7 Tips on How to Relieve Morning Sickness

Morning Sickness is a symptom of pregnancy, commonly experienced in the first trimester. It refers to the feeling of nausea or vomiting, which can start at any point during the day. It normally subsides after the first trimester but some women will continue to experience into their second trimester. Even though the name implies that you will experience sickness in the morning, this is not always the case. Most women find that it can strike at any point in the day.

No one really understands why we experience morning sickness, however some speculate it is down to the pregnancy hormones. You may however be more prone to having morning sickness if you are having twins, are overweight, its your first pregnancy or you've experienced morning sickness in previous pregnancies.

There are several remedies which you can try to provide relief.

Ginger

Ginger has a long history of helping to relieve upset stomachs. Its active compound 6-gingerol, helps to relax the gastrointestinal muscles, and research has shown that ingesting ginger may help to overcome nausea. Whilst there are many different products on the market, you may find drinking ginger tea (either by using grated root ginger or teabags) or eating ginger biscuits may help to curb your symptoms.

Eating Cold Meals

You may find that cooking smells may make your nausea worse and trigger your gag reflex. Eating foods such as salads or sandwiches, which do not need to be cooked may help to prevent you from feeling sick.

Pregnancy Massage

If you are still suffering with morning sickness after 12 weeks, having a Pregnancy Massage may help to relieve morning sickness. It will promote rest and relaxation, help balance hormones and can be used in conjunction with specific acupressure points which can help alleviate nausea (see below).

Eating little and often

According to Miriam Erick, M.S., R.D.N., author of Managing Morning Sickness "An empty stomach ups nausea." So eating regularly throughout the day, or even snacking on bland foods such as crackers, will help you to avoid getting too full or too hungry.

Hydration

Its really important to stay hydrated during pregnancy. Even becoming slightly dehydrated can make the nausea more intense. If you are finding it hard to keep liquids down during meal times, try drinking a glass of water a 1/2 hour before and after meals, as well as throughout the day. This will stop your stomach from getting too full. Similarly, taking small sips and drinking slowly can prevent vomiting.

Acupressure points

Using pressure point P6 may help to relieve morning sickness. It is located on your inner arm near to your wrist, and can be found three woman's finger widths above the crease of the inner wrist. If it is not practical for you to hold the pressure point for a long time, you can purchase travel wrist bands which will apply pressure to this point throughout the day.

Sniff Lemons

According to Baby Centre the scents of lemons can be an effective way of relieving nausea and vomiting. If sniffing lemons isn't something you can build into your routine, then try adding a slice to a glass of water, and sip throughout the day.

Tell us about your experience! Have you used any of these tips to help relieve morning sickness? What other remedies would you recommend?