutrition Plan from Allie Edwards. It’s packed with recipes for all three trimesters, and teaches you how to eat for optimal fetal health. If you’re worried that you’re morning sickness is keeping you from eating, I highly recommend her course!
3. Munch on Saltines
Eating Saltines when you’re nauseous isn’t just an old wives tale; it really does help calm your tummy. They’re bland and have just enough salt to make them worth eating. When I reached out to my mom group on Facebook to see what they’re ways to relieve morning sickness were, munching on Saltines was by far the most popular answer.
4. Ginger
The second most popular answer from my mom group on Facebook… GINGER! All forms of ginger. Ginger ale, ginger beer (it’s nonalcoholic… I promise), pickled ginger, candied ginger, ginger tea, and ginger cookies. To be honest, I fell in love with ginger during my first pregnancy (although it was more of a craving than a morning sickness remedy). I just bought a fat chunk of ginger root at the grocery store and plan to experiment with a few different recipes this week (if I can find the energy). I’m going to try:
Pickled Ginger (like the kind you get with sushi)
Cucumber Ginger Green Smoothie
5. Preggy Pop Drops
I’ve shared my love for Preggy Pop Drops in an earlier post titled, “What to Expect in the First Trimester”. During my last pregnancy, a friend of mine gave me a container of them and they really did work! They’re sour “hard candies” that are packed with essential oils and plant botanicals that are proven to relive nausea. They’re all-natural, drug free, and chemical free so they’re 100% safe for you and baby. The best part about them is that you can get them for less than $5 on Amazon. I just got a pack last week and they have made a HUGE difference. Every time I feel a wave of nausea coming on, I pop one in my mouth and suck on it until it’s gone. I find them especially useful when I’m at work. I just keep the container in my purse so that I have them anywhere I go. I’d say preggy pop drops are one of my favorite ways to relieve morning sickness.
6. Morning Sickness Tea
When I was doing research for this post, I saw a lot of women recommending morning sickness tea. I ordered a box with my Preggy Pop Drops and figured I’d give it a try. Unfortunately, it’s the middle of June and the thought of a hot drink is pretty unappealing to me right now. I’ve been sticking a tea bag in my ice water and letting it sit, but I know I’m not getting the same effect as if it were brewed in boiling water like the instructions say (I know I could brew it and chill it, but I’m just plain lazy, okay!) I can’t say it’s worked wonders for me, but it’s extremely affordable and worth a try if you enjoy tea and are struggling with morning sickness. I got the Earth Mama Angel Baby morning wellness tea and the flavor is amazing.
7. Go for a Walk
When you’re in the trenches of the first trimester, the last thing you want to do is get off the couch, let alone go for a walk, but I promise it will make you feel better. Every day that we’ve had something on our schedule that I just can’t cancel, and I’m forced to leave the house and move my body, I’ve noticed that I feel better. I don’t know if it’s because my mind is focused on something else or because I’m getting a little fresh air, but I highly suggest taking a small walk if you’re truly feeling like crud. Any form of exercise is a great way to fight morning sickness. I’ve also been doing some workouts from The Belly Only Pregnancy Program on some of my better days.
8. Avoid your Triggers
If there are certain things that you know make your stomach turn, try your best to avoid them. I can’t stand the smell of the inside of my dishwasher and the thought of touching raw chicken is completely gag worthy. So, I try to avoid the dishwasher and I haven’t cooked chicken in three weeks. It doesn’t take long to figure out what your nausea triggers are when you’re pregnant. The best thing you can do is call for back up and avoid the things that make you queasy.
9. Sea Bands
I definitely don’t remember seeing Sea Bands on the market the last time I was pregnant, but every time I Google “ways to relieve morning sickness”, these are the first thing that pops up. Sea bands are little bracelets that you wear around your wrist that apply pressure to the Nei-Kuan acupressure point. This acupressure point has been proven to relieve morning sickness (they can also be used for motion sickness). A friend of mine is due on the exact same day as me and recently purchased the Sea Bands. She said that they work, but they can hurt if you wear them all day. Many of the reviews on Amazon state the same issue.
I also reached out to a friend that owns his own acupuncture business to see if these things could actually do the trick or if they were a waste of money. He said “they can absolutely help, but so can doing acupressure with your finger.” His best recommendation to anyone interested in trying this natural morning sickness remedy is to see an acupuncturist who can use a needle on the pressure point. He said it has the most profound effect and the strongest research backing its effectiveness.
All in all, if you want to give the Sea Bands a try, I’d say it’s worth it. They’re 100% natural and totally affordable ($6.75). If you find that they help you, maybe you can take the next step and see an acupuncturist.
10. Sparkling Mama Fizzelixir
We’re just barely halfway through the first trimester, but having a friend whose due on the same day as me is AMAZING. We’ve been exchanging notes on how we feel and how we’ve been dealing with the struggles of early pregnancy. She told me that she tried Sparkling Mama Fizzelixer and it made a huge difference in her nausea and morning sickness. Sparkling Mama Fizzelixir comes in a little packet and is dissolved in the drink of your choice. It combines vitamin B6, magnesium, ginger, and lemon to create an all-natural remedy for morning sickness. The best part about this stuff is that it actually tastes good. Again, this is a super affordable option at just $10.99!
11. Sniff a Lemon
While this morning sickness remedy might seem a bit odd, it’s simple enough that it’s worth a try. Try cutting into a lemon and sniffing it to help calm your stomach. The refreshing smell has been proven to help many women find morning sickness relief.
12. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Here’s the deal… I know this tip is easier said than done. Since this is my second pregnancy and I have an 18 month old who is up with the birds, and a part time job where I work evenings, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always possible. But, I can speak from experience that when I’m well rested, I feel so much better the next day. Chances are, you’re exhausted anyway, so take advantage of any chance you have to catch a cat nap or go to bed early. That load of laundry and the latest episode of Real Housewives can wait… I promise.
13. Talk to your Doctor
If you’re truly struggling with morning sickness, can’t keep anything down, and can’t function, talk to your doctor. The last thing you want to do is become dehydrated or lose too much weight in the first trimester. If your case is particularly bad, your doctor should be able to prescribe something that will give you some relief.
14. Give Yourself Some Grace
The fact of the matter is, the first trimester sucks. There… I said it. While I’m over the moon to be pregnant again, fighting nausea and fatigue for weeks on end isn’t exactly my definition of a good time. When I’m feeling particularly awful, I remind myself that this is such a short blip in time. These few weeks of feeling like anything but myself are well worth the reward at the end of nine months. I keep a mental countdown to the end of the first trimester and remind myself that this doesn’t last forever. In the meantime, I give myself some grace. My house is a mess, we’ve had pizza three times in one week, and I’ve taken more naps than I care to admit. And for once in my life, I don’t care. I know that in a few weeks I’ll be back to feeling human again, but until then, all the usual household chores can wait (or be done by dad)!
If I missed one of your favorite ways to relieve morning sickness, please drop it in the comments so I can update the post for other mommies to be! Otherwise, best of luck to you during these next few weeks. I hope that some of these tips help you survive the struggles of the first trimester.
DISCLOSURE: Coffee and Coos is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.
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